A buried history: Islam’s contribution to the world

Let us take a moment to remember our great and glorious heritage by briefly surveying what Islam has already contributed to the world's civilization, education, culture and to scientific development.

Unlike Christianity where Religion and Science are two separate elements, the study of Science has always been compatible with Islam. Many Muslims are discouraged when they see the poor standard of living of Muslims throughout the world and their limited opportunities. They also know the undeveloped status of technology within the Muslim countries in comparison with the West. From these observations, they immediately leap to the conclusion that the Muslim countries are ‘backward’, because Islam cannot adapt itself to the changing conditions; cannot apply new knowledge. Some even go so far as to say that Islam is actually against progress and against scientific advancement. However, those Muslims who have studied the Islamic history will know that this is a complete fallacy and misconception. 

Can Islam be blamed for the regression we witness in the Muslim world today?

The reality of the Muslim world today differs greatly to its past glory. The Islamic civilization arose from the implementation of the Islamic ideology in society and life and with it came advancement in science and technology. Unfortunately the Islamic system has not thrived since the destruction of the caliphate in 1924. Since then, the Muslim world has ruled without Islam and has seen the reintroduction of backward cultural practices and the introduction of a capitalist form of modernity that has strangled Muslim countries into great economic debt and repression thereby inhibiting advancement. Advancement without the caliphate would be limited since the caliphate will free the Muslim world from the shackles of colonialism and will pave way for advancement based on an Islamic economic and education system that can thrive.

Let us do a brief review of the contribution of Islam to civilization as we know it.

Trigonometry, Sine, Tangent, Co-Tangent  

The Arabs developed these functions in trigonometry and Ibn Moosaa's work Hisaab-Al Jab-Wal Muqaabala (The Calculation of Integration and Equation) presented 800 examples in the 8^th century CE. His work was translated from Arabic into Latin and until the 16th century CE, it wasEurope's main textbook on the subject.

Algebra and Geometry

Muhammad bin Moosaa Al-Khawaarizmi is considered to be one of the founders of Algebra. The word ‘Algorithm’ or 'Algorizm' is a corruption of his name or the name of the town Khwaarizm (Kheva), in what is now Uzbekistan, where he was born. He adopted the use of ‘cipher’ (zero), that was devised in India some centuries earlier, a numeral of fundamental importance, leading up to the so-called arithmetic of positions and the decimal system. The very word ‘zero’ is a derivative of the Arabic ‘sifr’ or ‘cipher’. His pioneering work on the system of numerals is well known as "Algorithm," or "Algorizm." In addition to introducing the Arabic numerals, he developed several arithmetical procedures, including operations on fractions.

Another great mathematician was Omar Khayyaam, who offered to the world geometric and algebraic solutions of the second degree. Naseeruddeen wrote the treatise on quadrilateral trigonometry, as well as plain and spherical geometry.

Physics and Chemistry  

Kamaaluddeen examined the refraction of sunlight in raindrops and offered an explanation of the genesis of primary and secondary rainbows. The story of the invention of the pendulum and the presentation of a water clock to Emperor Charlemagne by Haaroon Ar-Rasheed is well known.

The great historian Gibbons wrote in his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (Volume 5) that the science of chemistry owes its origin and improvements to the Muslims. 

Science of Mechanics  

The development of the science of mechanics in Islam is an act of genius. Moosaa bin Shaakir described one hundred pieces of mechanical equipment in his book of artifices. Other outstanding Muslim treatises included Al Kitaab Fi Ma`rifat Al-Hiya Al-Handasiyyah (The Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Geometrical Contrivances) by Abul Fiaz bin Al Raz and Al Kitaab Meezanal-Hikmah (The Book of Balance and Wisdom) by Al-Khazini. He also did work on accurate weighing, and determination of the specific gravity of substances.

Camera Obscura 

In the field of optics, Camera Obscura was invented by Ibn Haytham in 1038 CE.

Theory of Relativity  

Qaadhi Abu Bakr had developed the theory of relativity in the 8^thcentury CE in terms of time and space by means of mathematical equations and astrophysics. Imagine, Einstein was not even born in the Western world, who propounded the same theory of relativity much later in the 20^th century CE.

Geography  

As far as geography was concerned, Muslim scientists established that the world was round in the 9^th century CE, and the first map of the globe was made during the Caliphate of Ma’moon.

Paper Making  

This was one of the earliest skills attained by the Muslims. As early as the 8^th century CE, high quality paper was being manufactured in Samarqand. Egypt was known to have its first paper mill in the year 900 CE. The earliest Arabic manuscript written on paper that has been discovered is the Ghareeb Al Hadeeth by Abu ‘Ubayed, dated 837 CE. It can be seen in Holland preserved in the library at the University of Leyden.

Advances in Industry  

Under Islamic rule, Spain was an industrial center. It was one of the wealthiest and most thickly populated of the European countries. Muslims were leading in weaving wool, producing silk, pottery, jewelry, leather and perfume industry. In the Middle Ages, world trade was commanded by Muslims and Baghdad, Bukhaara and Samarqand remained centers for world fairs until the 16^th century CE. The Bayt Al-Hikmah at Cairo contained two million books, the library at Tripoli contained some three million, but this library was burned down by the Christians during the first Crusade.

Then and Now

The past saw a wealth of extraordinary people and geniuses who valued their contribution to an Islamic society, and who were also valued by society. Now we see a wealth of skilled and qualified doctors, engineers, architects etc, born in broken Muslim societies that have lost their way due to the absence of Islamic governance. Islam appreciates the skills of people and values the contribution of people in society. An Islamic system would not consider advancement as evil nor would it cause a brain drain by wasting the skills of people. Rather it would flourish on a clear understanding of hadhara (civilization) and madaniya (material progress) and the role of ijtihad.

Hadhara (civilization) and Madaniyya (material progress)

There is a difference between Hadhara (civilization) and the madaniyyah (material progress). The hadhara is specific and constitutes the whole concepts about life that stem from a particular viewpoint in life. The madaniyyah is either specific or general. The Islamic state will only adopt from the Islamic hadhara and can adopt from the general madaniyyah such as science and industry. The western hadhara carries a different viewpoint in life, that of separation of deen from life. Islam cannot be secularized; therefore adopting this is impossibility for the coming Islamic civilization, even in the modern day world. However, advancement in the general madinayah (material progress) that does not stem from western hadhara is fine to adopt. A caliphate will have a clear understanding of this which will allow it to flourish based on Islam being applied in the modern world.  

Ijtihad

The caliphate of the future will inshaAllah be a fertile ground for abundant new scholars to arise and old scholars to be used for the benefit of ijtihad. Ijtihad is the process of deriving rules from the Qur’an and Sunnah which also allows the application of rules to a new situation. This process allows the hukm shariah (rules of the legislator) to be applicable to every day and age. This is critical for the advancement and material progress (madaniyyah) that can be propelled by the Islamic civilization. This would allow the Islamic system to adopt on more detailed aspects of Science and industry.

Conclusion

To conclude, the Muslim world flourished under the Islamic state. The western world would like the Muslim world to believe Islam in political life is dead and buried. We say: can history be rubbed away so easily? It is evident that the Muslim world lived its best days under the caliphate. With the implementation of the Islamic rules in society and a thriving Islamic economic and education system, Islam will re-live its legacy of being the best civilization standing in the modern world