In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful
And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colors similarly. Only those fear Allah , from among His servants, who have deep knowledge (ulama'). Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.
(Surah Faathir : 28)
Some of us nowadays are in lost regarding the intention, the motivation or the drive to do research. When one loses the motivation, the research will be done half-heartedly and hence no true findings or outcome will be observed. Some may do research for various reasons, to get a degree certificate, to get a raise in salary, to please others etc, though actually research has a more noble objective.
The ayah above explains the creation of Allah among the humans, the insects, the animals of many different colors, kinds, type, features. And Allah continues stating that the one who really fear Allah are the ulama'...the word ulama' here can also be translated as the scientists. Fear here can mean to be in awe, acknowledging the Greatness and the Mightiness of the Being that is responsible for the cause of the subject under research. The Being here is the Creator of the whole wide universe, Allah Azzawajalla. For example, if the research is about characterizing the properties of a semiconductor material, Silicon Carbide, one can reflect how truly intricate and powerful Allah is, as He created a material so strong which can be used for abrasive, very radiation hard and can also be use for building many electronic devices too !
Interestingly in the ayah above, Allah mentioned that being a true scientist (researcher) will inshaAllah make you a good God fearing Muslim. This brings us to the goal of being a researcher, either a masters/ PhD student or the supervisor himself....the goal should be that the deep knowledge that comes out from the research should bring about deep feeling of the Greatness of Allah. Realising how small or how worthless we are as compared to His Knowledge and Power. These feelings will come only when one reflects deeply on the research with strong mind, heart and soul. When we achieve this, we have truly reach the pinnacle of research, knowing and fearing the AlMighty Creator thus submit to His wills.
4/3/2014