Islam’s
view on science: a brief account of Islam and science
One of the
characteristics of the Middle Ages -also known as the Dark Ages, which left a
taint in the European history, is the brutal and unjust conduct held by the
religious authorities against natural sciences and their supporters. The best
and well-known illustration on this illogical conduct, from the ecclesiastical
system, was the condemnations of the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilee, and the
Polish astronomer Copernicus Nicolas. The latter was burnt at the stake because
he said that the Earth and all the planets rotate around the Sun, and each
around itself. Galileo was himself condemned inasmuch as he tried to sum up
Copernicus’ discoveries on the rotation of the Earth. Later on, as a revenge,
scientists themselves made a grave mistake when they thought that the brutality
of the religious authorities was commanded by religion. Thus they rejected it.
But if they had just studied the matter objectively, they would surely have
realized that:
“It is a fact that
there is no writing belonging to a monotheistic religion that condemns science.”
(Bucaille: 1985, p.125)
It is worth noting
that while science, in medieval Europe, was suppressed and incarnated in a
prison of ignorance and misunderstanding, it was, in the nascent Islamic nation,
flourishing and growing stronger, breaking all the shackles, and invading every
field of knowledge, both religious and secular. This courageous start in the
marvellous realm of knowledge did not occur at random, but it was the result of
the Islamic teaching. Islam made from ignorant pagan tribes “where no traces of
scientific knowledge or schools existed” (Tabbarah: 1988, p.457) a monotheistic,
tenaciously united nation interested in knowledge and science. Islam opened the
door widely before Muslims to seek for knowledge. Dr Bucaille (Ibid) states
that:
“Nothing could be
clearer than the famous hadith…which says that the search for knowledge is a
strict duty for every Muslim, male or female.”
Besides, the
Prophet (p.b.u.h.) encouraged his followers to learn how to read and write. He
even used to set free the prisoners of war, but in return they had to teach ten
Muslims reading and writing. All these factors stimulated them to start a new
radiant era full of new discoveries that served, later on, as a strong ground
for the European scientific Renaissance.
After the Holy
Qur’an had been revealed to the Prophet (p.b.u.h.), Muslims began seeking for
knowledge, especially when they made diverse contacts with other foreign
civilizations in the course of the Islamic Propagation. Schools and libraries
were built, precious and interesting books were brought from abroad. Moreover,
translation knew its heyday at that time to enable scholars and educated people
to benefit from these foreign books. Most of the time it was scholars
themselves, like Hunayn Ibn Ishaq, who translated these books of previous
civilizations into Arabic. Greek, Indian and Persian sciences were the main
concern of Muslim scientists who found the convenient climate to deepen their
studies: Plenty of interesting books, monetary aids and libraries funded by rich
people, Emirs and Caliphs who brought scientists closer to them. They used to
summon them to attend scientific meetings where science met with religion,
literature, poetry, philosophy, art and education. For example, we can mention
Bait Al Hikmah (the House of Wisdom) in which scientists convened to talk about
scientific issues. Dr Al Fandi (1976, p.64) points out:
“History tells us
that Al Maamoun [786-833 AD. He is the seventh Caliph from 813 to 833 AD. He
encouraged science and scientists. The translation movement was animated in his
reign. (Baalabaki: 1990, p.58)] applied him- himself to strengthen relationships
with Roman kings. He conferred precious presents upon them and asked them to
supply him with Greek books that were in their possession. So they sent him
books of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Galen…”
It was then the
duty of Muslims to translate these books into Arabic. It is important to note
that Muslims did not rely only on the information, science and knowledge of the
other civilizations, but also constructed a solid base upon which they set their
own scientific research, by adding a lot of things to what they had learned from
the others. Dr Bucaille (1985, pp.125-26) wants us to remember
that:
“…at the height of
Islam, between the Eighth and Twelfth centuries AD, i.e. at a time when
restrictions on scientific development were in force in the Christian
World, a very large number of studies and discoveries were being made at
Islamic universities.… The Caliph’s library at Cordoba contained 40,000 volumes.
Averr?e was teaching there, and Greek, Indian and Persia sciences were taught.
This is why scholars from all over Europe went to study at Cordoba….A very
great number of ancient manuscripts has come down to us thanks to cultivated
Arabs who acted as the vehicle for the culture of conquered countries. We are
also indebted to Arabic culture for mathematics (algebra was an Arabic
invention), astronomy, physics (optics), geology, botany, medicine (Avicenna),
etc.”
Therefore, history
of sciences in particular, and humanity in genera will never forget the
important contributions of Muslim scientists who tattooed forever their names on
the pages of history: Averr?e, Avicenna, Al Razi [the greatest Arab doctor in
his time (Baalabaki: 1990, p.6)], Albatenuis or Al Battani [Arab astronomer. He
precisely pinpointed the length of seasons (Ibid. p.11)], Jabber Ibn Hayyan [He
is considered as the father of Arab chemistry (Ibid. p.49)], Ibn Al Baytar [Arab
botanist (Ibid. p.46)], Ibn Al Nafis [an Arab doctor who discovered the
pulmonary circulation [Ibid.], Hunayn Ibn Ishaq [an Arab doctor. He translated
into Arabic a lot of books of Plato, Aristotle and Galen (Ibid.)], etc….Of
course the list does not stop here. There are so many other famous names I have
not mentioned, which are always shining not only in the world of science, but
also in that of literature, arts, history, philosophy, jurisprudence and so
on.
What is really
noteworthy is that Islam enfolded other civilizations in a crucible, and then
shaped them in a very harmonious Islamic nation. It destroyed chauvinism and
selfishness; all people from different colours and countries felt unified by the
strong belief in the One God. This gave birth to a multinational knowledge under
the thoughtful and enlightened guidance of Islam. The latter made from science
an international factor. This encouraged Europeans to study at the Islamic
universities, and have the same rights as Muslim students. Dr Bucaille (1985,
p.126) reinforces what I have already said:
“For the first
time, science took on an international character in the Islamic universities of
the Middle Ages.”
Islam has never
separated science from faith (religion). On the contrary, the two are cast in a
harmonious mould.
“…Men were more
steeped in the religious spirit than they are today; but in the Islamic world,
this did not prevent them from being both believers and scientists. Science was
the twin of religion and it should never have ceased to be
so.”(Ibid.)
Of course, if we
examine the Holy Qur’an, we will discover that it always invites people to
acquire knowledge with which they can reach a high degree of faith.
“The famous
physicist Albert Einstein says,‘Faith is the strongest and noblest result of
scientific research.’”(Tabbarah: 1988, p.37)
I think that
whatever people say, the Qur’an remains our ultimate source from which we can
get knowledge and wisdom.
{Is one who
worships devoutly during the hours of the night prostrating himself or
standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his
hope in the Mercy of his Lord-(like one who does not?) Say: Are those Equal,
those who know and those who do not know? It is those endued with understanding
that receive admonition}
[XXXIX:
9]
In this verse we
notice the justice of God Who states that there is a clear gap between learned
people and ignorant ones. There is even a Muslim Tradition, related on the
behalf of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.), which says:
“People are of two
kinds: a scholar and an educated person. Except these, they are but a ragtag
and bobtail that God pays no attention to. ”
This Hadith
emphasizes the fact that what distinguishes man from animals is knowledge. For
this reason God created man with a brain, not to be left empty or filled with
superstition and trivialities, but to be used properly in acquiring knowledge
that leads to the belief that there is only one Supreme God. In other words, to
be a monotheist. I know that someone may ask: How could religion be an impetus
to the scientific research? I will simply tell him what A. Einstein, quoted in
Al Sharif (1990, p.113), said:
“Our religious
insight is the source which controls our scientific insight.”
Obviously, the
Qur’an -the main source of the Islamic legislation- invites people to acquire
science, knowledge and wisdom from the very beginning of the Qur’anic
revelation. The following verses were the first revealed to the Prophet
(p.b.u.h.):
{Proclaim! (or
Read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created- created man of a
(mere) clot of congealed blood. Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful; He
Who taught (the use of ) the Pen; taught man that Which he knew
not.}
[XCVI:
1-5]
In addition, the
Qur’an invites people to acquire not only religious sciences, but also secular
ones such as astronomy, biology, geology, meteorology, etc…Hence I will give,
respectively, a verse for each field of science I have just
mentioned.
{Do not the
unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one Unit
of Creation) before We clove them asunder? We made from water every living
thing. Will they not then believe?}
[XX:
30]
{Now let man but
think from what he is created! He is created from a drop emitted proceeding from
between the backbone and the ribs}
[LXXXVI:
5-7]
{Do they not
look…at the Mountains, how they are fixed firm?}
[LXXXVI:
17&19
{Seest thou that
God makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into
a heap? Then wilt thou see rain issue forth from their midst.}
[XXIV:
43]
All these Holy
Qur’anic verses and so many others –with the instructions of the Muslim
Tradition- were a direct impetus, which stimulated Muslims to search for
science, and wisdom wherever they were. As a result science flourished in the
Islamic universities. So that generation of scholars and scientists, who
collected the nectar of knowledge and wisdom straight from the Glorious Qur’an
and Muslim Tradition, taking into consideration the sciences of their time,
truly managed to produce an abundant scientific treasure.
But what is indeed
a pity is that we scarcely know about the Islamic history of sciences, and also
about Muslim scientists whose books are to found in European libraries and
universities. The latter are keeping these books hitherto as important and
crucial references for scholars, teachers and students. Dr Ben Yusuf (1986,
p.44-5) draws our attention to the fact that:
“Oxford University
is, at present, preserving the original of Al Khawarismi’s book Algebra and
Opposition [Aljabr Wal Mokabalah]….This book was translated into a lot of
foreign languages. It was translated again in 1915 because of its importance….Al
Battani’s book The Growing Ephemeris [Azeej Assabia] is considered as the first
of what was written in astronomy (The 19th century AD).It was translated into
Latin. The Vatican’s library is proud of Al Battani’s handwritten copy.”
Dr Al Fandi (1976,
pp.78-9&84) states that:
“In Oxford library
in England, there is a unique Arab manuscript. This contains precious and
important information, and astronomical charts-called ephemeredes- calculated by
Najm Al Din Al Mesri…There is also a thesis written by Al Mesri preserved in
Emroziana library in Milan…. Al Hassan Ibn Al Haytham’s books in the field of
astronomy went as far as twenty-four theses. Most of them are accessible in
European Libraries, and we have not got but only three essays…”
The previous
quotations really strike our mind. Our entire scientific heritage is mostly in
foreign countries whose children are taking benefit from it. This shows that we
have neglected our precious scientific legacy. Dr Al Fandi (1976, p.84) explains
this mournful phenomenon when he says:
“This is a doleful
state. Our scientific heritage has already insinuated abroad in different
ways….A part of it crept during the French attack, another part during the
Crusades. Besides, money played a role in this case. So some people sold the
manuscripts they had! ”
Dr Al Fandi (1976,
p.88) points out that what proves that our scientific heritage, which was
achieved by Muslim astronomers in the Middle Ages, is of great value, is that
the names of the stars and their constellations are still used in Arabic terms
by modern astronomy.
These terms and so many
others will remain forever as a concrete testimony to the Muslims’ great
scientific legacy. This shows furthermore that Islam has never been an enemy to
science or knowledge, as some biased orientalists claimed-e.g. Ernest Renan, Dr
Ratson, Duke Darker, etc. (Al Jundi: 1987, pp.40-1&43). There is, so far, no
religion in the world, which has encouraged and valued science and scientists
than Islam.
Yet Muslims are
nowadays suffering from underdevelopment. Instead of leading the caravan of
science, as they did in the past, they are now being led by the West. Dr Al
Fandi (1976, p.63) explains the main causes of Muslims’ underdevelopment when he
says that:
“The most
important causes of Muslims’ underdevelopment, in general, after their
prodigious upswing that reunited them and made them leaders of the Middle
Ages, are almost curbed in the dissemination of superstitions because… they
substituted Angels for Natural phenomena which control the material
world. They assigned an angel for every phenomenon, such as the sea angel, the
wind angel…!!…Their sciences were confined to follow the illusions and
fictitious hopes, which dealt with subjects just as (the king’s ring)…and
also to know the unseen and look for the future by means of stars, the Zodiac
and astrology.”
Consequently,
Europeans, who took a great profit from the Islamic civilization, got rid of the
ignorance in which they had been living, and destroyed all the shackles imposed
on them by the ecclesiastical system. Step by step, the managed to set the
tenets of reason and scientific thought, relying on the Muslims’ heritage on one
had, and that of the Greeks’ and Romans’ on the other hand. But George Sarton,
quoted in Al Jundi (1987, p.297) assured that:
“…Latin writers
were disjoined from the Greek springs of knowledge to the extent that their
works in Greek nearly depleted. So they would have lost all means of
communication with the main source of science if the Arabs had not saved
sciences of the Greeks.”
The more science
-and empiricism- developed, the more people deserted religion and faith for
reason and rationality, to the extent that some of them became atheists,
refusing anything that has a direct relationship with religion. Dr Bucaille
(1985, p.126) explains that:
“The Medieval
period was, for the Christian world, a time of stagnation and absolute
conformity. It must be stressed that scientific research was not slowed down by
the Judeo-Christian Revelation itself, but rather by those people who claimed to
be its servants. Following the Renaissance, the scientists’ natural reaction
was to take vengeance on their former enemies; this vengeance still
continues today, to such an extent indeed that in the West, anyone who talks
of God in scientific circles really does stand out. This attitude affects
the thinking of all young people who receive a university education, Muslims
included.”
But the problem is
that these atheist scientists or educated people deny the existence of God
without having genuinely a single scientific argument to confirm their flimsy
claims. Their arguments are illogical and unscientific if compared with those
made by objective and thoughtful scientists who have proved the inevitable
existence of a supreme God.