One of the distinctive features of Islam is emphasis on knowledge. The Qur’an (the Holy Book of Islam) and the Islamic tradition (Sunnah) invite Muslims to seek and acquire knowledge and wisdom and to hold men of knowledge in high esteem.

The Qur’an places great importance on seeking knowledge in Islam. The Arabic word “al’lim” or “ilm”, meaning knowledge, and its derivatives are used more than 750 times in the Qur’an

The contributions of Muslim scholars, jurists, philosophers and scientists expanded various branches of knowledge to enlighten the whole world. They were some of the pioneers of complex and advanced fields of knowledge that included economic theory,  Greek philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, medicine cartography, psychology and more.