Islamic Factor in Science and Knowledge Development - Coursework Example

Islamic history Name of the Student: Name of the Instructor: Name of the course: Code of the course: Submission date: Islamic history Introduction Diverse historical accounts have pointed to the fact that Islam is endowed with its own extensive golden history, commonly referred to as ‘Golden age of Islamic civilization’ (7th -15th C) impacting nearly in every realm of knowledge and science, ranging from mathematics, astronomy, pharmacy and chemistry among others (Fariqi, 2006). Based on the extensive deterioration of scientific knowledge in Europe during the dark ages, different scholars have inferred that the subsequent occurrence of the renaissance in Europe might not have materialized devoid of the contribution of Muslim science and knowledge in the preceding epochs into the western knowledge and science as it is in the contemporary world.Nonetheless, most of the scholars from the western sphere undertake enormous efforts to falsify this fact while on the other hand, the Muslim scholars make profound attempts to validate it (Koshul, 1995). This paper is thus a profound effort to objectively explore the extent of Muslim contribution to the development of science and knowledge. In addition, it will analyze how this contribution impacted on western civilization. Extent of Muslim contribution to the development of science and knowledge Muslims have been cited to have had extensive contribution of the development of science and knowledge as it is recognized in the contemporary world. This is best epitomized by Muhammad (2012) who cited that scientists, philosophers as well as engineers from the Muslim world posed immense contributions on the scientific knowledge, civilization, architecture as well as cultural arts as they are known today. In addition, Zaimeche (2002) determined that in the entire Muslim world, the pursuit of knowledge and science was undertaken as a form of worship with the sole aim of enhancing the society. The fact is the Muslim influence in science and knowledge is documented by Koshul, (1995) who determined that Ibn Yunus is renowned for using a pendulum many centuries prior to Galileo, Al Zarkayl forwarded formidable proof that the planetary orbits were not circular but in actual sense elliptical many centuries before Copernicus, Ibn Sina used an air thermometer, not forgetting the discovery and mapping of the cradle of River Nile by al Idrisi, 900 years before the Europeans did. All this exhibit the extent of Muslim knowledge and science aptitude even prior to the most celebrated European scientists, historians and geographer. The subsequent discourse will analyze the Muslim contribution in specific fields of knowledge in science. In mathematics, Muhammad (2012) noted that the word ‘Algebra’ is derived from the Muslim word ‘Al-Jabr’ which comes from the work by Ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (780-850); Hisab Al-jabr wal Muqabala (The calculation of Integration and Equation).The concepts of Algebra were only instigated in Europe after the successful translation of Khwarizmi’s book in Latin 1143 by Robert Chester. In addition, Al-Khwarizmi has been credited for developing the Sine, the Cosine and the trigonometric table. These have extensively been used in the modern mathematics, contemporary astronomy and architecture as well as overall science. On the other hand, the three sons of Musa ibn Shakir (around 800-860) are credited for editing an imperative a book on geometry, Kitab Marifat Masakhat Al-Ashkal (The Book of Measurement of Plane and Spherical Figures). This book entailed a new paradigm shift from the traditional geometry in the sense that it considered areas and volumes as numbers, thus established a new approach in mathematics (Muhammad, 2012). Another notable figure in the realms of Islamic mathematics was Al-Haytham who extensively contributed to geometry and several of his theories have been pointed out as surpassing the Archimedean tradition. Al-Haytham extensively worked in analytical geometry and created a robust link between algebra and geometry. This culminated in pure mathematics to the amicable synthesis of geometry and algebra, as best exemplified by Newton in Calculus and Descartes in geometry analysis (Fariqi, 2006). Similar contributions of Muslims in science and knowledge are also epitomized in the field of astronomy whereby Muslim scholars posed great contribution to its development and growth. This fact is exemplified by Zaimeche (2002) who determined that among the most renowned Muslim astronomers is Al-Battani (d 929) who wrote al-Zij al-Sabi (The Sabian table) which became extremely influential in subsequent centuries. This work by Al-Battani also entailed timing of the new moon, eclipse’s prediction, calculation of the length of the solar and sideral years among other tenets. Moreover, this writer is also credited for propagating the novel ideas of trigonometrical ratios as they are used in the contemporary world which was a profound improvement to Ptolemy. In the subsequent years, the 9th C saw Al-Farghani writing a detailed account on Almagest by Ptolemy and this book was extensively used by both in Central Asia and Europe for the subsequent 7 centuries (Beshore, 1998). This shows a great deal of Muslim contribution to modern knowledge and science as it is known in the contemporary world. Moreover, the theory by Ibn al-Shatil primarily focusing on lunar motion has also been closely intertwined and linked to the theory that was credited to Copernicus, one and a half centuries later. Nonetheless, it is imperative to note that it is somehow unclear whether the theory by Copernicus was directly borrowed from the theory by Ibn al-Shatil based on the fact that a diagram in Commentaries by Copernicus exhibited close similarity to the schematic diagram by Ibn al-Shatil 150 years earlier (Sabra, 2002). In the realms of medicine, Fariqi (2006) determined that there were two Muslim physicians who became renowned in Europe, namely Al-Razi (865-925) and Ibn Sina (980-1037). On a specific perspective, Meyers (1964) cited that Ibn-Sina is credited for writing around 99 books entailing works in medicine, philosophy, theology, philosophy and geometry among other fields. Particularly, Ibn-Sina is also renowned for Kitab al Shifa (Book of Healing) which also entailed divided information from diverse realms of enquiry. In addition, it has been pointed out that by 12th C, physicians from the Muslim world had generated diverse works in medicine, for instance, medical biographies, encyclopedias, works on medical ethics as well as specialized topics like ophthalmology. Muslims also established hospitals using their surgical and clinical knowledge which became an inspiration to the development of modern hospitals in Europe which were initially attached to the church and monasteries in medieval time. Thus, the medical field greatly benefited from the input by Muslim medical field scholars, both in terms of developing modern medical centers as well as editing integral medical materials which have informed the practice of medicine in the contemporary world. Chemistry, pharmacology and pharmacy are also other fields which have borrowed heavily from Islamic influence. Fariqi (2006) noted that in chemistry, Al-Razi and Jaber ibn Haiyan molded the rudimentary foundation of modern science. This is exemplified by Al-Razi’s book, Liber Secretorum bubacaris (Secrets of Secrets) which entailed detailed descriptions of chemical processes as well as the diverse experiments that he had undertaken. In addition, Muslim chemists have been credited for developing products’ recipes which were massively put into utility in military as well as industrial applications. Thus, the discovery of inorganic acids in the course of chemical experiments became core in industrial applications in subsequent centuries (Fariqi, 2006). In the fields of pharmacology and pharmacy, Muslims have also made significant contributions. In these particular fields, there was extensive scientific investigation by Muslim pharmacists into the dosages, composition, utility as well as the therapeutic impacts of drugs. This is exemplified by Ibn al-Baytar’s work, Al-Jami’fi al-Tibb (Collection of simple Diets and Drugs) which entailed a detailed recording of the plants in the regions along the stretch of the Mediterranean coast, between Syria and Spain. In addition, Turner (1995) noted that the Muslim physicians developed some novel procedures in the production of juleps and syrups and eventually proceeded to open up apothecary shops. The following discourse will analyze how these contribution impacted on the Western civilization. Impacts of this contribution on the Western civilization Koshul (1995) noted that the Islamic contribution explored in the preceding discourse had great impact on the western civilization based on the fact that the Islamic culture is traceable in every aspect of the European perception of modernity which is characterized by the scientific spirit. Against this backdrop, the argument that that the Islamic scholarship posed no effect to the advancement of western civilization is both null and void. This is based on the fact that after the Academy of Athens closed down in 529, the first institutions that primarily gave opportunities for higher learning were instigated by Muslims. Apart from the Islamic influence on the European scholarship, some of the most prominent epochs which shaped the European civilization borrowed heavily from the Islamic experience. This is epitomized by the renaissance period in the 12th C whereby it was primarily instigated by Europeans who had previously been educated in Muslim colleges (Koshul, 1995). These renaissance figures were thus fully informed and familiar with the diverse works by Muslim scholars, the Muslim culture as well as exhibiting intimate knowledge of Arabic. Thus, it is apparent that the framework of the Renaissance which went ahead to influence the development of western civilization was laid by persons who had acquired their education from institutions that were primarily founded on the Islamic ideas and models (Koshul, 1995). Thus, it is apparent that the birth of the contemporary western civilization can be attributed to the continued interactive process through which the impacts of the Muslim world became fundamental. This can be perceived in terms of influences in medicine, chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, philosophy and physics among other fields as explored in the preceding section. Conclusion From the above discourse, it is evident that Muslims extensively contributed to science and knowledge as we know it in the modern world, most notably in the fields of medicine, mathematics, chemistry, astronomy among others. These contributions played a central role in informing the advancement of western civilization as it is known today, mostly after the dark ages in medieval Europe prior to the eras of renaissance, scientific revolution among others. References Beshore, G. (1998) Science in Early Islamic Culture. New York: F Watts. Fariqi, Y. M. (2006).Contributions of Islamic scholars to the scientific enterprise. International Education Journal, 7(4), 391-399. Koshul, B.B. (1995). The Islamic Impact on Western Civilization Reconsidered. The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, 12 (1), 36-65. Meyers, E. A. (1964). Arabic Thought and the Western World in the Golden Age of Islam. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. Muhammad, M. I. (2012). The Forgotten History: Contribution of Muslims to Modern Science. Retrieved Sept. 05, 2012 from http://www.scribd.com/doc/100154023/FORGOTTEN-HISTORY-CONTRIBUTION-OF-MUSLIMS-TO-MODERN-SCIENCE-pdf Sabra, A. I. (2002) Greek astronomy and the medieval Arabic tradition. AmericanScientist, 90(4), 360-397. Turner, R. H. (1995) Science in Medieval Islam: An Illustrated Introduction. Austin: University of Texas Press. Zaimeche, S. (2002). Islam and Science. Manchester: FSTC Limited. Read More

he concepts of Algebra were only instigated in Europe after the successful translation of Khwarizmi’s book in Latin 1143 by Robert Chester. In addition, Al-Khwarizmi has been credited for developing the Sine, the Cosine and the trigonometric table. These have extensively been used in the modern mathematics, contemporary astronomy and architecture as well as overall science. On the other hand, the three sons of Musa ibn Shakir (around 800-860) are credited for editing an imperative a book on geometry, Kitab Marifat Masakhat Al-Ashkal (The Book of Measurement of Plane and Spherical Figures).

This book entailed a new paradigm shift from the traditional geometry in the sense that it considered areas and volumes as numbers, thus established a new approach in mathematics (Muhammad, 2012). Another notable figure in the realms of Islamic mathematics was Al-Haytham who extensively contributed to geometry and several of his theories have been pointed out as surpassing the Archimedean tradition. Al-Haytham extensively worked in analytical geometry and created a robust link between algebra and geometry.

This culminated in pure mathematics to the amicable synthesis of geometry and algebra, as best exemplified by Newton in Calculus and Descartes in geometry analysis (Fariqi, 2006). Similar contributions of Muslims in science and knowledge are also epitomized in the field of astronomy whereby Muslim scholars posed great contribution to its development and growth. This fact is exemplified by Zaimeche (2002) who determined that among the most renowned Muslim astronomers is Al-Battani (d 929) who wrote al-Zij al-Sabi (The Sabian table) which became extremely influential in subsequent centuries.

This work by Al-Battani also entailed timing of the new moon, eclipse’s prediction, calculation of the length of the solar and sideral years among other tenets. Moreover, this writer is also credited for propagating the novel ideas of trigonometrical ratios as they are used in the contemporary world which was a profound improvement to Ptolemy. In the subsequent years, the 9th C saw Al-Farghani writing a detailed account on Almagest by Ptolemy and this book was extensively used by both in Central Asia and Europe for the subsequent 7 centuries (Beshore, 1998).

This shows a great deal of Muslim contribution to modern knowledge and science as it is known in the contemporary world. Moreover, the theory by Ibn al-Shatil primarily focusing on lunar motion has also been closely intertwined and linked to the theory that was credited to Copernicus, one and a half centuries later. Nonetheless, it is imperative to note that it is somehow unclear whether the theory by Copernicus was directly borrowed from the theory by Ibn al-Shatil based on the fact that a diagram in Commentaries by Copernicus exhibited close similarity to the schematic diagram by Ibn al-Shatil 150 years earlier (Sabra, 2002).

In the realms of medicine, Fariqi (2006) determined that there were two Muslim physicians who became renowned in Europe, namely Al-Razi (865-925) and Ibn Sina (980-1037). On a specific perspective, Meyers (1964) cited that Ibn-Sina is credited for writing around 99 books entailing works in medicine, philosophy, theology, philosophy and geometry among other fields. Particularly, Ibn-Sina is also renowned for Kitab al Shifa (Book of Healing) which also entailed divided information from diverse realms of enquiry.

In addition, it has been pointed out that by 12th C, physicians from the Muslim world had generated diverse works in medicine, for instance, medical biographies, encyclopedias, works on medical ethics as well as specialized topics like ophthalmology. Muslims also established hospitals using their surgical and clinical knowledge which became an inspiration to the development of modern hospitals in Europe which were initially attached to the church and monasteries in medieval time. Thus, the medical field greatly benefited from the input by Muslim medical field scholars, both in terms of developing modern medical centers as well as editing integral medical materials which have informed the practice of medicine in the contemporary world.

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