Abdus Salam: First Muslim Scientist to Win a Nobel Prize

 

Abdus Salam: First Muslim Scientist to Win a Nobel Prize

Human civilization cannot be separated from the development of Science and Technology. With the existence of Science and Technology makes it easier for humans in all their activities. Of course it is the result of ideas made by scientists. In the Middle Ages we know great scientists such as: Ibn Sina, Galileo Galilei, Ibn al-Haitsam and others. Then, in the 20th century there were Muslim scientists who won the Nobel Prize in Physics. He is Prof. Abdul Salam.

Prof. Abdus Salam's full name is Muhammad Abdus Salam. He is a Muslim scientist who studies particle physics. Abdus Salam was born on January 29, 1926 in Jhang, Lahore, Pakistan. Abdus Salam and his two colleagues: Sheldon Lee Glashow and Steven Weinberg succeeded in discovering the 'Electroweak' theory in 1967 , which later won them the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979. This achievement made him the first Muslim scientist to win the Nobel Prize.

Before becoming a physicist, Abdus Salam attended primary and secondary education in his hometown of Lahore, Pakistan. Then he continued his higher education at the University of Cambridge, England. There he won a Doctor of Psychology (PhD) in Theoretical Physics with Summa Cumlaude predicate at the age of 26 years. And he obtained the title of Professor of Physics at the University of Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

With the knowledge and achievements he obtained, in 1951 Abdus Salam decided to serve his hometown Lahore and became a professor there. Due to many factors that made him lose his productivity, 3 years later Abdus Salam returned to England to become a lecturer at the University of Cambridge. At the age of 31, he formulated the theory of the neutrino which later made him appointed Professor of Theoretical Physics at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London.

Abdus Salam served as a professor at the Imperial College of Science and Technology for 30 years (1957-1987). He also served as an advisor in the Pakistani Ministry of Science and Technology from 1960-1974. In addition, in 1964 he pioneered the establishment of the International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) which was facilitated and funded by the Italian Government and world organizations such as UNESCO, IAEA, SIDA. He served as Director of ICTP in the period (1964-1990).

Because of his contribution and genius in the field of physics, Abdus Salam was awarded many awards. No less than 39 doctoral degrees of science honoris causa he received from various universities in the world. He is also an honorary member of the 35 National Academies of Sciences in Asia, Europe, Africa and America. Not only that, Abdus Salam is also active in promoting world peace and international cooperation in the field of science and technology.

Although he has achieved many great achievements, Abdus Salam is still a humble person and a devout Muslim. This is poured in every idea and scientific works based on Islamic teachings. It adheres to a system of integration of knowledge (religion and knowledge). Therefore he does not believe in a conflict between science and Islam.

He asserted that from 750-1100 AD almost all science was the contribution of Islam. This statement is supported by George Sarton ( A Story of Science ), he said that during this period continuously and consecutively was the era of scientists Jabir, Khwarizmi, Haytham, Razi, Masudi, Wafa, Biruni, Ibn Sina, Omar Khayyam, and others.

One of Abdus Salam's scientific works is entitled ' Faith and Science' , in that work he asserts that the concept of modern science does not actually collide with the concept of metaphysics in the understanding of religion. According to him, the modern cosmological concept that is being developed regarding the theory of the creation of the universe can be better understood by using a religious approach and the concept of creation implied in the Qur'an.

In his speech at the UNESCO assembly held in Paris in 1984, he said “I am a Muslim because I believe in the spiritual message of the Koran. The Quran has helped me a lot in understanding the laws of nature, with examples of cosmological, biological and medical phenomena as signs for all mankind.” In fact, in another scientific work 'The Holy Quran and Science' he quotes many verses from the Koran which tell about the creation of the heavens and the earth and their contents.

It is undeniable that Abdus Salam deserves to be called the most influential Muslim physicist of the 20th century. The genius of Abdus Salam was recognized by a senior journalist from New Scientist , Dr. Robert Walgate 'Abdus Salam is a brilliant Muslim physicist in carrying out his mission as an ambassador from three worlds: Islam, theoretical physics, and international cooperation'. His theoretical ideas and scientific works are widely used by his successor scientists to develop the latest cosmological theories such as the ' Grand Theory' .

At the end of his life, Abdus Salam suffered from Parkinson's disease which left him paralyzed. He died in the city of Oxford, England. On November 21, 1996 at the age of 70 years. Later he was buried in his hometown of Lahore, Pakistan. Even though his body and soul are no longer in the world, Abdus Salam will still be alive through his scientific works which are still used in the world of Science and Technology until now.

From the story of Abdus Salam's life journey, there are many lessons that we can take. As Muslim youths we must imitate the exemplary nature of Abdus Salam who upholds the value of Tawhid. By living based on the Koran, and always being humble in every achievement you get. Because in essence humans were created to provide benefits to fellow living beings. May we all always get guidance from Allah SWT. Wallahu A'lam.