By: Sanwal Ali Rind
There is no such field left in which our Muslim scientists not worked. But, unfortunately, we so-called successors valiantly disowned what they bequeathed to us. It is quite evident that the Muslim scientists’ acknowledgements are penned down even today in the pages of history. But to our dismay, the non-muslims are leaving no stone unturned to gain as much as possible they can, they not only notched up pretty much enough from that legacy but also their efforts to own Muslim scientist by neologising them in accordance with their wishes are crystally clear. It seems that our indolence has paved their way to rename Muslim scientists to erase their real identity. To name a few, ibn-e-Sina today known as eviscena; ibn-e-rushd as averroes; ibn al haytham as alhazen; ibn-e-zuhr as avenzoar; ibne Ishaq al-kindi as alkindus; jabir ibne haiyan as geber; al-Razi as Rhazes; MOHAMMAD ibne musa Al-khwarizmi as algaurizin; and so on.
The history witnesses that the services rendered by our well-versed muslim scientists in various scientific fields such as, astronomy, medical science, astrology, chemistry, physics, philosophy and many other are great source for even today’s scientific world. This is what the reality that compelled the non-muslim scholars, histriographers and western orientalists to acknowledge the fact. Let me borrow some lines from the pages of history elucidated by western scholars, who broadly acknowledged scientific sciences promoted by prophet ( salat & salam be on him) of Islam and his staunch followers, that helped them March ahead in sundry fields.
In this regard, Joseph Sachet & C.E. Bosworth, in their book (The legacy of islam, pp.426-427) reveal this reality in the following words: “There is no doubt that the Islamic sciences exerted a great influence on the rise of European science; and in this renaissance of knowledge in the west there was no single influence, but diverse ones.
Another renowned western historian professor hitti delineates: ” Not only are of most star —– names in European languages of Arabic origins —— but a numbers of technical terms —– are likewise of Arabic etymology and testify to the rich legacy of Islam to Christian Europe” (History of the Arabs, pp.568-573).
Robert L. Gulick, in his book, ‘Mohammad, The Educator’ states: “it should be borne in mind, however, that these aphorisms (maxims found in ahadith) have been widely accepted that they have accepted as authentic as it cannot be doubted that they have exerted a wide and salutary influence. He further remarked, ” The words attributed to Mohammad must assuredly have stimulated and encouraged the great thinker of the golden age of Islamic civilisation”.
Today, the modern science has touched the climax of series of success in inventing the things through the methodologies, whose pioneers were verily the muslim scientists, who created surgical instruments. Due to the lack of our interest, western world today proclaimed to have been pioneers of all methods and their usages.
Additionally, below is the mention of a few scientists who outclassed all great philosophers & scientists and acquainted the world of science with their unparalleled chefs-d’oeuvre.
In BotanyOne of the books of botanical world of Al-Dinawari, ‘Encyclopedia Botanica’, the first ever comprehensive & adipose book ‘kitaab-ul-Nabaat’ consisting of six volumes.
Western historian Strassburg states: “Anyhow it is astonishing enough that the entire botanical literature of antiquity furnishes us only two parallels to our book (of Dinawari). (Zeitschrift fuer Assyriologie, Strassburg, vols. 25,44)
Medical ScienceThe most renowned Physician of Islam ‘ Al-razi’ who authored more than two hundred books merely on Medical Sciences, most of which were translated into Latin, English and other modern languages and were approximately published forty times from 1498 to 1866 Apart, the proper diagnosis on Smallpox and measles was also made by was ‘Al-razi’.
OphthamologyAli ibn Isa, who wrote well-known book ‘Tadkhirat al-Kahhalin’ which rendered great guidance for Ophthamologists for centuries. His books were taught everywhere and even translated into Latin as Tractus de Oculis Jesu ben Hali.(Islamic Science, pp. 166-167)
AnaesthesiaAli ibn Isa was also the first person to propose the use of anaesthesia for surgery.
Woefully speaking, that the legacy bequeathed to us by our great scientists today calls us vociferously that is there anyone to own us? why our universities cannot churn out today ibn sina, ibn rushd, ibn haytham, ibn zuhr, Jabir ibn Haiyan, abu bakar al-razi…?
Last but not least, the corridors of knowledge for us are not closed today, if our muslim scientists, who in absence of modern facility could do so, why can’t we today? why can’t we be scientists like western world scientists are being so. We need to ponder over it, it’s really a moment of reflection…