Islam is a culture of conquest. It's Golden Age was during its period of expansion and conquest. It absorbed Persia and Babylon and Byzantium, Roman colonies in North Africa, and parts of India.
In the process, it absorbed people who understood how to run a civilization. While such people were being absorbed, Islamic civilization functioned. But for existing Muslims, there was no respect for learning that was not related to the Koran. When Islam stopped conquering existing civilizations, and the inflow of people stopped, Islam went into decline.
The Chinese experienced a similar lock in time. They were very advanced many thousands of years ago long before the other civilizations but something happened. They were forging and casting various metals very early on. Whatever it was basically stopped all innovation and locked their history.
In the ancient world, conquest of land was considered a hallmark of civilization and by that count, Islam was remarkably successful until about the time of the European Renaissance. But other than some geometric art and some modern scientists (who live in the west), the Islamic world has produced very little for civilization. In fact, innovation is actively discouraged by most Muslim nations even though some very creative and intelligent people do break through -- especially in the modern era.