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Muslim Inventions : How they changed the world

Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Cities of Muslim Scientists - (700 - 1500) C.E.

The table below summarizes the cities where Muslim Scientists, Astronomers and Philosophers were born, educated and conducted their monumental works.

In cases where they traveled to many cities in a country only the country name is shown. The country name associated with a city is shown as we know it today, with a few exceptions.

During the Islamic rule, particularly under the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphate, many countries (from north Africa, Caucasus, Iran, northwest China to northwest India) came under one Caliph. These were then known as principalities and the person in-charge was known as the Governor of that country or region. A person (including a foreigner) could travel freely in Muslim countries without requiring any proof of citizenship and without any hindrance.


Jabir Ibn Haiyan (Geber)Kufa (Iraq)KufaAl-AsmaiBasrah (Iraq)Basrah

Al-Khawarizmi (Algorizm)Baghdad (Iraq)Kheva, Khwarizm


(Uzbekistan)​

Al-Kindi (Alkindus)BaghdadKufa

Thabit Ibn Qurrah (Thebit)BaghdadHarran (Turkey)

Ali Ibn Rabban Al-TabariBaghdadMarv (Tabristan)

Ibn Al-Haitham (Alhazen)Basrah, Baghdad, SpainBasrah

Abu Raihan Al-BiruniGhazna (Afghanistan), Several Cities in IndiaKhwarizm; now

Kara-Kalpakshaya​

(Uzbekistan)
Ibn Sina (Avicenna)Bukhara (Uzbekistan),​


Rayy, Hamadan and
Isphahan (Iran)​
Afshana,

BukharaAl-Zarqali (Arzachel)SpainSpain

Ibn Zuhr (Avenzoar)Seville (Andalusia, Spain), Baghdad, CairoSeville
​

(Andalusia)
Ulugh BegSamarqand (Turkistan;​


now Uzbekistan)​
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
WHO WERE SOME OF THE MEDIEVAL EUROPEAN SCHOLARS INFLUENCED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY THE WRITINGS OF ISLAMIC SCHOLARS?

The list is almost endless, but here are a few prominent names:

Adelard of Bath, Peter Abelard, Robert Grossetteste, Alexander of Hales, Albertus Magnus, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bonaventura, Duns Scotus, Roger Bacon, Marsilius of Padua, Richard of Middleton, Nicholas Oresme, Joannes Buridanus, Siger of Brabant, John Peckham, Henry of Gant, Williams of Occham, Walter Burley, William of Auvergne, Dante Algheri, Blaise Pascal, and numerous others.

The well-known early 12th century Englishman, Adelard of Bath, often proudly acknowledged his debt to the Arabs - "trained (as he says) by Arab scientists....I was taught by my Arab masters to be led only by reason, whereas you were taught to follow the halter of the captured image of ancient authority [i.e., authority of the Church]" (Tina Stiefel, The Intellectual Revolution in Twelfth Century Europe; St. Martin's Press, N.Y., 1989; pp.71, 80).

http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/ghazi1.html
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Art and architecture in Maghrib and Andalusia:

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Some Caliphs, including Abdul Rahman Al Nassir, Hisham, Abdul Hakam and others, paid great attention to art and architecture. They bestowed so much love and care to them that Cordoba, the capital at that time, assumed a universal importance and was called "The City of Science, Money and Beauty." Andalusia has retained the greatest wealth of Islamic art. It stands prominently as an historical milestone with mystique and immortality.

Granada is the last Islamic City in Spain. Its name is always linked to the most famous Islamic monument that exists in that region: Alhambra Palace. It is a source of pride for Islamic architecture and one of the miracles of ancient Islamic art. Alhambra (Al Hamra in Arabic) Palace was built in the early 13th century AD. It still carries the motto of the Al Ahmar family in Kufi and Naskh calligraphy on all its walls and on the walls of its adjoining buildings: "There is No Conqueror But Allah". The palace comprises of several important architectural elements, including Al Shurah Hall, which leads into Al Ace Hall that has an artificial pool, then the Ambassadors Hall, where the throne was, and then to the famous Loins Hall. The halls of the palace are its most magnificent and beautiful features. The ceilings of the bathrooms in the palace are made of dome-shaped glass allowing only the weakest rays of the sun to penetrate inside the bathrooms, giving them a special beauty.

Seville was generally characterized by good planning and coordination, which was helped by the rich landscape and beautiful scenery around it. Cordoba was the capital of the Umayyad in Andalusia, and its most beautiful feature is the Grand Mosque with its myriad porticos and columns.

The Qayrawan que and Zaytoona Mosque in Tunisia are two of the most famous Islamic architectural monuments that have survived in Maghrib (Western North Africa).[/FONT]

http://www.islam-online.net/English/ArtCulture/2000/2/article7.shtml
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Setting the Record Straight on Islamic Science

The concept that the sciences are exclusively the products of Western minds remains unquestioned by most individuals. A review of any of the standard texts or encyclopedias regarding the history of science would support this view. As these books are perused, it becomes evident that the only contributors given significant mention are Europeans and/or Americans.

It is hardly necessary to repeat the oft-mentioned names: Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, Bacon, Newton, Da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, etc. The unavoidable conclusion is that major contributions to the development of the modern sciences by other cultures is minimal. Most texts give little or no mention of the advancements made by ancient Indian, Chinese or, particularly, Muslim scholars.

Western civilization has made invaluable contributions to the development of the sciences. However, so have numerous other cultures. Unfortunately, Westerners have long been credited with discoveries made many centuries before by Islamic scholars.

Thus, many of the basic sciences were invented by non-Europeans. For instance, George Sarton states that modern Western medicine did not originate from Europe and that it actually arose from the (Islamic) orient.

The data in this section concerning dates, names and topics of Western advances has been derived from three main sources: World Book Encyclopedia, Encyclopaedia Britannica and Isaac Asimov's 700 page book, Chronology of Science and Discovery. Supportive data for the accomplishments of Islamic scholars is derived from the miscellaneous references listed in the bibliography of this book.

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What is Taught: The first mention of man in flight was by Roger Bacon, who drew a flying apparatus. Leonardo da Vinci also conceived of airborne transport and drew several prototypes.

What Should be Taught: Ibn Firnas of Islamic Spain invented, constructed and tested a flying machine in the 800's A.D. Roger Bacon learned of flying machines from Arabic references to Ibn Firnas' machine. The latter's invention antedates Bacon by 500 years and Da Vinci by some 700 years.

http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/sciencehistory.htm
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Grandeur of Granada

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]When Muslims arrived in Spain during early eighth century, they thought they had discovered heaven on earth. Water being somewhat of a luxury for them, they found it in the snows of Spain's mountain peaks. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]By a series of intricate channels, they directed water into the palace grounds and onto plains below. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Still today in Granada one gets a glimpse of paradise (so described even by many subsequent visitors and travelers as well) in the majesty of Alhambra Palace and the adjacent Generalife Gardens (Arabic Janna al-Arif, the Garden of the Architect). Small streams carry the water to numerous fountains and ponds, water even rushing over a stone stairway. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]One observes and hears splashing and gushing water, with displays of color under the conifers--roses, lilies, jasmine, etc. Aside from the luxury of the Palace itself, there are the courtyards shaded by a variety of trees and cooled by fountains and underground water channels, and walls decorated by patterned tiles.[/FONT]

http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/travelogue1.htm#granada
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Cordoba's Grand Mosque and Surroundings[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]From Granada, I proceeded by bus to Cordoba. As I was riding in the bus, I could see, through the eyes of my eyes, the presence of Muslims in history, especially conspicuous because I could see former mosques in every little town along the way. And then, about every few miles, I could see forts and castles on mountain tops, now displaying Christian symbols, as well as often churches besides them. ...[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Among the various monuments of Islamic Spain, the most intense yearning of my soul was to experience the Grand Mosque (Le Mezquita) of Cordoba, built in the 8th century by Emir [/FONT][FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Abdul Rehman I[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif], but now called The Holy Cathedral. [The construction of the great mosque of Cordoba began in 786 CE on a site purchased for 100,000 gold dinars]. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Immediately after arriving at my hotel in Cordoba on December 8th, I was able to join a guided tour that took me to the Mosque. As a Muslim, just being there was overwhelmingly therapeutic, for here, before my own eyes, was about the most vivid reminder of the Golden Age of Islam, an era that provided the roots of Europe's Enlightenment. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]In the open compound, there were ornate rows of orange trees, with the Cathedral's bell-tower on one side, once the muezzin's minaret. As we entered the Mosque, I could also see the Cathedral, which the Catholic hierarchy, so as to emphasize the victory over Islam, built in the center of the Mosque during early 16th century. While there was some controversy at the time as to the building of the Cathedral, fortunately its presence helped to preserve the Grand Mosque from complete destruction at the hands of the new rulers. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]While standing in the Mosque, I felt spiritually immersed in its serenity and grandeur. There were the majestic arches and columns; there was the symmetry of chandeliers in all directions, interrupted by the presence of the Cathedral. As I saw the mihrab, I was instinctively drawn toward it. It was enclosed by a metal fence, but I could see several Qura'anic verses on the walls, beautifully inscribed in Arabic calligraphy, intertwined with colored tilework, and with Christian statues and crosses above. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Again, it was easy to flashback - and I could see myself standing in prayers, shoulder to shoulder, along side such Muslim intellectual giants of Cordoba as Ibn Hazam, Al-Qurtubi, al-Maqqari, al-Ghafiqi, Ibn Tufayl, Ibn Rushd, Ibn Al-Arabi, and others who once made Cordoba the supreme intellectual center of the world.[/FONT]

http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/travelogue1.htm#grand
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]The Muslims’ pioneering innovations touched every dimension of Western life![/FONT]

Medieval Spain is indeed a good example, it was a time where Muslims, Christians, and Jews managed to live and work side by side, creating a culture of tolerance, that needs to be followed in today’s world.

If Europe had known as much of Islam, as Muslims knew of Christianity, current animosity against Muslims and circulating Myth about Islam being an intolerant religion, a faith followed only by fanatics and terrorists, could not have taken place.
I recommend buying “1001 inventions”, a book that tackles how Muslim civilisation set trends in eating, music and style that influenced our modern world.

Teach your children tolerance whether Jews, Christian or Muslims. Teach them true and honest history that presents facts and doesn’t deny any civilisation its achievements, so as to face today’s twisted world that is clouded by hatred and religious tensions.

http://www.aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/news_service/article_full_story.asp?service_ID=11378
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
TRANSLATORS OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE IN THE MIDDLE AGES

By the tenth century, the intellectual superiority of the Arabs (Muslims) was recognized in Europe. The first Christian to take up the torch of learning was Pope Sylvester II (Gerbert, d. 1003 AD). He introduced the Arab astronomy and mathematics, and Arabic numerals in place of the clumsy Roman ones. He was followed by many, especially Constantinus Africanus in the eleventh century, and Bishop Raymond (Raimundo) in the twelfth century.

As early as eleventh century Toledo became a center for the transmission of Arabic (Islamic) culture and science to Europe. A number of translators flourished there. Among the scholars, who flocked to it from all over Europe, were Gerard of Cremona (1117- 1187) and John of Seville. Other famous translators were Adelard of Bath, Robert of Chester, Michael Scot, Stephenson of Saragossa, William of Lunis and Philip of Tripoli. The early translations were primarily into Latin and some into Hebrew. Subsequent translations were done from Latin or Hebrew into vernacular languages of Europe.

Many translators at Toledo had neither command over the Arabic language nor sufficient knowledge of the subject matter. They translated word for word and, where they failed to understand, Latinized the Arabic words. Under the supervision of Archdeacon Domenico Gundisalvi, and with the cooperation of the Hebrew Johannes ben David, the school of the Archbishop of Toledo rendered into Latin a large number of Arabic works on science and philosophy. Gerard, who reminded Hunayn ibn Ishaq of Toledo, translated into Latin more than seventy Arabic books on different subjects. He was born in 1114 in Cremona, Italy.

He went to Toledo, Spain to learn Arabic so he could translate available Arabic works into Latin. Gerard remained there for the rest of his life and died in 1187 in Toledo, Spain (Andalusia). Gerard's name is sometimes written as Gherard. Among his translations were the surgical part of Al-Tasrif of Al-zahravi (Albucasis), the Kitab al-Mansuri of AL-Razi (Rhazes) and the Qanun of Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Banu Musa's works, Al-Biruni's commentry on Al-Khawarizmi (after whom concept "Algorithm" is named), the tables of Jabir b. Aflah and Zarqali. John of Seville under the patronage of Raymond translated several works of Avicenna, Qusta Ibn Luqa and Al-Faraghni.

http://www.cyberistan.org/islamic/Introl3.html
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Islamic History - Pharmacology ​



Ibrahim B. Syed​



Pharmacology took roots in Islam during the 9th century. Yuhanna bin Masawayh (777-857 A.D.) started scientific and systematic applications of therapeutics at the Abbasids capital.​


His students Hunayn bin Ishaq al-lbadi (809-874 A.D.) and his associates established solid foundations of Arabic medicine and therapeutics in the ninth century.​

In his book al-Masail Hunayn outlined methods for confirming the pharmacological effectiveness of drugs by experimenting with them on humans. He also explained the importance of prognosis and diagnosis of diseases for better and more effective treatment.​


Pharmacy became an independent and separate profession from medicine and alchemy. With the wild sprouting of apothecary shops, regulations became necessary and imposed to maintain quality control.​

As early as the days of al-Mamun and al-Mutasim pharmacists had to pass examinations to become licensed professionals and were pledged to follow the physician's prescriptions. Also by this decree, restrictive measures were legally placed upon doctors, preventing them from owning or holding stock in a pharmacy.​



Methods of extracting and preparing medicines were brought to a high art, and their techniques of distillation, crystallization, solution, sublimation, reduction and calcination became the essential processes of pharmacy and chemistry.



With the help of these techniques, the Saydalanis (pharmacists) introduced new drugs such as camphor, senna, sandalwood, rhubarb, musk, myrrh, cassia, tamarind, nutmeg, alum, aloes, cloves, coconut, nuxvomica, cubebs, aconite, ambergris and mercury.

The important role of the Muslims in developing modern pharmacy and chemistry is memorialized in the significant number of current pharmaceutical and chemical terms derived from Arabic: drug, alkali, alcohol, aldehydes, alembic, and elixir among others, not to mention syrups and juleps. They invented flavorings extracts made of rose water, orange blossom water, orange and lemon peel, tragacanth and other attractive ingredients.​

Space does not permit me to list the contributions to pharmacology and therapeutics, made by Razi, Zahrawi, Biruni, Ibn Butlan, and Tamimi.​

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maro

maro

muslimah
thank u sister for ur effort

actually I liked the pharmacology issue best, because it 's related to my studying
this year
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Science and Scholarship in Al-Andalus

Scientists of Islamic Spain also contributed to medicine, the Muslim science par excellence. Interest in medicine goes back to the very earliest times (the Prophet himself stated that there was a remedy for every illness), '' and although the greatest Muslim physicians practiced in Baghdad, those in al-Andalus made important contributions too. Ibn al-Nafis, for example, discovered the pulmonary circulation of blood.

During the tenth century in particular, al-Andalus produced a large number of excellent physicians, some of whom studied Greek medical works translated at the famous House of Wisdom in Baghdad.

Among them was Ibn Shuhayd, who in a fundamental work recommended drugs be used only if the patient did not respond to diet and urged that only simple drugs be employed in all cases but the most serious. Another important figure was Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi, the most famous surgeon of the Middle Ages. Known in the West as Abulcasis and Al-bucasis, he was the author of the Tasrif, a book that, translated into Latin, became the leading medical text European universities during the later Middle Ages. Its section on surgery contains illustrations of surgical instruments of elegant, functional design and great precision.

Other chapters describe amputations, ophthalmic and dental surgery, and the treatment of wounds and fractures. Ibn Zuhr, known as Avenzoar, was the first to describe pericardial abscesses and to recommend tracheotomy when necessary as well as being a skilled practical physician, and Ibn Rushd wrote an important book on medical theories and precepts. The last of the great Andalusian physicians, Ibn al-Khatib, also a noted historian, poet, and statesman, wrote an important book on the theory of contagion in which he said: "The fact infection becomes clear to the investigator, whereas he who is not in contact remains safe"; and described how transmission is effected through garments, vessels, and earrings. <p>

Islamic Spain made contributions to medical ethics and hygiene as well. One of the most eminent theologians and jurists, Ibn Hazm, insisted that moral qualities were mandatory in a physician. A doctor, he wrote, should be kind, understanding, friendly, and able to endure insults and adverse criticism. Furthermore, he went on, a doctor should keep his hair and fingernails short, wear clean clothes, and behave with dignity.

http://www.geocities.com/mutmainaa1/history/science_andalus.html
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
Thanks Daniyal for the link.

Very interesting talk.

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf is indeed an excellent speaker.

Do you know if he has any other talks on-line, other than those on his web site (Zaytuna)?

http://zaytuna.org
 
Cordoba

Cordoba

Well-Known Member
[FONT=Arial,Geneva,Verdana,Sans-Serif]Celebrating Ibn Khaldun's 600 Anniversary[/FONT]

Ibn Khaldun is probably one of the greatest sociologist, political scientist and philosopher in human history.

This year is his 600th anniversary. Ibn Khaldun, born in Tunisia , had Andalusian ancestors. He visited Andalusia during the Nasrid court of Mohammed V, and had served as ambassador to King Pedro I ("the Cruel") in Seville , whom he met in the Real Alcazar Palace.

Ibn Khaldun was the first to systematically analyze the functioning of an economy, the importance of technology, specialization and foreign trade in economic surplus and the role of government and its stabilization policies to increase output and employment. Ibn Khaldun, moreover, dealt with the problem of optimum taxation, minimum government services, incentives, institutional framework, law and order, expectations, production, and the theory of value.

Ibn Khaldun again is the first economist with economic surplus at hand, who has given a biological interpretation of the rise and fall of nations and civilisations . His coherent general economic theory constitutes the framework for his history. His book "Al-Muqaddimeh" (The Introduction) is must for any politician or people holding high office. President Ronald Reagan was a great fan of his and he proudly and frequently referred to Ibn Khaldun's ideas. To find out more about Ibn Khaldun's reflections on state economies click on the following link:"

http://muslimheritage.com/topics/default.cfm?ArticleID=608
 
kiwimac

kiwimac

Brother Napalm of God's Love
frg001 said:
It isn't supposed to sound anything. It is what it says. All I am trying to say, is that WITHOUT any religions, man would have progressed similarly, if not (as I believe) more quickly.

Two (I think very apt) quotes from Richard Dawkins...

“Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence.”

“I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.”
Click to expand...

Given the effect on the Sciences of the Muslim scientists from the 700s onwards, you may want to reconsider Dawkins second remark. Sometimes it is the belief that knowledge is the glory of human-beings and the intent of God that drives folk to seek it in the first place.
 
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