ISLAM Science & Medicine

Question: Does modern science benefit from Islamic scholarship hundreds of years ago?

"Absolutely" says Yusuf Estes, "Just think of the major contributions Muslims gave the whole world over the last 1,400 years.."

Muslim Spain - Cairo's Al Azhar - Morocco's Fes University - Baghdad's Antiquities - Syria and so many other great contributers to the modern day science and medicine, the likes of which we could never begin to estimate....

Muslim Contributions to the West

Muslims played a principal role in the history of Spain. They lit up the Iberian Peninsula while the rest of Europe was engulfed in darkness.

They led Andalusia, producing a great civilization far ahead and advanced than the rest of Europe.

Under Muslim rule, Spain was "THE" center for learning and knowledge. Muslims taught people to read and write in Arabic and Quran, and Hadith. Spanish Muslims produced the leaders in math, science, medicine, astronomy, and navigation.

Andalus was famous for prosperity as people who quested for knowledge came from everywhere to learn in its universities under at the feet of the Muslim scholars.

Intellectual giants in Andalus rose up in great number. Islamic Spain saw doctors, philosophers, scientists, judges, and artists. Ibn Rushd, (Averroes) Ibn Sina, (Avicenna) Ibn Rushd, (Avenzoar), Al-Kwarizmi, (Algorizm) and Al-Razi, (Razes) - all Muslims from Andalus.

Martin Luther, was also educated in Andalusia. Andalus prodused philosophers, like Ibn Sina, and Ibn Rushd.

Christians "borrowed" their philosophies. Ibn Rushd reconciled reason with religion. Both St. Thomas Aquinas and Dante called Ibn Rushd, "The Commentator" and they used the views of Islam.

St. Thomas Aquinas attempted to refute Ibn Rushd's ideas because they placed a great deal of emphasis on human reason over faith, a "threat" to his Christian beliefs.

Dante was familiar with Muslim figures. It is reported by William Phipps, in his book, Muhammad and Jesus: "A Comparison of the Prophets and their Teachings".

The theme of Divine Comedy was inspired by the Miraj (ascension) of Muhammad, peace be upon him, to heaven.

Ibn Sina's work, Al-Qanun, (Canon) was a widely used medical work. In European Universities for over 300+ years, it formed half the medical curriculum.

The list of contributions from the Andalusian Muslims is endless.

The Islamic civilization reached its peak in 10th century, and by 1100, the number of Muslims rose to almost 6 million.

In Cordoba alone: 200,000 houses, 600 mosques, 900 public baths, 10,000 lamps, 50 hospitals, and lighted and paved streets.

Muslims introduced public baths because of their washing to prepare for the daily prayers.

Libraries and research institutions grew fast in Muslim Spain. While the rest of Europe still was illiterate and stagnet.

Arab scholars produced encyclopedias on medicine and astronomy in 11th century, also including astrology, psychology, zoology, biology, botany, chemistry, physics, mathematics, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, etc. Christian scholars couldn't wait to get them (and translate them).

Toledo, in Spain, thrived essentially because of its Muslim rule and practice. It became the "Cradle of Learning," and the chief point of interaction between the Muslims, Christians and Jews.

The scholars of the West traveled to Spain and Sicily to learn Arabic and to make transcripts of texts in Latin. Muslims produced cotton, paper, salt, silk, satin, pepper, stamps, clocks, soaps, rulers, maps, globes, furs, velvets, described over 200 surgical instruments, and named over 200+ stars with Arabic names.

The Islamic civilization in Spain was the main threshold behind the European Renaissance.

From the first time Muslims set foot in Spain in 711 until 1084 (a year before Toledo was taken) Muslim Spain had become an area unique to the entire world.

Muslim scribes in Spain developed calligraphy into art form. Islamic art is known for its repetitious patterns, a constant reminder of the uniqueness of God.

Calligraphical, floral, arabesque, and geometric designs flourished in the Muslim world.

Our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said:
"Whoever makes images of living creatures in this world (human or animal) will be ordered to put soul in it, which he will never be able to do."

Many Muslims don't draw or paint figures of people or animals. Yet, the beauty of Islamic art does not lack anything in style and form. They concentrae on other things Allah (God) has created.

Paintings of inanimate objects, trees and flowers are encouraged. Islam says the making of images can lead to paganism.

Muslim artisans mastered remarkable skills and their architecture and design and made beautiful Mosques and palaces.

The Alhambra Palace, and The Great Mosque of Cordoba, are just two of the most famous magnificent architectural masterpieces of the Muslims, still seen today. Of the Alhambra, it is called, "a utopia, the brightest memory of a lost golden age of pleasure, poetry, tolerance, art, and learning."

One Muslim poet wrote: "A sun dwells in this place and even its shadow is blessed. In this palace a multitude of pleasures capture the eye and suspend the intellect. Here a crystal world teaches marvels. Everywhere Beauty is carved, opulence is manifest."

Islamic architecture in Spain is so elaborate and decorative with intricate designs. Stone, and stucco, plaster for coating exterior walls, were widely favored. Later, brick replaced stone. The "Mezquita" or Great Mosque of Cordoba and the Alhambra of Granada are two Islamic monuments utilizing this design.

Sadly, not many examples of Islamic architecture remain in Spain today. The Muslims were exterminated (officially) in 1492. The mosques were destroyed or converted to churches.

Alhambra is the one of the only palaces left intact and preserved of all the Muslim masterpieces in Spain.

It can also compete with our love for Allah, who is the sole creator of the Universe and all it's inhabitants.

NOTE: Some can blame the Catholic Church for the Crusades of 1100 and 300 years later, the Inquistion, laying waste to most of the beauties and destroying the beautiful structures, well known in Muslim Spain (killing anyone who would not say, "Three gods").

The TRUTH is ALLAH. ONLY Allah is the ultimate Planner, Designer and Guide. So, everything is from Allah (EVERYTHING).
It may be the Muslims were getting arrogant, showing off and fighting among themselves.
This may be a test for some and a challenge for others. 

References:
. Shubert, Adrian. The Land and People of Spain. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1992.
. Chejne, Anwar. Muslim Spain: Its history and culture. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1974.
. Saud, Muhammad. Islam and Evolution of Science. India: Adam Publishers & Distributers, 1994. and Vernet, Juan. Al-Andalus: The Art of Islamic Spain. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Abrams, 1992.
. Harvey, L.P. Islamic Spain: 1250-500. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1990.
. Barrucand, Marianne. Moorish Architecture in Andalusia. Italy: Taschen, 1992.
. King, Geoffrey. Architecture of the Islamic World. London: Thames and Hudson, 1978.
. Rodriguez, D.C. Al-Andalus: The Art of Islamic Spain. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Abrams, 1992.
. Grabar, Oleg. The Alhambra. Massachusetts: Harvard University, 1978.

More?
www.ScienceIslam.com