Islamic Concept of Education: Apparatus and Appliances

1. "APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES"
NORAIMAH SAMPORNA ABDULBASIT
Early Islamic World: Science and Technology
Science and Technology flourished during the Islamic Golden Age from around 780 CE to 1248 CE.
During this time, scholars in the Middle East made great advances in the areas of mathematics, physics,
geography, and medicine.
Why did science technology flourish during this time?
Science and technology advanced during the Islamic Golden Age for many reasons. First, the pursuit of
knowledge was encouraged both by the Islamic religion and the Islamic government. Scholars were
respected by the people and sponsored by the government.
Astronomy
Astronomy was an important part of Islamic science. It was used for navigation, determining an accurate
calendar, and for religious purposes (determining the direction of Mecca and prayer times). Islamic
astronomers built large observatories for viewing the stars. They also designed detailed celestial globes
showing the positions of the stars and planets in relation to the Earth. New tools were developed
including the quadrant and the .
ICE: Appliances and Appratus
Educational apparatus and appliances in certain subjects formed an important part of class room
equipment. Quite a formidable assortment of apparatus was required in the teaching of astronomy and
normally every institution had an astrolabe, an astronomical globe and other accessories.
Ibn Nadim gives a formidable list of the practisers of the art' The scientists in charge of the college clock
tower had an opportunity to make a practical use of their knowledge and some of them employed their
skill in making astronomical apparatus.
Al Mizi the time keeper of the Friday mosque at Damascus (died beginning of 750 A H ) had a great skill
in making atrolabes and quadrants. His astrolabes were priced at one hundred dirhams a piece while the
quadrants were sold for fifty dirhams.
Al-Badi, an astrolabe maker of Baghdad had a remarkable inventive genius and had introduced
significant improvement in astronomical apparatus and appliances.
Abu Bakr Yahya al-Biyasi, the pupil of Ibn al-Naqqash who knew cabinet making used to design
geometrical instruments for his teacher and had prepared quite a large number of them.
The instrument commonly used in the indigeneous colleges in India was called astarlab-i-Humayuni
because it had been prepared by Sheikh Allah Dad, an expert under the direction of Humayun the
Mughal ruler: who was keenly interested in the science and used to impart instruction in the subject.

2. Indian astronomers used as a rule the instruments similar to those installed by Ulugh Beg at the
Samarkand observatory but Raja Jai Singh of Amber who raised the splendid observatory of Jantar
Mantar at Delhi had invented some instruments for himself.
Once Ibn al-Sanbadi, an astrolabe maker of Egypt had an opportunity of visiting the royal library which
was being recatalogued by a minister of state. He had the opportunity to see there an astronomical globe
prepared by Ptolemy which was one in the possession of Khalid bin Yahd bin Muawiyah. There was
another globe which was made for Malik Adhd ad-Dawlah which weighed 3000 dirhams and was priced
at 300 dinars.