The contributions of Muslims to society

Islamic Civilization – ALI110Session One – March 13th 2006

Islamic Civilization

Reasons for the growth and success of the early Muslim civilization

Islamic Teachings on the importance of Knowledge

Trade and Expansion

Translation of existing works into Arabic

Qur’anic teachings on Knowledge ِف� الَّل�ْي�ِل��ِت�َال ِض� َو�اْخ� ْر�

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� اْر� آلَي�اِت% َأل$ الَّن�َه� َو�َوَّن� �َّك�ُر َي�ِت�َف� ْم� َو� َّن�وِب�َه� �ُع�وًد1ا َو�َع�َّل�َى� ُج �ا َو�ُق ْي�اًم1 الَّل7َه� ُق�َت� َّل�ْق� ا ْخ� ِب�َّن�ا ًم� ِض� ْر� ْر�

اَو�اِت� َو�اَأل� َم� َّل�ِق� الَّس� ِف�ي ْخ�َّن�ا َع�ْذ�اِب� الَّن�اْر� ْق� اَن�َك� ِف� َب�َح� �ْذا ِب�اِط�َال1 ُس َه�

Surely in the creation of the Heavens and the Earth, and the alteration of the night and the day there are signs for the people of understanding, those who remember Allah standing, and sitting, and on their sides, and ponder over the creation of the heavens and the earth (and say) Our Lord! You have not created this in vain, Glory be to You, then save us from the fire.

(3:190-191)

Muslim Traders spread Islam

The Arabs were merchants who traveled to exchange goods with other people.

Their geographical location allowed them to travel and trade with countries in Africa, China and Europe

Muslim traders spread Islam through personal example as well as teaching others about Islam.

Muslim Expansion After the death of the Holy Prophet

(s), Islam spread to Africa, Asia and Europe.

Islam did not spread through the sword. The Holy Qur’an says : There is no compulsion in religion. (2:256)

The Jews and Christians were allowed to keep their religion. They paid a jizyah tax in lieu of military service.

Expansion of Islam

Muslims translate existing works Muslim thinkers found information from other

cultures such as Greece, India, Persia and China.

The writings of Aristotle and Plato, the medicine of Hippocrates, and the geography of Ptolemy were all translated into Arabic and preserved.

They added information which they had gained from the Holy Qur’an, the teachings of the Holy Prophet (s), and their own research and inquiries. They changed and improved upon what existed.

This led to many great inventions and discoveries.

Islamic Cities – Centers of Learning The great cities of Islam such as Damascus,

Baghdad, Cordoba, and Cairo, were centers of knowledge and wisdom.

The Mosque was the nucleus. Kuttab schools were set up next to the mosque to learn reading and writing. Madrasahs were set up to teach Qur’an, Arabic, Fiqh, Hadith, as well as Math and History.

The cities were well planned and clean. They had running water, streets, drains, schools, and libraries before any of these existed in Europe.

Baghdad – The Round City It was founded in AD 762 by al-Mansur the

second Abbaside Caliph. It was originally built on the west bank of the Tigris river.

It was originally known as Madinatus Salaam (city of Peace). It was also known as the Round City because of the circular walls surrounding it. The Grand mosque and the caliph’s palace stood at the center, with four roads radiating outwards.

Baghdad was known as one of the richest and most beautiful cities of the world.

Baghdad – the Round City

Cordoba – the city of Light The Muslims ruled Spain for more than 700

years and called it al-Andalus. Cordoba was the capital city of al-Andalus, and by the tenth century was one of the greatest cities of the world.

Unrivaled throughout Europe, Cordoba had a population of close to one million inhabitants, with numerous districts and neighborhoods, hundreds of masaajid, public baths, suqs (markets), mills, and palaces. Students, Muslim and non-Muslim, flocked to Cordoba for religious studies or to gain scientific knowledge available only in the lands of Islam.

The Great Masjid of Cordoba

Al-Hambra Palace

How Muslim Inventors Changed the World • Where would the

world be today without Islamic Civilization??

• http://www.1001invenhttp://www.1001inventions.comtions.com

• Examples: Coffee / the first Pinhole Camera / the first Parachute / Soap / 996 more…