01-18-2006, 07:45 AM
Muslim contribution to civilisation
Dr Farrukh Saleem
http://www.sulekha.com/news/nhc.aspx?cid=441427
Al-Khwarizmi, the Persian mathematician, astrologer and astronomer is
considered the 'father of Algebra' (the word 'Algebra' is derived from the title
of one his books 'Al-Jar wa-al-Muqabilah'). Al-Khwarizmi, greatly influenced by
the work of Hindu mathematicians, taught the world how to solve linear and
quadratic equations.
Al-Farghani measured the Earth's diameter and gave the world 'Elements of
astronomy on the celestial motions' (the Alfraganus crater on the Moon was named
after Al-Farghani). Ibn Sina -- greatly influenced by the Ismaili branch of
Islam -- was a physician, scientist and philosopher. He authored 450 books,
presented the human civilisation 'The Canon of Medicine' and became the 'father
of modern medicine'.
Omar al-Khayyam was a mathematician, astronomer, sceptic, writer and poet.
Omar Khayyam discovered binominal expansion, measured the length of the year to
within six decimal points (as 365.242195), mapped the stars in the sky and
showed the world how to solve cubic equations.
Omar al-Khayyam's philosophy on religion was very different from the
officially held tenets of Islam. He vociferously "objected to the notion that
every particular event and phenomenon was the result of divine intervention; nor
did he believe in any Judgment Day or rewards and punishments after life.
Instead he supported the view that laws of nature explained all phenomena of
observed life." In 1970, a lunar crater was named after him. In 1980, an
asteroid was named after him.
Al-Farghani died in 833; Al-Khwarizmi in 850, Ibn Sina in 1,037 and Omar
al-Khayyam in 1,123. Question: What have Muslims contributed to the human
civilisation over the past 833 years? Answer: Next to zilch.
Twenty-two per cent of humanity is Muslim, at least 1.4 billion followers of
Islam. Omar al-Khayyam has been dead for 833 years, and since then Muslims have
contributed next to nothing to physics, chemistry, medicine, literature or
economics. The Nobel Foundation has been awarding Nobel Prizes for more than a
hundred years, and out of the 1.4 billion Muslims we have produced three: Nejib
Mahfooz (Literature), Ahmed Zewail (Chemistry) and Abdus Salam (Physics).
Look closer: Ahmed Zewail pursued his scientific work in America; Abdus Salam
in Italy and the UK. In 1997, Nejib Mahfooz was stabbed in the back by an
Egyptian Muslim fundamentalist and Abdus Salam is not considered a Muslim in
Pakistan.
Two out of every ten human beings are Muslim but what really has been the
intellectual output of Muslim lands over the past 833 years? Consider this: The
population of Rawalpindi is 1.4 million, and that's the exact number of Jews the
world over. As a matter of fact, Jews are 0.2 percent of the world population
but have so far won at least 166 Nobel Prizes -- three Nobel Laureates among 1.4
billion Muslims (Peace Prizes not included) and 166 among 14 million Jews.
Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Farghani and Ibn Sina were all products of the Muslim culture
that was tolerant and encouraged scholarship (including learning from
non-Muslims). Omar al-Khayyam was a product of Muslim culture that accepted
dissent. Muslim culture not only produced knowledge it also consumed knowledge
produced by non-Muslims.
Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Farghani, Ibn Sina and Omar al-Khayyam all believed in the
same Qu'ran that we do. What has changed is the ulema and their interpretation
of the same scripture.
<b>
We are now 22 per cent of the world population but a mere one percent of
scientists are Muslim. Why? Forces that preach hatred and sermonise intolerance
have hijacked Muslim culture.</b> Muslim culture no longer encourages scholarship
and penalises dissent from officially held Islamic dogmas by capital punishment.
We insist on the 'revealed truth' and block the 'quest for truth'. We haven't
produced knowledge in the past 833
years and now equate the consumption of knowledge produced by non-Muslims as
sinful.
Dr Farrukh Saleem
http://www.sulekha.com/news/nhc.aspx?cid=441427
Al-Khwarizmi, the Persian mathematician, astrologer and astronomer is
considered the 'father of Algebra' (the word 'Algebra' is derived from the title
of one his books 'Al-Jar wa-al-Muqabilah'). Al-Khwarizmi, greatly influenced by
the work of Hindu mathematicians, taught the world how to solve linear and
quadratic equations.
Al-Farghani measured the Earth's diameter and gave the world 'Elements of
astronomy on the celestial motions' (the Alfraganus crater on the Moon was named
after Al-Farghani). Ibn Sina -- greatly influenced by the Ismaili branch of
Islam -- was a physician, scientist and philosopher. He authored 450 books,
presented the human civilisation 'The Canon of Medicine' and became the 'father
of modern medicine'.
Omar al-Khayyam was a mathematician, astronomer, sceptic, writer and poet.
Omar Khayyam discovered binominal expansion, measured the length of the year to
within six decimal points (as 365.242195), mapped the stars in the sky and
showed the world how to solve cubic equations.
Omar al-Khayyam's philosophy on religion was very different from the
officially held tenets of Islam. He vociferously "objected to the notion that
every particular event and phenomenon was the result of divine intervention; nor
did he believe in any Judgment Day or rewards and punishments after life.
Instead he supported the view that laws of nature explained all phenomena of
observed life." In 1970, a lunar crater was named after him. In 1980, an
asteroid was named after him.
Al-Farghani died in 833; Al-Khwarizmi in 850, Ibn Sina in 1,037 and Omar
al-Khayyam in 1,123. Question: What have Muslims contributed to the human
civilisation over the past 833 years? Answer: Next to zilch.
Twenty-two per cent of humanity is Muslim, at least 1.4 billion followers of
Islam. Omar al-Khayyam has been dead for 833 years, and since then Muslims have
contributed next to nothing to physics, chemistry, medicine, literature or
economics. The Nobel Foundation has been awarding Nobel Prizes for more than a
hundred years, and out of the 1.4 billion Muslims we have produced three: Nejib
Mahfooz (Literature), Ahmed Zewail (Chemistry) and Abdus Salam (Physics).
Look closer: Ahmed Zewail pursued his scientific work in America; Abdus Salam
in Italy and the UK. In 1997, Nejib Mahfooz was stabbed in the back by an
Egyptian Muslim fundamentalist and Abdus Salam is not considered a Muslim in
Pakistan.
Two out of every ten human beings are Muslim but what really has been the
intellectual output of Muslim lands over the past 833 years? Consider this: The
population of Rawalpindi is 1.4 million, and that's the exact number of Jews the
world over. As a matter of fact, Jews are 0.2 percent of the world population
but have so far won at least 166 Nobel Prizes -- three Nobel Laureates among 1.4
billion Muslims (Peace Prizes not included) and 166 among 14 million Jews.
Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Farghani and Ibn Sina were all products of the Muslim culture
that was tolerant and encouraged scholarship (including learning from
non-Muslims). Omar al-Khayyam was a product of Muslim culture that accepted
dissent. Muslim culture not only produced knowledge it also consumed knowledge
produced by non-Muslims.
Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Farghani, Ibn Sina and Omar al-Khayyam all believed in the
same Qu'ran that we do. What has changed is the ulema and their interpretation
of the same scripture.
<b>
We are now 22 per cent of the world population but a mere one percent of
scientists are Muslim. Why? Forces that preach hatred and sermonise intolerance
have hijacked Muslim culture.</b> Muslim culture no longer encourages scholarship
and penalises dissent from officially held Islamic dogmas by capital punishment.
We insist on the 'revealed truth' and block the 'quest for truth'. We haven't
produced knowledge in the past 833
years and now equate the consumption of knowledge produced by non-Muslims as
sinful.