I refer to the letter Whimsical interpretation of Islam wrong .

From about the 1100 C.E. the Islamic world turned in on itself and stopped exploring the frontiers of knowledge. This despite the Prophet (pbuh) himself commanding that Muslims study and understand the world. That was a very good idea. Clearly, the Prophet was far wiser than most of his interpreters.

As for patenting Arabic numerals, what a silly idea even the patent on Prozac has expired, let alone aspirin and penicillin. Is Shakespeare patented? Are the Greeks trying to patent the Pythagoras theorem? Are the Chinese trying to patent gunpowder and paper?

If Abdul Rahman Abdul Talib followed that line of thought through to its logical conclusion, the Islamic world would be truly up the creek with no paddle (and don't try to say that the Arabs invented the paddle please) because every single thing from your TV to DVD player, to the medicine you use, your car, airplanes, the lot would have been invented elsewhere.

The point is that Muslims should be unafraid of creating the future. Abdul Rahman seems to be saying that holding onto religious principles means living in a world of 1,400 years ago. What is going to shine more glory on Islam clinging tightly to the achievements of a millennium ago or Muslim scientists finding a cure for cancer today and truly bringing God's benevolence to all mankind?