That's not exactly 100% true. islam did reach a fork in the road, with reform and elightenment down one road, and darkness and dispair down the other. It was the time when Whabbism reared it's ugly head. Things haven't reached to point of no return for moslems; islam as a whole does keep treading down that dark path, though.
I've heard about Islam's enlightenment and their "Golden age." Unfortunately, much of that enlightenment appears to have come at the expense of other's cultures.
I've read some interesting articles on the Chritian Assyrians, who inhabited the region long before Arab/Islam existed and came calling on their societies...as they plundered both the people and the knowledge.
Those who didn't convert were forced to pay exhorbinent taxes, leaving them as second class citizens. The others who did, formed the backbone of Islamic culture until they eventually died...and with them, so did Islam's enlightenment.
Peter DeBasso (sp) wrote a wonderful letter to one the heads of Hewlett Packard after some misreprentations were made on behalf of Islam. It can be found through a Google search of "What Arab Civilization." I've since corresponded with Peter to learn more about the Assyrians...and find him immensely knowledgable on the subject.