Response to one who claims that the Muslims’ backwardness is because of their adherence to their religion
Question

                Some people claim that the reason why the Muslims are backward is their adherence to their religion.  Their flawed argument is based on the idea that when the west gave up all religions and freed themselves from them, they reached the level of civilized advancement that they have reached. What is your opinion?.
Praise be to Allah.
    Such words can only come from one who is weak in faith or has 
    no faith at all, is ignorant of history and knows nothing of the means of 
    success and prevailing. When the Muslim ummah adhered to its religion at the 
    beginning of Islam, it had power, might and strength, and were advanced in 
    all aspects of life. Indeed, some people say that the west did not advance 
    in different branches of knowledge except after learning and taking 
    knowledge from the Muslims in the early centuries of Islam. But the Muslim 
    ummah started to fall short in its commitment to its religion and introduced 
    into the religion of Allaah things that are not part of it, in terms of 
    beliefs, words and actions. That led to falling behind and becoming backward 
    to a large extent. We know for certain, and Allaah is our witness, that if 
    we go back to what our forebears followed in religious terms, we would 
    become great and honoured and would prevail over all people. Hence, when Abu 
    Sufyaan spoke to Heraclius, the Byzantine ruler – and Byzantium at that time 
    was regarded as a superpower – and told him about the way of the Prophet 
     (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions, he 
    said: “If what you are saying is true, then he will take possession of what 
    lies beneath these two feet of mine.” When Abu Sufyaan and his companions 
    left Heraclius, he said: “The affair of Ibn Abi Kabshah is becoming so 
    serious that the king of Banu’l-Asfar [i.e., the Byzantines] is afraid of 
    him.” 

    With regard to what has happened in the western kaafir and 
    atheist states of progress in terms of industry and the like, our religion 
    does not forbid that, if we follow its teachings. But unfortunately we have 
    lost both. We have neglected our religion and we have neglected our worldly 
    affairs. But Islam is not contrary to such progress; rather Allaah says 
    (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “And make ready against them all you can of power, 
    including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery) to threaten the 
    enemy of Allaah and your enemy, and others besides whom, you may not know 
    but whom Allaah does know. And whatever you shall spend in the Cause of 
    Allaah shall be repaid unto you, and you shall not be treated unjustly.”

    [al-Anfaal 8:60] 

    “He it is Who has made the earth subservient to you (i.e. 
    easy for you to walk, to live and to do agriculture on it); so walk in the 
    path thereof and eat of His provision. And to Him will be the Resurrection”

    [al-Mulk 67:15] 

    “He it is Who created for you all that is on earth”

    [al-Baqarah 2:29]

    And there are other verses, which clearly state to man that 
    he should earn and work and benefit, but not at the expense of his religious 
    commitment. These kaafir nations were originally kaafir, and the religions 
    that they followed were false religions; their religion and their rejection 
    of their religion is all the same, with no difference. Allaah says 
    (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will 
    never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers”

    [Aal ‘Imraan 3:85]

    Although the Jews and Christians have some characteristics in 
    which they differ from others, with regard to the Hereafter they and others 
    will all be the same. Hence the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah 
    be upon him) swore that any Jew or Christian among this nation who heard of 
    him and did not follow what he brought would be among the people of Hell. So 
    they are basically kaafirs, whether they follow Judaism or Christianity or 
    not. 

    With regard to what they have of rain and other blessings, 
    this happens to them as a test from Allaah, to hasten their good things for 
    them in this world, as the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be 
    upon him) said to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab, when he saw the marks of his reed 
    mat on his side, and ‘Umar wept and said: “O Messenger of Allaah, the 
    Persians and Romans [Byzantines] are living a live of ease and you are in 
    this state.” He said: “O ‘Umar, these are people for whom their good things 
    have been hastened in this world. Doesn’t it please you that this world 
    should be for them and the Hereafter should be for us?” Moreover, they are 
    faced with drought, calamities, earthquakes and destructive storms, as is 
    well known and is always broadcast in the media, in newspapers and 
    elsewhere. But those who make the claim referred to in the question are 
    blind; Allaah has blinded them to the truth and they do not know what is 
    really going on.  

    My advice to them is to repent to Allaah from such thoughts 
    before death takes them unawares, and to turn back to their Lord. They 
    should realize that we will have no might or pride or strength or leadership 
    unless we come back to the religion of Islam in a true sense, in word and 
    deed. They should realize that the path these kuffaar are following is false 
    and is not true, and their final destiny will be the Fire, as Allaah has 
    told us in His Book and on the lips of His Messenger  (peace and 
    blessings of Allaah be upon him). This blessing that Allaah has given them 
    of ease is nothing more than a test and a trial, and hastening of good 
    things in this world, until they die and leave behind this comfort and go to 
    Hell, where the loss, pain and grief will be increased for them. This is the 
    wisdom of Allaah behind the ease that these people enjoy. But as you say, 
    they are not free of calamities that befall them, such as earthquakes, 
    droughts, storms, floods and so on. I ask Allaah to guide this questioner 
    and bring him back to the truth, and to give us all insight into our 
    religion, for He is Most Generous, Most Kind. End quote. 

    And Allaah knows best.