Part one contains: the attitude of Islam towards Science and technology. Part two contains contribution of Muslims in Social Sciences Part three contains the contribution of Muslims in the field of Natural Sciences
3. ِه ِادَبِعِل َجَر
ْ
خ
َ
أ ي ِت
َّ
ال ِ
َّاَّلل
َ
ة
َ
ينِز َمَّر َح ْن َم ْل
ُ
قِل َي ِه ْل
ُ
ق ِق
ْ
زِالر َنِم ِاتَبِي
َّ
الطَوَين ِذ
َّ
ل
ِة َامَيِق
ْ
ال َمْوَي
ً
ةَصِال
َ
خاَي
ْ
ن ُّالد ِاةَي َح
ْ
اليِف وا
ُ
ن َآمٍمْو
َ
قِل ِاتَي
ْ
اْل ُل ِص
َ
ف
ُ
ن َكِل
َ
ذ
َ
ك
َ
نو ُم
َ
لْعَي(32)
"Say (O Muhammad): Who hath forbidden the adornment (beautiful gifts)
of God which He hath brought forth for His bondsmen and the good
things of His providing?"
4.
َ
ن َس َحاَي
ْ
ن ُّالديِفا
َ
نِتآا
َ
نَّبَر ُلو
ُ
قَي ْن َم ْمُهْنِمَوَاب
َ
ذَعا
َ
نِقَو
ً
ة
َ
ن َس َح ِةَر ِخ
ْ
اْليِف َو
ً
ةِار
َّ
الن
(201)ِر َس ُ َّاَّللَوواُب َس
َ
كا َّمِم ٌيب ِص
َ
ن ْمُه
َ
ل َكِئ
َ
ول
ُ
أِاب َس ِح
ْ
ال ُُعي(202)
Our Lord! Give unto us in this world that which is best and in the Hereafter that
which is best, and guard us from the torment of Fire." (2:201)
To these will be allotted what they have earned; and Allah is quick in account.
(2:202)
5.
َ
ت
َ
َلَو
َ
ةَر ِخ
ْ
اْل َار َّالد ُ َّاَّلل َاك
َ
آتا َيمِف ِغ
َ
تْابَوَواَي
ْ
ن ُّالد َنِم َكَيب ِص
َ
ن َس
ْ
نا َم
َ
ك ْن ِس ْح
َ
أ
يِف َاد َس
َ
ف
ْ
ال ِغْب
َ
ت
َ
َلَو َكْي
َ
لِإ ُ َّاَّلل َن َس ْح
َ
أ
ُ ْ
ال ُّب ِحُي
َ
َل
َ َّاَّلل َّنِإ ِضْر
َ ْ
اْلَين ِد ِس
ْ
ف(77)
"But seek, with the (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on thee, the
Home of the Hereafter, nor forget thy portion in this world: but do thou
good, as Allah has been good to thee, and seek not (occasions for)
mischief in the land: for Allah loves not those who do mischief.“ (28:77)
It is this quest for well-being which attracts man to study and to learn, in as
perfect a manner as possible, all that exists in the universe so as to profit by it
and to be grateful to God for it.
6.
ُ
ك
َ
لا
َ
ن
ْ
لَع َجَو ِضْر
َ ْ
اْليِف ْم
ُ
اك
َّ
ن
َّ
ك َم ْد
َ
ق
َ
لَو
ُ
ك
ْ
ش
َ
تا َم
ً
يًلِل
َ
ق َشِايَع َماَيهِف ْم
َ
نوُر(10)
It is We Who have placed you with authority on earth, and provided you therein
with means for the fulfillment of your life: small are the thanks that ye give!
َ
ل ْم
ُ
ت ْس
َ
ل ْنَمَو َشِايَع َماَيهِف ْم
ُ
ك
َ
لا
َ
ن
ْ
لَع َجَو
َ
ننِقِزاَرِب ُه(20)
َّ
َلِإ ٍءْي
َ
ش ْنِم
ْ
نِإَو
َم ٍر
َ
د
َ
قِب
َّ
َلِإ ُه
ُ
لِز
َ
ن
ُ
نا َمَو ُه
ُ
نِئاَز
َ
خا
َ
ن
َ
د
ْ
نِعٍوم
ُ
لْع(21)
And We have provided therein means of subsistence,- for you and for those for
whose sustenance ye are not responsible.
And there is not a thing but its (sources and) treasures (inexhaustible) are with Us;
but We only send down thereof in due and ascertainable measures. (15:20-21)
7.
ُ
ثاًيعِم َج ِضْر
َ ْ
اْليِفا َم ْم
ُ
ك
َ
ل َق
َ
ل
َ
خي ِذ
َّ
ال َو ُهَس
َ
ف ِاء َم َّالسى
َ
لِإ ىَو
َ
ت ْاس َّمَّن ُاهَّو
ٌيمِلَع ٍءْي
َ
ش ِل
ُ
كِب َو ُهَو ٍاتَاو َم َس َُْب َس(29)
It is He Who hath created for you all things that are on earth; Moreover His
design comprehended the heavens, for He gave order and perfection to the seven
firmaments; and of all things He hath perfect knowledge. (2:29)
:لآلخرةخلقتموانتم لكمخلقتالدنيا ان
Dunya(thisworld)hasbeen created foryouandyouhavebeen created forthe Aakhirah (hereafter)"
8. True believers meditate over the creation of
Universe and acknowledge as:
َ
لَعَواًودُع
ُ
قَوا ًامَيِق
َ َّاَّلل
َ
نوُر
ُ
ك
ْ
ذَي َين ِذ
َّ
الِف
َ
نوُر
َّ
ك
َ
ف
َ
تَيَو ْمِهِوب
ُ
ن ُجىِق
ْ
ل
َ
خي
َبا
َ
ذ َه
َ
ت
ْ
ق
َ
ل
َ
خا َما
َ
نَّبَر ِضْر
َ ْ
اْلَو ِاتَاو َم َّالسَاب
َ
ذَع ا
َ
نِق
َ
ف َك
َ
ان َحْب ُس
ً
ًل ِاطِار
َّ
الن
(3:191)
Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down
on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens
and the earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou
created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of
the Fire.
9. The Prophet Muhammad (s.w.a) had always used
to pray:
ھیکمااالشیاءحقائقناراالھم
O! my Lord show me the realities of things as they are.
What beautiful prayer is the one which the Quran
teaches man:
ا ًم
ْ
لِعيِنْدِز ِبَر ْل
ُ
قَو(20:114)
…and say my Lord! Increase me in knowledge
10.
ُم
َ
لْع
َ
ت
َ
َل ْم
ُ
ت
ْ
ن
ُ
ك
ْ
نِإ ِر
ْ
ك ِالذ َل ْه
َ
أوا
ُ
ل
َ
أ ْاس
َ
ف
َ
نو(16:43)
“And ask the people of remembrance if ye know not”
Asking good questions is appreciated by the
Prophet (s.a.w)as:
(مرفوع حديث)ا
َ
نَرَب
ْ
خ
َ
أ
َ
خ
ْ
ال َيم ِاهَرْبِإ ُنْب ِ
َّاَّلل
ُ
ةَب ِهُّيِنَلْوثنا،أنبا ،ُدْبَع
ُّي ِد
ْ
ن
َ
قْر َم َّالس
َ
د َم ْح
َ
أ ُنْب ِارَّب َج
ْ
الثنا ،ٍيمِم
َ
ت ُنْب ُسِي
َ
خ ُمثنا ،ُنْب ُص
ْ
ف َح
َر َمُعْنَع،ٍُِفا
َ
نِنَع،َر َمُع ِنْابَال
َ
ق ،:َص ِ
َّاَّلل ُلو ُسَر َال
َ
قْي
َ
لَع ُ َّاَّلل ى
َّ
لِه
َم
َّ
ل َسَو: "ْيَع
ْ
ال
ُ
فْصِن ِة
َ
ق
َ
ف
َّ
الن يِف ُادَصِت
ْ
اَلق
َّ
الن ى
َ
لِإ ُدُّدَو
َّ
التَو ، ِشِاس
ْ
ال
ُ
فْصِن ِال
َ
ؤ ُّالس ُن َس َحَو ، ِل
ْ
قَع
ْ
ال
ُ
فْصِنِم
ْ
لِع" .
The Messenger of Allah Said moderation in consumption is a key to successful life
and loving people is triumph of wisdom and asking good question is the exact way
of knowledge.
11.
َق
َ
ل
َ
خي ِذ
َّ
ال َكِبَر ِم ْاسِب
ْ
أَر
ْ
اق(1)ٍق
َ
لَع ْنِم
َ
ان َس
ْ
نِ
ْ
اْل َق
َ
ل
َ
خ(2)َكُّب َرَو
ْ
أَر
ْ
اق
ُمَر
ْ
ك
َ ْ
اْل(3)ِم
َ
ل
َ
ق
ْ
الِب َم
َّ
لَعي ِذ
َّ
ال(4)ْم
َ
لْعَي ْم
َ
لا َم
َ
ان َس
ْ
نِ
ْ
اْل َم
َّ
لَع(96:1)
1. Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created-
2. Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood:
3. Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,-
4. He Who taught (the use of) the pen,-
5. Taught man that which he knew not.
12. ا
َ
أ
َ
دَب
َ
فْي
َ
كاوُر
ُ
ظ
ْ
ان
َ
ف ِضْر
َ ْ
اْليِفوا ُنر ِس ْل
ُ
قال ُئ ِش
ْ
نُي ُ َّاَّلل َّم
ُ
ث َق
ْ
ل
َ
خ
ْ
ل
َ
ةَر ِخ
ْ
اْل
َ
ة
َ
أ
ْ
ش
َّ
ن
ٌير ِد
َ
ق ٍءْي
َ
ش ِل
ُ
كى
َ
لَع
َ َّاَّلل َّنِإ(29:20)
Say: "Travel through the earth and see how Allah did originate creation; so will
Allah produce a later creation: for Allah has power over all things.
13. A firm belief requires from Muslims to get
expertise in theological sciences. While the other
pillars require Mundane Sciences like Zakat
requires knowledge of finance and financial
management that is why the knowledge of
inheritance is called half of the knowledge.
"مينزعمالوأوى ينسوهوالعلمنصفوهووعلموهائضرالفتعلمواأمتين"
“Seek the knowledge of inheritance and teach it because it is half of the whole
knowledge and Muslims will first forget it and this knowledge will be snatched first
as a symbol of the Doomsday”
14. The Hajj requires from Muslims to get the
knowledge of geography and astronomy and
similarly the Islamic fasting demands for the in-
depth knowledge in natural phenomena of setting
sun and appearing of dawn and understanding the
time and space. The study of the Quran requires
the knowledge of language in which it is revealed
that is the knowledge of linguistics. similarly
Tajweed requires the understanding of phonology
and phonetics.
15. The Quran demands from Muslims to change their
standards of life. If they stand for it then God will
help them.
ِن
َ
غُيىَّت َح ٍمْو
َ
قِبا َم ُرِن
َ
غُي
َ
َل
َ َّاَّلل َّنِإْمِه ِس
ُ
ف
ْ
ن
َ
أِبا َموا ُر(13:11)
surely Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own
condition;
Due to these repeated push fors, in the earlier 2nd
century of Hijra there begin to establish factories
for the manufacturing of paper all over the vast
Muslim empire to publish and promote knowledge.
16. The earlier Muslims have contributed in the
branches of social sciences which were particularly
more important and beneficial for mankind. The
reason was to give more and more benefit to
mankind in the light of cardinal principle:
الناسينفعمنالناسرخي
17.
18.
19. The perusal and understanding of the Divine
Message of God (the Quran and Sunnah) has
necessitated the study of the linguistic,
grammatical, historical, and even the speculative
sciences, along with many others - which
gradually developed into independent sciences of
general utility.
20. The need to preserve the message of Allah the
Quran and Sunnah, the earlier Muslims have
introduced different beautiful scriptures of the
Quran and Sunnah.
21. The universality of the Islamic teachings shows
that how carefully the earlier Muslims have
translated and transliterated the Message of God
into different languages of the world. The first
translation took place in very time of the Prophet
(s.a.w) by Hazrat Salman Farsi (r.a) into Persian.
22. The great interaction with the Quran of the earlier
Muslims enabled them to introduce beautiful
Arabic fonts of Calligraphy and Lithography.
23.
24.
25. The Muslims introduced a new field of social
sciences under the title of Elm al- Tafseer (علم
)التفسيرor the science of the interpretation of the
Quran. They have laid down principles and rules
for the interpretation of the Quran. This is also
known as Uloom al- Quran. The Muslims were
more curious to find out the will of God that carry
each and every verse of the Quran. Due to this zeal
Hazrat Abu Huraira said I know about each verse
of the Quran where it was revealed and who was
the addressee of the that verse.
26. Muslims have developed the science of
narration and have preserved the sayings
(both public and private) of the Prophet
Muhammad (s.a.w) by a process of first hand
knowledge. They have insisted on the
authenticity in all transmissions. This science
of narration is called ایوالرعلمه
27. How to make analysis of the text of a Hadith of the
Prophet (s.a.w) and to draw inferences from the
text of a particular Hadith, the Muhadditheen
()محدیثينhave introduced some rules and principles
in this connection. Every Muslim Muhaddith
()محدثis bound to follow those rules and
principles.
28. Writing biography is not the invention of Muslims
but Muslims have made the writing of biography
of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) unique from the
conventional style of writing biographies. They
have persisted on the authenticity of the
information provided in their biographies through
the science of narration. This is due the saying of
the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)
َع َّاَّللى
َّ
لَص ِي ِب
َّ
الن ِنَع
َ
ةَرْيَر ُهيِب
َ
أ ْنَعَال
َ
ق َم
َّ
ل َسَو ِهْي
َ
ل:َع َب
َ
ذ
َ
ك ْن َما ًدِمَع
َ
ت ُم َّي
َ
ل
ِار
َّ
الن َنِم ُه
َ
دَع
ْ
ق َم
ْ
أَّوَب
َ
تَي
ْ
ل
َ
ف
[أحمد،ماجةابن،دوداوأبي،الترمذي،يالبخار،مسلم]
He who deliberately forges a lie against me let him have his abode in the Hell
29. One could relate all that is known of the lives of Noah,
Moses, Jesus, Buddha and other great men of antiquity,
in a few pages only, but the known details of the
biography of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) fills
hundreds of pages, so great was the care that was taken
to preserve for posterity documented and precise data.
Muslims have insisted on the first hand knowledge
while compiling the Seerah of the prophet Muhammad
(s.a.w). They develop the simple style of writing
biographies into a Science of writing Biography of the
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) with all care and zest.
Writing the biography of the Prophet Muhammad
(s.a.w) will continue till the doomsday because
Muslims consider it an act of reward.
30. Although the Science of Dogmatico-scholastico is
the invention of Greeks and Indians but Muslims
scientists contributed to it a lot. The speculative
aspect of the Faith, particularly in the matter of
beliefs and dogmas, shows that the discussions
which began in the lifetime of the Prophet, became
later the root cause of different sciences, such as
the Kalam (dogmatico-scholastic),
and tasawwuf (mystico-spiritualistic).
31. The religious polemics with non-Muslims, and even
among Muslims themselves, introduced foreign
elements from Greek and Indian philosophy, etc. Later
on, Muslims did not lack their own great philosophers
endowed with originality and erudition, like al-Kindi,
al-Farabi, Ibn-Sina (Avicenna), Ibn-Rushd (Averroes),
imam Ghazali, Imam Abu Hanifa and Ibn Arabi.
The Quran urges Muslims in these words:
ٍاءَو َس ٍة َمِل
َ
ك ى
َ
لِإ اْو
َ
الَع
َ
ت ِاب
َ
ت ِك
ْ
ال َل ْه
َ
أاَي ْل
ُ
ق
َ
دُبْع
َ
ن
َّ
َل
َ
أ ْم
ُ
ك
َ
نْيَبَوا
َ
ن
َ
نْيَب
َ
كِر
ْ
ش
ُ
ن
َ
َلَو
َ َّاَّلل
َّ
َلِإ
ًابَبْر
َ
أ اًضْعَب ا
َ
نُضْعَب
َ
ذ ِخ
َّ
تَي
َ
َلَوا
ً
ئْي
َ
ش ِهِب
ُ
ق
َ
ف اْو
َّ
لَو
َ
ت
ْ
نِإ
َ
ف ِ
َّاَّلل ِنوُد ْنِم اا
َّ
ن
َ
أِب وا ُدَه
ْ
اشوا
ُ
ول َ
نو ُمِل ْس ُم(3:64)
Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That
we worship none but Allah. that we associate no partners with him; that we erect
not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn
back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah.s Will).
32. Arabic language a Bedouin language which was
limited to few regions was made international
language due the earlier Muslims inventions in the
fields of natural and social sciences. Muslims have
introduced new scientific terminologies and have
introduced the science of etymology of words. All
kinds of inventions were published in Arabic
language.
33. The Muslim designs of Masajids and
Madrassah/schools, community centers are
unique for cross ventilation and light.
Muslims have introduced fountains in the
lawns of their Masajids and other community
centers. The Taj Mehal is one of the 7 best
architectures of the world. Muslims have
introduce strategic forts for their armies. In
the era of Hazrat Umar the 2nd Caliph Muslim
designers and architectures have designed
new city maps in the newly conquered areas.
34. In the era of the Hazrat Umar (R.A) Bazars
and shopping centers were allocated and
their boundaries were also defined.
35. When the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w)
migrated to the City of Madinah al-
Munnawarah he established Masjid-e-Quba
and Masjid-e-Nabvi as a community centers.
In those community center the Prophet
(s.a.w) had used to plan for the important
and other public matters like War strategies,
distribution of amwaal-e-Ghanaim (spoils).
All the matters of public interest were
discussed and planned in these Masajids.
36. From the first day of the establishment of Islamic
State in Madinah, the Prophet Muhammad
37. The second caliph Hazrat Umar (r.a) had established a
public record of all the Muslims and had fixed
scholarships for each and every citizen of the Islamic
state. The amount of scholarship issued was per the
column or order of the citizens maintained in the
record called Dewan (.)دیوان
The record was maintained on the criterion:
Al- ssabiqoon al awwaleen (االولون )السابقون
Asshab-e-Badr (بدر )اصحاب
Al- Muta’khireen ()المتاخیرون or commoners
ْب ِدَّمَحُم َْنع ِيح ِحَّصال يِف ٌمِلْسُم ُهاَوَريِعِفَّاشال َلاَق ٍعِفاَر ِن:َقُلوُسَر ىَض
ِقاَعْلا ىَلَع َمَّلَسَو ِهْيَلَع ُهللا ىَّلَص ِهللاِالد ََانك ىَّتَح ،َانَِيود ََلَو ِةَلَين ِح ُانَيو
ْنَع ُهللا َي ِضَر َرَمُع ِانَمَز يِف ُلاَمْلا َرُثَكُه
38. In the era of Hazrat Umar, he was keeping
the record of the assets of his governors and
other collectors that to keep an vigilant eye
on the affairs of state’s men. Before
appointing any state’s man he used to keep
his record and after his retirement the Caliph
matched it with the previous record.
39. It was becoming necessary to finance the poor
people of the Islamic State, the second caliph
Hazrat Umar (r.a) established the treasury or the
system of Bait ul Maal.
عمر عن-عنه هللا رضي-المال بيت من سرق فيمن:قطع َل
حق فيه وله إَل أحد من ما ،عليه.
40. The Muslims were the first to accord it a place in the
legal system, creating both rights and obligations. This
may be observed in the rules of international law that
formed part of a special chapter in the codes and
treatises of the Muslim law ever since the earliest
times. It became an independent science in the name
of Siyar even in middle of 2nd century of Hijrah.
The International law introduced by Musllims makes
no discrimination among foreigners. It does not
concern inter-Muslim relations, but deals solely with
the non-Muslim States of the entire world. Islam in
principle forms one single unit and one single organic
community.
41. Muslims have introduced equality in the society
and the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) has
announced:
من كلكمو آدمتراب من آدم
Arabs have no preference over non Arabs and vice
versa:
ا أیام وسط في بمنى وسلم علیه هللا صلى هللا رسول خطبةلتشریق
أباكم وإن أال واحد ربكم إن أال الناس أیها فقال بعیر على وهو
أ على ألسود فضل ال أال عجمي على لعربي فضل ال أال واحدحمر
الغائ الشاهد لیبلغ قال نعم قالوا بلغت قد أال بالتقوى إالب.
42. Before Islam the ancient Greeks had their own
codified law whether less or more but the Muslims
have developed a science which should treat the
philosophy and sources of law, and the method of
legislation, interpretation, application, etc., of the
law was wanting, and this never struck the minds
of the jurists before Islam. Since the second
century of the Hijrah (800 C.E.) there began to be
produced Islamic works of this kind, called Usul
al-Fiqh.
43. In order to ease the juristic matters regarding different
daily life activities the five Imams recognized by the
Muslim Ummah for to be followed have analyzed each
juristic issue and have given their expert opinions.
These schools of thought were the product of earlier
decade of the second Hijrah year. These Imams are
known as: Imam Ja’far al- Sadiq, Abu Hanifah
Nauman bin Thabit, Ahmad bin Hanbal, Idrees al-
Shafi’ and Imam Malik bin Anas. Later on their Jurist
work became and independent Science of
Jurisprudence.
In order to bring into relief the reasons of their
differences as well as the effects of each divergence of
principle on a given point of law. The books of Dabusi
and Ibn Rushd are classics on the subject.
44. The written-constitution of the State is also an
innovation of the Muslims. In fact, Prophet
Muhammad was its author. When he established a
City-State at Madinah, he endowed it with a
written constitution. Its contents could be divided
into 52 clauses. It mentions in precise terms the
rights and obligations of the head of the State, of
constituent units, and of subjects respectively, in
matters of administration, legislation, justice,
defense, etc. It dates from the year 622 of the
Christian era.
45. In the field of law proper, codes have appeared
since the beginning of the second century of
the Hijrah. They are divided into three principal
parts: (i) cult or religious practices, (ii) contractual
relations of all kinds, and (iii) penalties. .
International law formed part of the penalties, war
being placed on the same level as action against
marauding brigands, pirates and other violators of
law or treaty.
46. In the field of history and sociology the work of
Muslims is important for two reasons:
1. Authenticity
2. preservation of the most varied details
Attestation by witnesses was once an exclusive feature
of judicial tribunals. The Muslims applied it to history;
one required evidence for each reported narration.
Biographical dictionaries are a characteristic feature of
Muslim historical literature. The dictionaries were
compiled according to professions, towns or regions,
centuries or epochs, etc.
Ibn Ishaq, at-Tabari, al- Mas'udi, Miskawaih, Saa'id al
Andalusi and Ibn Khaldun are the famous historians.
47. The dialogue of Abu-Hanifah (d. 767) reported by
al-Muwaffaq, (1, 161) is well known: A Mu'tazilite
asked him where the center of the earth was, and
he replied: "In the very place where thou art
sitting!" This reply can be given only if one meant
to convey that the earth was spherical. Even the
earliest world maps, prepared by Muslims,
represent the earth in circular shape.
The map of al-Idrisi, prepared for King Roger of
Sicily, (1101-54), astonishes us by its great
precision and exactitude.
48. . Ibn Majid, who served as pilot to Vasco da Gama as
far as India, already speaks of the compass as a
familiar thing.
Thousands of Muslim coins, discovered in the
excavations of Scandinavia, Finland, Russia, Kazan,
etc., show conclusively the commercial activity of
Muslim caravan-leaders during the Middle Ages.
Muslim mariners astonished us with their skill and
daring in their voyage from Basrah (Iraq) to China. The
words arsenal, admiral, cable, monsoon, which are all
of Arabic origin, are substantial proof of the Muslim
influence on modern Western culture.
49.
50. The discovery and study of a number of stars is
acknowledged to be a valuable and unforgettable
contribution of the Muslims. A very large number of
stars are still known in Western languages by their
Arabic names, and it is Ibn-Rushd (Averroes) who
recognized spots on the surface of the sun. The
calendar reform by 'Umar al-Khayyam outdistances by
far the Gregorian one. The pre-Islamic Bedouin Arabs
had already developed very precise astronomical
observations, not only for their nocturnal travel in the
desert, but also for meteorology, rain, etc. A number of
books called Kitab al-Anwa, gives us sufficient proof
of the extent of Arabic knowledge.
51. Under the Caliph al-Ma'mun, the circumference of
the earth was measured, the exactness of these
results was astonishing. Works were compiled very
early dealing with the ebb and flow of the tide,
dawn, twilight, rainbows, halos, and above all the
sun and the moon and their movements, since they
are immediately related with the question of the
hours of prayer and fasting.
52. Words used in Botany are quite characteristic. Except for
the names of certain plants which did not grow in the
Muslim empire, there is not a single technical term of
foreign origin therein; one found words for every term in
Arabic. The Kitab an-Nabat, Encyclopaedia Botanica of ad-
Dinawari (d. 895) in six thick volumes was compiled even
before the first translation into Arabic of the works on the
subject in Greek. In the words of Silverberg: After a
thousand years of study, Greek botany resumed with the
works of Dioscorides and Theophrastus, but the very first
Muslim work, of ad-Dinawari, on the subject far surpasses
them in erudition and extensiveness.(1) Ad-Dinawari
describes not only the exterior of each plant, but also their
alimentary, medicinal and other properties. He classified
them, spoke of their habitat, among other details.
53. In the words of Silverberg: After a thousand years
of study, Greek botany resumed with the works of
Dioscorides and Theophrastus, but the very first
Muslim work, of ad-Dinawari, on the subject far
surpasses them in erudition and
extensiveness.(1) Ad-Dinawari describes not only
the exterior of each plant, but also their alimentary,
medicinal and other properties. He classified them,
spoke of their habitat, among other details.
54. The observation of the life of the wild animals and
birds had always fascinated the Bedouins of
Arabia. AI-Jahiz (d. 868) has left a huge work for
popularizing the subject while referring to
evolution, which theme was later developed by
Miskawaih, al- Qazwini, ad-Damiri, and others,
not to speak of numerous works on falconery and
hunting by means of domesticated and trained
beasts and birds of prey.
55. The works of Razi (Rhazes), Ibn-Sina (Avicenna)
Abu'l-Qasim (Abucasis) and others remained until
recent times the basis of all medical study even in
the West. We know now that the fact of the
circulation of blood was also known to them,
thanks to the writings of Ibn an-Nafis.
56. This science owes a particular debt to the Muslims.
We possess the book of rays by al-Kindi (of the 9th
century), which was already far in advance of the
Greek lore of the incendiary mirrors. Ibn al-
Haitham (Alhazen, 965), who followed him, has
rightly merited a lasting celebrity. Al-Kindi, al-
Farabi, Ibn-Sina, al-Birun and others who were
representatives of Muslim science, yield their
place to none in the world history of science.
57. Allama Ibn Sina had written ninety nine
books on the pathology of eye and its
treatment. These books are still considered
authentic through out the globe.
58. For the underwater lore, numerous treatises were
written on pearl-fishery and the treatment of their
shells.
59. Abbas bn- Firnas (d.888) had invented an
apparatus, with which he flew a long distance. He
died in an accident, and left no successor to pursue
and perfect his work. Others invented mechanical
instruments for floating sunken ships, or pulling
out trees without difficulty that are of an enormous
dimension
60. the Muslims began very early an ever-progressive
and serious study of chemistry and physics.
Scientific works are attributed to Khalid ibn Yazid
(d. 704) and to the great jurist Ja'far as Sadiq (d.
765); and their pupil Jabir ibn Hayyan (cir. 776)
has justly remained celebrated throughout the ages.
The characteristic feature of their works has been
objective experimentation, instead of simple
specualtion; and it was through observation that
they accumulated facts.
61. Jabir knew the chemical operations of calcination
and reduction and he also developed the methods
of evaporation, sublimation and crystallization.
The existence of Latin translations of the works of
Jabir and others (for a long time were used as
textbooks in Europe) suffices to show how greatly
modern science is indebted to the works of the
Muslim savants, and how fast it developed, thanks
to the applications of the Arabo-Muslim method of
experimentation rather than the Greek method of
speculation.
62. . Mathematical science had left ineffaceable traces
of the Muslim share in its development. The
terms algebra, zero, cipher, etc., are of Arabic
origin. The names of al-Khwarizmi, 'Umar al-
Khayyam, al-Biruni and others shall remain as
famous as those of Euclid and the Indian author of
Siddhanta, etc. Trigonometry was unknown to the
Greeks - the credit for its discovery undoubtedly
goes to Muslim mathematicians.