Islamic Influence On The European Civilization by Dr Omar Ahmed Kaser

About the book Between the ancient civilizations, namely the Egyptians, Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian, and Chinese, and the Renaissance era in Europe, there was a gap, commonly called 'the dark ages', during which the flame was hosted, not by the Western World, but by another culture and people called the Muslims. 'The dark ages' reflects the civilization in Europe between the 7th and 13th centuries, but by no means does it express the state of affairs in the Muslim world or the Islamic Civilisation at that time when science were as bright as the midday sun. That era, unjustifiably, has been commonly neglected and overpassed, as if nothing happened. This paper is an effort to allude to the important events which took place and the significant scholars and scientists who lived during that period. This work is, therefore, dedicated to the torchbearers of Islamic Civilisation, the Muslim Scientists and Physicians of the past, the present and the future. AL-FIRDOUS Al-Firdous Ltd. London ISBN 1-8742637-4-4 781874 263746ISLAMIC Influence on the European Civilization T Dr Omar Ahmed Kaser
TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION 1- Introduction. 2- Distortion of Truth 3- Translations of Muslim Scientific Books into Latin 5 7 and other European Languages. 19 4- Quotations on Islamic Civilisation. .25 5- Islamic Astronomy. 43 6- Islamic Medicine. 63 7- Islamic Alchemy. 125 8. Timeline of Muslim Scientists - (700-1400). 145 8- Conclusion 151 10- Bibliography.. 162 3
Introduction n 8 June, 632 C.E, Prophet Muhammad died, having O accomplished the marvellous task of uniting the of Arabia into a homogeneous and powerful nation. In the interval, Persia, Asia, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, the whole of North Africa, Gibraltar and Spain had become part of the Islamic State, and a new civilization had been established. The Muslims quickly assimilated the culture and knowledge of the peoples they ruled, while the latter in turn, Persians, Syrians, Copts, Berbers, and others, adopted the Arabic language. The nationality of the Muslim thus became submerged, and the term Arab acquired a linguistic sense rather than a strictly ethnological one. The Islamic spirit produced a radical transformation in the Arabian Peninsula, as well as among the countries where Islam took firm root in the immediately succeeding centuries. The rich contributions which Islam has made in the various branches of science served as the basis for
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(Read: In the name of your Lord who created Man of a blood-clot. Read: And your Lord is the Most Generous who taught by the Pen, taught Man, what he knew not)1 These are the first verses revealed to the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad. They comprise all spheres of intellectual progression:: 'Reading', 'Pen' and 'knowledge.' Therefore, Islam is a religion that promotes Knowledge. A number of Qur'anic verses and Hadith refer to the great value of 'ilm (Knowledge) and Ulema (scholars) in Islam. It is a religion, which urges its followers to reflect on environmental phenomena. The Holy Qur'an talks about the signs of the Creator in the Universe to show us His Creation, the difference between right and wrong and thus bring us close to His worship. Therefore the moon, the day and night, the sky and how it is beautifully decorated with stars, the earth and all that it contains is for us to make full use of our God-given intellect and study the universe with scrutiny in order to realize the reality that lies behind it. Allah says: إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَفِ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَما وَقُعُودًا لَآيَاتٍ لِأُولِي الأَلْبَبِ 19. 1 Surat Al-Alaq: Verses: 1-5. 9