Turkish Media Put Spotlight on the Upcoming Mustafa(pbuh) Prize
With the 6th Mustafa(pbuh) Prize just around the corner, Turkish media have placed the spotlight on the event with extensive reports, analyses, and interviews.
Tasnim – Widely recognized as the “Nobel of the Islamic world,” the Mustafa(pbuh) Prize ceremony will take place on September 8, 2025, in Tehran. Established in 2015, the Prize honors the leading scientists and researchers from the Islamic world, as well as scholars whose works have significantly contributed to the advancement of these countries. Highlighting innovative achievements in science and technology, the Prize stands as a symbol of the intellectual vitality and scientific capacity of the Islamic world.
As the new edition of the Mustafa(pbuh) Prize approaches, several media outlets from Turkey have published reports highlighting its history and significance. In the following, we’ll review some of this coverage:
Bilim ve Ütopya
In a report, this news outlet regarded the Prize as a symbol of scientific achievement in the Islamic world, pointing out that the “Muslim Nobel” will be awarded in Tehran on September 8. The report also mentioned the fact that the ceremony coincides with the anniversary of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad and Islamic Unity Week. This report delineated the four categories of the Prize: Information and Communication Science and Technology, Life and Medical Sciences, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, and Basic Sciences and Engineering. It also mentioned that aside from the major award ceremony, there are other programs such as the Young Scientist Medal (awarded to those under 40), the Noor Student Competition, Science Cafes, and STEP (Science and Technology Exchange Program in Islamic Countries).
The report further looks back at the history of the Prize and its laureates — figures such as Omar Yaghi, Ugur Sahin, Umran Inan, and Ali Khademhosseini, along with more recent awardees from the United States, Lebanon, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Turkey. It highlighted the strong presence of Turkish scientists among the laureates, noting that their participation has created an important bridge between Iran and Turkey’s scientific community.
Yeni Akit
The Turkish newspaper Yeni Akit similarly pointed out the powerful presence of Turkish scientists among the laureates, emphasizing its role in strengthening Iran-Turkey scientific collaborations. The article also reported that the 6th edition of the “most prestigious scientific award in the Islamic world” will be held in Tehran with the participation of scientists and scientific officials from various countries. It further pointed out that the ceremony is part of the Mustafa(pbuh) Prize Week, during which several scientific competitions and science outreach programs will be held.
BNC Medya Haber
This Turkish outlet published a report headlined “The Nobel Prize of the Islamic World awarded in Tehran on September 8!” providing background on the Mustafa(pbuh) Prize and details of its timetable. The outlet, while highlighting the international reputation of the prize, described it as a symbol of scientific progress in the Muslim world, stressing that Muslim scholars and researchers working in fields relevant to Islamic countries are its primary audience.
It also highlighted the Prize’s mission to inspire young scientists, promote scientific exchange among Islamic countries, and showcase outstanding achievements.
Dikgazete
According to this outlet, rather than competing with the West, the Prize seeks to revive the scientific heritage of Islamic countries and bring together the scientists from these countries. The report refers to the Prize as a scientific platform through which leading researchers and innovators of the Muslim world are recognized and honored, scientists whose research demonstrates both exceptional scientific merit and significant social impact. The regular occurrence of the award ceremonies over the past decade testifies to the fact that it is a long-term investment in science and technology in Islamic countries.
Timeturk
Highlighting the scientific legacy left behind by such big scientists as Ibn Sina, al-Farabi, and Ibn al-Haytham, this news outlet deems the Mustafa(pbuh) Prize as a modern endeavor toward reviving the scientific glory of the Islamic world. This article pointed to the fact that the Prize focuses on areas which move beyond the theoretical realm, leaving a tangible trace in human lives. Such areas include Life and Medical Science, Information and Communication Science, and Nanoscience.
The report further detailed the conditions and the two-step process of nomination. It also pointed to the role that the Prize plays in connecting the 57 countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Muslim scientific community outside these countries.
It mentioned that the Prize is financed through hundreds of benefactors, with no affiliation with the government, guaranteeing its political independence. The report concluded with the success of the Turkish laureates of the Prize, Sami Erol Gelenbe, Ugur Sahin, Umran Inan, and Murat Uysal.
