Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s op-ed, “The Real Battlefield is Intellectual”, published in The News on July 2, 2025, serves as a bold and timely manifesto for the Muslim world. In a critical time when the foundations of global power are increasingly shaped by ideas, knowledge, and technological advancement, the article is not merely a reflection on lost glory, but a passionate call to action that combines historical insight, religious grounding, and policy-driven recommendations to reposition the Muslim world as a global leader in innovation and civilization building.
Prof. Ahsan Iqbal is a veteran politician, policymaker and a long-time advocate for knowledge-based development in Pakistan and the broader Muslim world. His leadership in launching Vision 2010 and Vision 2025, both landmark strategic frameworks for higher education and innovation in Pakistan, lends weight and credibility to his vision for a broader Islamic renaissance rooted in education and intellectual reform.
Ahsan Iqbal’s vision and dedication were formally recognized at the 6th Vice Chancellors Forum of Universities in Islamic Countries held in Rabat, Morocco, where he was conferred the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by ICESCO for his contributions to promoting higher education, science, and technology in the Islamic world.
Rediscovering the Spirit of ‘Iqra’
In his impactful op-ed, the Minister begins with a compelling reminder of Islam’s intellectual roots. By invoking the Quranic command “Iqra” (Read), he bridges faith with inquiry, demonstrating that Islam has always encouraged observation, reflection, and understanding of the universe. This emphasis is more than symbolic—it’s foundational. For early Muslim scholars, the pursuit of knowledge was an act of worship, not an academic formality.
He draws vivid parallels between the Golden Age of Islam—represented by scholars such as Ibn Sina, Al-Khwarizmi, Ibn al-Haytham, and Al-Biruni—and today’s stagnant state of intellectual productivity in the Muslim world. Iqbal’s recounting of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish collaboration in historical Islamic centers of learning like Cordoba and Baghdad serves as a powerful reminder of a time when Muslims led the world in knowledge-sharing and discovery.
From Golden Past to Troubled Present
Ahsan Iqbal confronts the reality head-on: while the Muslim world constitutes nearly a quarter of humanity, its share in global research output is less than 6%, with average R&D investment below 1% of GDP. These are alarming statistics, and Iqbal uses them to argue that the Muslim world has lost its intellectual edge not because of inherent incapacity, but because of institutional negligence, underinvestment, and lack of coordinated vision.
He makes the profound observation that in today’s world, power no longer lies in tanks or territory, but in teachers, coders, inventors, and researchers. This is the central thesis of the article: The true battlefield of the 21st century is intellectual, and unless the Muslim world steps up, it will remain on the margins of history, shaped by others rather than shaping its own destiny.
Reframing Security: Knowledge as Defense
One of the article’s most powerful insights is its redefinition of national security. Iqbal argues that without a strong intellectual base, the Islamic world cannot influence global affairs or protect its own interests. He references the genocide in Gaza and other geopolitical crises as examples where moral outrage is impotent without technological and institutional leverage.
This pivot from traditional security thinking to knowledge-based power is both modern and urgent. As global power dynamics shift toward AI, biotechnology, and quantum technologies, Iqbal rightly warns that intellectual capital will be the defining force of the future.
Pakistan’s Model: From Vision to Practice
The article gains further credibility as Iqbal details Pakistan’s own journey. Under Vision 2010 and Vision 2025, the country funded thousands of overseas PhDs, expanded public universities from 99 to 154, and created National Centres of Excellence in emerging fields like artificial intelligence, robotics, and cybersecurity.
Prof. Ahsan Iqbal outlines ambitious projects such as Quantum Valley Pakistan, designed to replicate the innovation model of Silicon Valley by integrating academia, industry, venture capital, and government policy. Though he acknowledges persistent challenges—bureaucratic inertia, curriculum rigidity, and funding gaps—Iqbal highlights successes like AI-based agricultural solutions that improved crop yields by 20% in pilot areas.
Practical Roadmap for the Islamic World
The greatest strength of this op-ed lies in its concrete, actionable recommendations for the wider Islamic world under the banner of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Among the key proposals:
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OIC Knowledge Alliance of Universities: Joint degrees, shared research, and rotating innovation summits.
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Islamic Grand Challenges Collaborative Fund: Cross-border research on critical issues like food security and renewable energy.
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Digital Education Transformation Initiative: Creation of multilingual MOOCs, open-access libraries, and cloud-based infrastructure.
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OIC Centres of Excellence: Specialized institutions in AI, cybersecurity, biotechnology, climate tech, and Islamic finance.
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Youth Research Mobility and Leadership Program: Mentorships, fellowships, and a Young Scholars Council.
These are not idealistic dreams, but achievable goals—especially if implemented collectively with shared funding, resource pooling, and digital platforms. Iqbal wisely points out that no single country can succeed in isolation, emphasizing a pan-Islamic intellectual infrastructure.
Ethics, Innovation, and Faith
Prof. Ahsan Iqbal’s article makes an important distinction that is often missing in tech discourse: innovation must be guided by ethics. As artificial intelligence and biotechnology reshape humanity, he urges that the Muslim world contribute ethical frameworks rooted in justice, sustainability, and dignity. This is where Islamic teachings can not only revive Muslim societies but also offer global solutions in an increasingly fragmented and morally uncertain world.
A Call to Bold Imagination
Iqbal appeals to both faith and imagination. He quotes Allama Muhammad Iqbal, emphasizing that “a new world is born of new ideas.” This beautifully ties back to the article’s theme: civilizations are built not with mortar but with vision. The Islamic world, once a beacon of intellectual leadership, must now reawaken that legacy not for nostalgia’s sake, but to secure its place in shaping humanity’s future.
Way forward
Ahsan Iqbal’s article is more than a commentary; it is indeed a blueprint for a renaissance. By weaving together historical pride, contemporary urgency, and visionary policy, he offers a deeply inspiring and practical roadmap for the Islamic world. His experience as a planner and public servant brings credibility to the proposals, while his grounding in Islamic principles ensures that development remains ethical and inclusive.
In an age where global competitiveness is measured by innovation, this article urges Muslim nations to turn their focus inward, revive the ethos of “Iqra,” and look forward with courage, creativity, and cooperation. The real battlefield is indeed intellectual, and it is time for the Islamic world to rise—not just in remembrance of what it once was, but in pursuit of what it still can become.
Mr. Sabahuddin Qazi is Editor-in-chief of the Press Network of Pakistan.
