The head of the Mustafa Foundation has emphasized the need to transcend geographical borders in support of Muslim elites, stating that the Foundation aims not merely to award a biennial prize, but to establish a sustainable network of scientific collaboration among scholars across the Islamic world – with the ultimate goal of knowledge production and the revival of Islamic civilization.
Ali Akbar Salehi, speaking at a press conference, declared the foundation's primary mission to be the identification and support of all Muslim scientists in Muslim and non-Muslim nations.
Salehi stressed that science advances only through exchange and synergy, and urged a shift from being consumers of knowledge to becoming producers, grounded in contemporary human needs. He also identified monitoring emerging fields – such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies – as a core responsibility of the Foundation.
He warned that neglecting the genuine appreciation and effective support of Muslim scholars could leave the scientific future of the Islamic world vulnerable to external influences. “If we do not act today to honour and support our scholars,” he said, “our scientific destiny may be shaped by others, according to their own agendas.”
Salehi further emphasised that the Mustafa Prize should serve as a starting point for ongoing cooperation, synergy, and continuous communication among scientists, since knowledge flourishes through interaction and exchange – particularly in strategic and cutting‑edge domains like AI and quantum technologies.
Concluding, he described knowledge‑seeking and the veneration of scholars as the Foundation’s core mission. Salehi called for a comprehensive scientific and human network that connects Muslim scientists worldwide.
Hossein Amiri - Hossein Vaez
