Prof. İlham Miraç: “The strongest answer to Islamophobia is academic studies based on knowledge, science, and wisdom”

Hosted by Üsküdar University, Prof. İlham Miraç, Member of the Board of Directors of the Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP), speaking at the 3rd International Ahl al-Bayt Symposium held with the theme 'Islamic Civilization in the Light of the Prophetic Heritage' on the occasion of the 1500th anniversary of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) arrival in the world, addressed the evaluations of thinkers from different religions and cultures regarding Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Holy Quran, and Islamic civilization using scientific methods. Miraç stated that the works of approximately forty thinkers were examined using the thematic analysis method and emphasized that the strongest answer to Islamophobic discourses is academic studies based on knowledge, science, and wisdom.

The international symposium themed 'Islamic Civilization in the Light of the Prophetic Heritage,' organized by Üsküdar University on the occasion of the 1500th anniversary of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) arrival in the world, brought together academics from various disciplines. While the historical accumulation of Islamic civilization, its universal values, and its contributions to today's world were discussed in various sessions, Prof. İlham Miraç, Member of the Board of Directors of the Risale-i Nur Research Platform (RİNAP), also delivered a remarkable presentation. 

In his speech, Miraç, sharing the results of the research that analyzed the evaluations of approximately forty non-Muslim thinkers from different religions and cultures regarding Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Holy Quran, and Islam using scientific methods, stated that the common opinions of independent thinkers provide important data for understanding the truth.

“Material development alone is not enough to make humanity happy”

Prof. İlham Miraç, who began his speech by emphasizing the significance of Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) arrival in the world for human history, pointed out that despite significant advancements in science and technology today, humanity faces serious moral and social problems.

Miraç stated that civilization cannot be explained solely by technical development, and said that humanity today needs a civilization concept centered on justice, mercy, and morality. Miraç: “We are experiencing the peace and happiness of commemorating the 1500th anniversary of our Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) arrival in the universe, who was sent as a mercy to the worlds. Because the arrival of our Messenger in the universe is the greatest event in human history. Today, humanity has made great strides in science and technology. However, wars continue, injustice increases, the family institution weakens, moral crises deepen, people become isolated, and the spiritual void grows increasingly. This means that material development alone is not enough to make humanity happy,” he said.

Miraç stated that the fundamental question of their research was shaped from this point, and said that they sought an answer to the question: “Can humanity build a common civilization based on peace, tranquility, and justice in this multicultural world?”

“True virtue is the virtue acknowledged even by enemies”

Prof. İlham Miraç, also explaining why they specifically included the views of non-Muslim thinkers in the research, stated that there were two main reasons for this.

Miraç stated that the first reason was to present the truth objectively, and pointed out that the acceptance of a value even by those with opposing views is an important scientific indicator. Miraç: “True virtue is the virtue acknowledged even by enemies. Because people praise what they love and overlook its flaws. However, when even opponents cannot deny a truth and appreciate it, it is one of the strongest testimonies to the veracity of that truth,” he said.

Miraç stated that the second reason was the increasing Islamophobic discourses in recent years, and emphasized the importance of academic studies in combating prejudices.

“The strongest answer to Islamophobia is scientific studies”

Prof. İlham Miraç, stating that attacks on the Holy Quran, insults against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and prejudiced discourses about Islam continue today, said that a common-sense and scientific approach should be adopted in response to this situation.
He stated that one of the main objectives of their research was to provide objective evaluations, thereby offering an academic response to Islamophobic discourses and creating a reliable resource for those who wish to learn about Islam. Miraç: “In our opinion, the strongest answer to these attacks is not the language of anger and insult, but academic studies based on knowledge, science, and wisdom. For this reason, we aimed to present the evaluations of objective non-Muslim thinkers, who were educated in their own civilizations, regarding Prophet Muhammad, the Quran, and Islam, to serve both as a scholarly response to Islamophobic discourses and as a reliable resource for those who wish to learn about Islam,” he said. 

In this part of his speech, Miraç also stated that fields such as alcohol, drugs, gambling, interest, and similar areas have transformed into large economic sectors today, and that this situation makes the visibility of truth difficult.

“We analyzed the works of approximately forty thinkers using scientific methods”

Prof. İlham Miraç, who also shared the difficulties they encountered during the research process, said that words attributed to the wrong people, especially in the age of the internet and artificial intelligence, constitute a significant problem. For this reason, Miraç stated that all quotes used in the research were individually verified from reliable academic sources and expressed that the study was carried out meticulously not only in terms of content but also methodology.
Miraç: “We encountered two main problems in the research. The first was the source problem. In the age of the internet and artificial intelligence, many statements are attributed to the wrong people. For this reason, we individually verified all quotes from reliable academic sources. The second was the methodology problem. We examined the evaluations of approximately forty non-Muslim thinkers using the thematic analysis method, coded common themes and categories, and then analyzed them in comparative tables,” he said.

“Thinkers from different civilizations meet in common evaluations”

Prof. İlham Miraç stated that the most striking result of the research was that thinkers who lived in different periods and civilizations largely made common evaluations regarding Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Holy Quran, and Islam, and said that independent figures reaching similar conclusions provides important scientific data. Miraç stated that within the scope of the research, the works of many thinkers, from American researcher Michael H. Hart to Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to French historian Alphonse de Lamartine, were examined and mentioned that these evaluations were compared using the thematic analysis method.

Miraç: “The most important finding of our research is that independent thinkers who lived in different periods and civilizations largely made common evaluations regarding Prophet Muhammad, the Quran, and Islam. Because the convergence of independent testimonies on the same truth further strengthens the reliability of that truth,” he said.

“Michael H. Hart evaluated Prophet Muhammad as the most influential person in history”

Prof. İlham Miraç, who also mentioned examples from their research in his speech, said that it was noteworthy that American physicist, mathematician, and research author Michael H. Hart placed Prophet Muhammad at the top of the list in his work titled “The 100 Most Influential Persons in History.”
Miraç stated that Hart's evaluation was not only about his religious aspect but also his social and political leadership; “Michael H. Hart, while evaluating Prophet Muhammad as the most influential person in human history, also clearly presents the reasons for this. According to Hart, Prophet Muhammad is the only figure who achieved outstanding success in both religious and secular domains. Despite coming from a humble family, he established and spread one of the world's greatest religions and was also a very influential statesman,” he said.

Miraç stated that Hart's evaluations drew attention to the fact that Prophet Muhammad's historical influence was not limited to his own time, and said that these evaluations were examined under the headings of 'personality', 'leadership', 'spread of Islam', and 'universal impact' in the research.

“Leo Tolstoy draws attention to the simplicity and comprehensibility of Islam”

Prof. İlham Miraç, stating that the letter written by Russian writer and thinker Leo Tolstoy to Elena Efimovna Vekilova also held an important place in the research, expressed that Tolstoy's evaluations regarding Islam were noteworthy.

Miraç stated that in his reply to a mother who consulted him about her sons wanting to turn to Islam, Tolstoy emphasized Islam's simple and comprehensible belief structure; “Although Tolstoy stated in his letter that he adopted Christian ideals, he says that if there were only two options, a sensible person would choose Islam, which is based on the belief in one God. As a reason for this, he states that Islam is a simple, understandable belief system that facilitates human access to truth,” he said.

“True civilization is based on justice, not might”

Continuing his speech, Prof. İlham Miraç, who touched upon Bediüzzaman Said Nursî's understanding of civilization, stated that true civilization is built with moral values rather than technological advancement.

Miraç stated that the problems faced by the modern world cannot be solved solely by economic or technological developments, and said that different thinkers also reached similar conclusions. Miraç: “According to Bediüzzaman, true civilization is based on justice, not might; virtue, not self-interest; cooperation, not conflict; brotherhood, not division. Such a civilization morally elevates humans and leads them to true happiness,” he said.

“Islam's universal values can be better understood with an unbiased approach”

At the end of his speech, Prof. İlham Miraç, who shared the main conclusions reached by the research, stated that the evaluations of many thinkers from different religions and cultures converged at a common point. 

Miraç: “This research reveals three important findings. First, the evaluations of many non-Muslim thinkers from different religions and cultures show that rational people who seek truth without prejudice can appreciate Prophet Muhammad, the Holy Quran, and the universal values of Islam.

Second, the most effective answer to Islamophobic discourse and actions is not anger, but knowledge, wisdom, and reliable academic studies.

Third, the thematic analysis method applied in this study can be applied to the works of more thinkers from different civilizations, thereby contributing to new academic research and common civilization studies,” he said.

He concluded his speech with a prayer…

Prof. İlham Miraç, who concluded his speech with a prayer, drew attention to the importance of correctly understanding and conveying Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Holy Quran, and wished that scientific studies in this field would contribute to humanity's common values.