Is the lag of Muslims in the field of industry and technology considered something prohibited by the Shari'ah?

The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, is the lag of Muslims in the field of industry and technology considered something prohibited by the Shari'ah? Or is it among the permissible matters where its presence or absence is the same? And if it is required by the Shari'ah, is it obligatory for students of knowledge to turn to it so that they can produce?

The Shaykh:
There is no doubt that Muslims are to be blamed for their lag in the field of industry and technology, because it was better for them to be the first to this, because this is part of their religion. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says: Where do we get strength from? Except through technology and learning. So Muslims are the most deserving of this, and they are to be blamed for their lag in this matter. But the people of misguidance attribute this to the religion; they do not attribute it to the negligence of Muslims. They attribute it to the religion of Muslims, which is what delayed them. This is a form of deception of the people, whereas the religion commands doing what is beneficial, and taking what is beneficial from religion and worldly life. The religion is a religion of seriousness; it is not a religion of laziness and a religion of lethargy. It does not shun beneficial things, but rather encourages them. Is there a text that warns people against learning industry? There is no text; rather, it encourages learning religion and worldly life so that Muslims are self-sufficient regarding the disbelievers. This is not exclusive to the disbelievers, but the disbelievers were serious about it and preceded to it, whereas we lagged behind it. Yes.

The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. And the last part of the question. He says: And if it is required by the Shari'ah, is it obligatory for students of knowledge to turn to such fields so that they can produce?

The Shaykh:
This returns to the talents a person has. If a person has a talent for seeking knowledge and jurisprudence, he turns to seeking knowledge and jurisprudence to benefit the Muslims. If he has a talent for military affairs and soldiering, he turns to being a soldier for the Muslims, learning the methods of war and the methods of fighting, and training on weapons, because he has a talent in this matter. If he has a talent for learning medicine, he learns medicine in order to benefit the Muslims with it and make them self-sufficient regarding the disbelievers. So everyone according to his talent. But after he has from the religious knowledge what protects his religion and his creed. Yes.