A Civilisation Built on Knowledge — Now Missing From the Research Elite

No universities from Muslim-majority countries rank in the top 100 today.

Education, once the jewel of the Muslim world, was the very foundation of our civilisation’s greatness. From the House of Wisdom in Baghdad to Al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco and Al-Azhar in Cairo, Muslim scholars once led the world in knowledge, science and philosophy. The works of scholars such as Al-Khwarizmi, Ibn Sina and Ibn Rushd shaped the course of global learning and laid the groundwork for the Renaissance itself.

Today, however, our universities are no longer among the world’s leading institutions. Education remains the bedrock of new thought — the place where ideas are born, innovations are nurtured, and nations secure their future. From robotics labs at MIT and cutting-edge research in China to the thriving startup culture around Stanford, others are building ecosystems that shape global progress. We too must create environments where our talent can be moulded to compete at the highest level.

At present, we are losing much of our best talent abroad, while few from other nations seek to study within our borders. To reverse this, we may need to think unconventionally — perhaps by consolidating our educational institutions, pooling our resources, and building world-class centres of excellence capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.

Note: The data presented above is as of the latest available data and is intended to be directional rather than precise. The purpose is to highlight areas of opportunity and growth within the Ummah. Preview image by Salah Regouane on Unsplash.