Islam is the only religion
which instructed its followers in every sphere of life. It is not only that
Islam refined them with Islamic teachings, but it also commanded them to gain
science, arts and other kinds of knowledge which are needed for human life. It
is the part of history that Muslim had once been on top of the world in
knowledge and science, while Europe was passing through darkness. Behind this
advancement and success of Muslims was their religion, Islam. Thus the prophet
(saws) is reported to have said: There is no disease for which Allah has not
sent a cure. This Hadith gave Muslim an interest in medicine from the very
beginning. The Muslim doctors thought deeply about different illnesses, and
discovered useful medicines for treating them.
The western scholars authenticated and accepted that the survival of knowledge
and science were directly due to the Arabs, because the invention of science and
education based on experience are the discovery of Muslims. They reached towards
it first of all then spread it to the world including Europe. Thus Philip Hitti
has written in his book ''The story of the Arabs'' 1970:''None of the nations
has played a key role in the progress of human life as much as Arabs have done
in the middle century'' .Professor Montgomery Watt ,the famous western writer
and major literary figure of Arabic literature and Islamic studies, has written
in his book ''The Majesty that was Islam”--London 1984 P 227 ''The world's first
medical college was established in Baghdad in the age of Abbasid emperor”.
And one of the most notable hospitals was Mansuri Hospital. It was built by Al-Mansur
in 1282 A. D. Here 8000 people could live at one time. There was a different
section for males and females, along with different wards for different
illnesses. The first regular hospital with all required facilities of that day
was established in Baghdad by Haroon Rasheed during 8th century. One such
hospital was in Damascus, and was built by Sultan Nuruddin Al-Zangi in 12th
century. Beside these hospitals there were so many hospitals and colleges which
have influenced the people. Muslim doctors developed both anatomy and pharmacy
into positive science. Thus .Ibn-e- Sina the poet, doctor, scientist, and
philosopher, wrote about every field of knowledge. He explained the process of
digestion, and he excelled in bacteriology, the basis of modern medical science.
So Robert Staifen Briffault wrote that our science owes to Arabs not only in the
revolutionary ideas. But the contribution of Arabic initiatives for science is
much more than what is commonly known. And the modern artistic world would not
have existed without the light given by of Arabs.
An objective study of history tells us that Arab Muslims constructed the highest
university in Andalus, where Europe used to come to seek education. Likewise
they took advantage from Arabic books, presented in Spain, which helped in the
survival of Europe's knowledge .Sicily, the country where Muslim governed 130
years was the second most important center of Islamic culture's splendor in
Europe during that time.
As French historian Gustavo Le-Bon (1841-1931) wrote in his book ''Hadharatul
Arab'': We cannot imagine the greatest influence of Arabs on Europe when it was
in the deepest of darkness.
But when some geniuses made an attempt to wipe out the ignorance from Europe,
they knocked on the doors of Arabs, and quenched their thirst from them. The
outcome of the Salaby battle (1099-1291) and the visit of Muslim to the
Jerusalem closed them to Muslims. And they learnt a lot from them, for the Arabs
had monopoly on knowledge at that time. Thus the book of matchless Muslim doctor
of Spain', Abul Quasim Al-Zahrawi’s ''Al-Tasreef'' was published in 1497, and
then it was translated in all the languages of Europe. And this book helped them
constantly for 500 years. Thus Philip Hitti says that it helped lay the
foundation of surgery in Europe. In fact Zahrawi studied intensively human body
and noted its principles. He explained the significance of dissection studies,
and made these knowledge and experiences the integral part of surgery. Later
people worked a lot upon it.
Here you can speculate that how much influence of Arabic words had on English.
Let’s take a look of it. Thus the word algebra, alcohol, alcove, almira,
mattress, tabby, shawl, divan, coffee, chemistry, syrup, saffron, crimson, etc,
are derived from the Arabic language.
Despite these incomprehensible words there so many sentences, proverbs and
idioms taken from Arabic and used in English frequently. It is another thing
that we do not get in touch with that, but the history stands as living witness
to the special influence of Arabs on English. It is our fault that we forgot our
splendid history, but history kept it to remind us, of our forefathers’
matchless works.
These things are useful lessons for those who tried to destroy our images and
put the Muslim community into hopelessness about Islam and world saying that we
do not have any part in the development of science and technology.. These are
now clarion calls for Muslim scientists, especially young blood that they should
create the critical skills, and creative minds to be in the forefront of
knowledge as their forefathers were. And in matter of following others and in
personal faith, try to avoid emotionalism while putting them into practice. Most
importantly, they should spread the message of Islam throughout the world, so
that our signs again would remain in history.