MUSLIM SCIENTISTS

When we look at the history of Islam, we see that science was introduced into the Middle East along with the Qur’an. Pre-Islamic Arabs believed in all sorts of superstitions and hearsay, and conducted no investigation of the universe or nature. With Islam, this community became civilized, and, beginning to hold knowledge in high regard, and by observing the commands of the Qur’an, began to examine the world around them. Not only Arabs, but many other nations, such as the Iranians, Turks, and North Africans, became enlightened after embracing Islam. The use of reason and observation commanded in the Qur’an gave rise to a great civilization in the 9^th and 10^th centuries. Many Muslim scientists living during that period made significant discoveries in a number of disciplines, such as astronomy, mathematics, geometry, and medicine.

Playing an important role in the transfer of scientific knowledge to Europe, as well as producing many Muslim scientists of her own, Andalusia was a crucible of revolutionary discoveries and scientific progress, particularly in the field of medicine. Muslim physicians did not specialize in a single subject, but conducted studies in a wide range of fields, including pharmacology, surgery, ophthalmology, gynecology, physiology, bacteriology and hygiene. One of the most noted Andalusian physicians was Ibn Juljul (?-992), who conducted extensive studies on medical herbs, and produced works on the history of medicine and medical herbs. Another distinguished Muslim physician of the time was Abu Ja’far Ibn al-Jazzar (?-1009), who mastered the science of drug therapy for the treatment of specific symptoms and diseases, and authored more than 30 books.

The works in anatomy of Zakariya Qazwini, Hamdullah al-Mustaufi al-Qazwini (1281-1350), and Ibn al-Nafis, laid the foundation of modern medicine. The first volume of Ali Bin Isa’s (?-1038) three-volume work on the ophthalmologic diseases, called the Tezkiratu’l Kahhalin fi’l Ayn and Emraziha, is entirely devoted to the anatomy of the eye and includes very detailed information.

Al-Biruni, who lived in the 11^th century, knew that the earth rotates about its own axis, some 600 years prior to Galileo, and determined the earth’s circumference some 700 years prior to Newton. Ali Kushchu, a 15th century scientist, was the first to make a map of the moon, and a region of the moon has been named after him. Thabit ibn Qurrah (Thebit), who lived in the 9th century, invented differential calculus centuries before Newton. Battani, a 10th century scientist, was the first developer of trigonometry. Abul Wafa Muhammad al-Buzjani introduced the “tangent-cotangent, secant-cosecant” to trigonometry for the first time. Al-Khwarizmi wrote the first book on algebra, in the 9th century. Al-Maghribi invented the equation known today as the Pascal triangle, some 600 years prior to Pascal. Ibn al-Haitham (Alhazen), who lived in the 11^th century, was the founder of optics. Kindi (Alkindus) introduced relative physics and the theory of relativity some 1100 years prior to Einstein. Shams al-din, who lived some 400 years prior to Pasteur, was the first to discover the existence of germs. Ali ibn al-Abbas lived in the 10th century and was the first to perform cancer surgery. In the same century, Ibn el Jessar introduced the reasons for and treatment methods of leprosy. These Muslim scientists, only some of whom I have mentioned here, made important discoveries that laid the foundation for modern science.

This truth which we have seen in the world of Islam also applies to the Western world. In the West, too, all the foremost names in such fields as physics, chemistry, astronomy, biology and palaeontology have been great scientists who believed in the existence of Allah, who carried out their research with the aim of observing His creations. Among these, we can count such names as Copernicus, Newton, Cuvier, Owen or Linnaeus.

Importance of Islamic Union

We all see how Islamic countries all over the world are experiencing political, social and economic difficulties. Muslims are facing terrible troubles because of political and religious pressure, difficult economic conditions or internal conflict. People all ask themselves what needs to be done in order to eradicate these problems.

Anyone who looks at what is going on from the outside can set out a list of what needs to be done in order for a contented society to emerge, or can propose various possible solutions in the light of global examples. Yet it is immediately apparent that all of these have already been discussed and experimented, and have borne no fruit. Muslims need to find solutions to societal problems through the verses of the Qur’an, sent down as a guide by our Lord, and through the Sunnah of our Prophet (saas). Because solutions proposed in adherence to the Qur’an and the Sunnah of our Prophet (saas) eliminate problems in a fundamental manner and eradicate negativities in such a way that they can never return. History is full of examples of this, as I shall shortly be emphasizing.

Today, the entire Islamic world is required to live by the moral values of the Qur’an, and to make genuine efforts with regard to establishing union and unity.

We need to remember at this point that all blessings, all resources and all wealth in this world belong to our Lord, Almighty Allah. Therefore, as we all know, the only way of leading a contented and happy life in this world is by living for the Hereafter and seeking the approval of Allah. There can be no doubt that the finest models for Muslims with regard to how the approval of Allah is to be sought are the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (saas) and the lives of the blessed prophets related in the Qur’an. It is a certain fact that these exemplary individuals most observed, and spent every moment of their lives seeking, the approval of Allah. Our Lord has promised His messengers and all Muslims who follow them a pleasing life both in this world and the next.

That being the case, let us once again together recall the superior moral values and justice of the prophets related in the Qur’an and do all in our power to live like those upright individuals. 

A believer is charged with explaining the proofs of the existence and oneness of Allah, calling on people to live by the religion that Allah commanded and enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. To communicate our Prophet’s sunnah to all communities in all ages is one of the most important responsibilities of Muslims.

The Prophet Muhammad (saas) commands:

"Convey my teaching to the people even if it were a single sentence."

 

The present age clearly reveals the importance of the spread of religious values and also allows Muslims many opportunities of explaining religious moral values to others. The current situation in the Islamic world shows that true religious values need to be communicated to as many people as possible, in as short a time as possible and in the most effective and – by the grace of Allah – wisest manner possible. This great responsibility must be shared by all Muslims. Every individual must strive, within his own means, to spread the morality of the Qur’an. 

We are told in the accounts of the prophets in the Qur’an that every prophet waged an intellectual struggle with the  elite of the society in question. These people  are those circles who influence all of society with their ideas and lifestyles and can direct it in the form they wish. Any ideological changes in these circles will influence all of society. Muslims who will engage in communicating the message today need to identify under what influences societies have been turned away from religious values and to wage an intellectual struggle against those influences. 

When we look at present-day societies we see that one of the main elements keeping people from religious values is the damage inflicted on societies’ way of thinking by non-religious ideologies, the most important of which are atheism and materialism.