A question on the Islamic view of human progression?

I appreciate there are many different branches within Islam, is there a generally accepted opinion on human progression across the religion though? Is this issue addressed in the Quran? If so, what's the stance?

When i say "progression", i'm talking about mans natural desire to explore, experiment, create, learn, investigate, find answers to....etc etc.

I do ask this question in the spirit of learning, it's not an anti Islam thread.

I would really appreciate input from muslims and non muslims alike.



Add-on - I assume i've put this in the right forum, i apologise if not, i couldn't think where else to put it.

Seeking of knowledge is a very important and recurring thread in Islam, and is thus mentioned repeatedly throughout it's scriptures. In the Quran, Muslims are commanded to study and investigate (by name) all of the natural sciences, as well as history. It is also said that the vilest people are those who don't use reason, and also that to do something only because your forefathers did it is unacceptable.

The Hadith say that even if you have to go to China (mentioned by name ) to learn, you should do so. Seeking of knowledge is considered to be part of the "Greater Jihad". Another Hadith mentions Muhammad saying: “Whoever goes out to seek knowledge, he is in the path of Allah until he returns.” He also said, “All of Allah’s creatures implore Allah for forgiveness on behalf of a seeker of knowledge - including fish in the water.”

Thanks for the reply. Is that a common theme through all branches of the faith?

That question naturally brings me onto implementing that knowledge. I know Saudi Arabia (for example) has excellent educational facilities, particularly in the areas of medicine. There's little or no enterprise/initiative though. Is there religous reasons for that or is it just down to the preferance of the ruling government?

I guess what i'm asking is if there is guidelines on areas that you should/should not work?

I'm sure you realise that much of today's current scientific achievement is a direct result of the depth of study by muslim scholars during the middle ages.

The problem today is that, as you said, there is very little enterprise or initiative. Many muslims seem to be very comfortable in their ignorance. I've heard many muslims say such things as "Any knowledge that we'd ever need to know is in this book" (while talking about the Quran). They seem unwilling to learn from what they consider "the tainted hands of the unbelievers" (heh...in comparison, the earlier Muslims had no such qualms reading up on what the Greeks had done).

Many muslims take the commandment to seek knowledge to be restricted to the theological field (although I don't understand how, after all, China wouldn't exactly have been known as the hub of Islamic learning back then).

About areas that you should or should not work- like I said, all natural sciences, and history are mentioned in the Quran. I haven't personally read about mathematics, so I don't know if it's there, but considering the numerological significance of the Quran, I'd be surprised if it's not. The arts and music are a fuzzier area, and different theological scholars would tell you different things, but as far as I can see, there are no problems with those either.