Islamic Science

* Discussing sensitives: science, religion, beliefs, personal observation matter, hope for apologies if it contains any error.

Introduction

Islamic science, often referred to as the science of the Islamic Golden Age, represents a remarkable period of intellectual flourishing from the 8th to the 14th century. During this era, Muslim scholars made groundbreaking contributions to various fields including mathematics, astronomy, medicine, chemistry, optics, and engineering.

Pioneers like Al-Khwarizmi, the "Father of Algebra," developed foundational concepts in mathematics, while Ibn al-Haytham's work in optics laid the groundwork for modern physics. 

Personal Touch as a Malaysian

Jamek Mosque,

The oldest Islamic place of worship in Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia

In Malaysia, Indian Muslim community is a vibrant and integral part of Malaysia's multicultural society. They are primarily descendants of Indian migrants who came to Malaysia during the British colonial period, mainly from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and other southern regions of India, they are rich with knowledge on various practicalities, and from the recesses of the historical past they surely have learned about Hinduism, Tamil language, most Malaysian Indians speaks Tamil, but there are also speakers of Malayalam, Telugu, Punjabi, and in addition Jawi, while it is not strictly necessary to learn Jawi to understand Islam, but it can enhance understanding of classical Islamic texts, so, that defiantly make them unique and rich with knowledge, I believe no one would deny my analogy.

Indian Muslims have a rich and diverse cultural heritage that makes them unique and advantageous. They have contributed significantly to various fields, including literature, science, art, and architecture. Combining Indian and Islamic traditions created a vibrant and distinct cultural identity. Examples like the Mughal Empire, with its stunning architecture like the Taj Mahal, is a testament to this blend.

Islam holds secrets of deep science since before the religion was primarily even formed or has significant followers, as well as other many religions' philosophies. Much like India and other civilizations, such as Pyramid and the Greeks, ancient great minds contributed significant science to the world. Primarily Muslims believe the Qur'an is the divine word of God, ensuring that the spiritual and ethical teachings reach people in a relatable and understandable manner. The teaching is often very philosophical and logical sense rather than calculations or added sophisticated formulas or practice. This is my personal observation, 

I often see Muslims go for prayer while recently, I began a habit of going cycling at 4AM morning almost every day in an attempt to make a new healthy habit. In the Johor region. Questions often spark my mind about the "evolution of physics" science and religion, eventually, my questions drive me to find answers and I thought of writing an article on a blog to enhance understanding, while it will be motivational, and also would get some information for readers. Let's delve into the content of science it holds.

The Hidden Science

If we look backwards in time during the Islamic Golden Age (8th to 14th century), people like: Al-Khwarizmi: Known as the "Father of Algebra," Ibn Sina (Avicenna): A polymath who wrote "The Canon of Medicine," Al-Razi (Rhazes): Known for his work in medicine and chemistry, Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen): A pioneer in optics, he wrote the "Book of Optics," Al-Biruni: A scholar who made significant contributions, including astronomy, mathematics, and anthropology. He calculated the Earth's circumference with high accuracy and wrote extensively on the cultures and sciences of Indian subcontinent.

Muslim-Hindu Link

Al-Biruni's collaboration with Hindu scholars is remarkable. This is something that many of us are not aware of, the title above already gives a hint, AL-Biruni travelled to the Indian subcontinent in the early 11th century, and he immersed himself in the local culture and language. He learned Sanskrit to access original Hindu texts and engaged directly with Hindu scholars. This allowed him to gain a deep understanding of Indian philosophy, religion, science, and customs.

His work, "Kitab al-Hind" (The Book of India), is a comprehensive account of Indian society, culture, and knowledge. He translated several important Hindu texts into Arabic, including the Samkhya philosophy and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Al-Biruni's respectful and scholarly approach earned him the trust and cooperation of Hindu scholars, which was crucial for his research.

This collaboration not only enriched Al-Biruni's work but also contributed to the exchange of knowledge between Islamic and Hindu cultures. It's a testament to the power of intellectual curiosity and cross-cultural dialogue. 

Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_(Al-Biruni)

Learning From True History

We might wonder about the discrimination that exists today. As I indicated in earlier blog posts, there was almost zero discrimination in the exchange of knowledge between great minds during ancient times. However, modern society tends to be more prone to discriminatory attitudes.

Of course, history shows conflicts among various groups and religions, but when it came to science and knowledge, these barriers often faded. The beauty of scientific inquiry is that it transcends borders and biases, fostering a universal quest for understanding.

In our modern world, we must recognize the errors in conveying false information that sparks hatred. By learning from the unity and collaborative spirit of the past, we can strive to fight discrimination and promote a culture of wisdom and inclusivity.

Invention of  the Telescope 

The telescope was invented by Hans Lippershey in the early 17th century, around 1608. That was over 400 years ago. However, the groundwork for understanding light and optics, which contributed to the development of telescopes, was laid by scholars like Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen) in the 11th century, nearly 1,000 years ago. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_al-Haytham

Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen)

In history, Galileo Galilei constructed his own telescope in 1609. Marked a pivotal moment in the history of observational astronomy, as his improvements to the telescope allowed for significant astronomical discoveries, such as the moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus.

Primarily, the development need for telescopes is for cosmic observation, although we do not find in any history book that the ancient used telescopes that does not mean they did not use them, it may overshadowed by what was known at that moment of history book were written and followed up to modern days, today with AI and online informational sources, we would find intriguing about the richness of our ancient past. 

Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen), wrote extensively on optics and vision, and his work influenced later European scientists. While telescopes as we know them were not developed by Islamic scholars, their contributions to the study of light and optics were crucial to the eventual invention of the telescope.

Ref: Ibn Al-Haytham on Eye and Brain, Vision and Perception - Muslim HeritageMuslim Heritage

Father of Algebra 

Al-Khwarizmi

Al-Khwarizmi's contributions extended beyond algebra. He played a crucial role in introducing the Hindu-Arabic numeral system to the Western world, which revolutionized mathematics by making calculations easier and more efficient. His work on algorithms also influenced computer science, with the term "algorithm" deriving from his name.

There are elarier blog post about algorithm of ancient if you are interested to delve: Algorithm

Example of Solving a Quadratic Equation

A typical quadratic equation from Al-Khwarizmi's "Kitab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala" could look something like this: [ x^2 + 10x = 39 ]

Steps and Solution:

1. Standard Form: Rewrite the equation in standard quadratic form (ax^2 + bx + c = 0): [ x^2 + 10x - 39 = 0 ]

2. Using the Quadratic Formula: The quadratic formula for solving (ax^2 + bx + c = 0) is: [ x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} ] For our equation, (a = 1), (b = 10), and (c = -39):

3. Substitute Values: [ x = \frac{-10 \pm \sqrt{10^2 - 4(1)(-39)}}{2(1)} ] [ x = \frac{-10 \pm \sqrt{100 + 156}}{2} ] [ x = \frac{-10 \pm \sqrt{256}}{2} ]

4. Simplify: [ x = \frac{-10 \pm 16}{2} ]

5. Find the Solutions: [ x_1 = \frac{-10 + 16}{2} = \frac{6}{2} = 3 ] [ x_2 = \frac{-10 - 16}{2} = \frac{-26}{2} = -13 ]

Solutions:

The solutions to the quadratic equation (x^2 + 10x - 39 = 0) are: [ x = 3 \text{ and } x = -13 ]

Note: While Al-Khwarizmi's methods for solving quadratic equations were primarily geometric and involved completing the square, this example demonstrates the algebraic solution using the quadratic formula, a tool that evolved later but solves the same type of problem that Al-Khwarizmi explored in his foundational work on algebra. His systematic approach to solving these equations was a major contribution to mathematics.

His contributions had a lasting impact on mathematics and science, influencing scholars in both the Islamic world and medieval Europe. 

Interesting? 

Mathematics often becomes more intriguing when we delve into its ancient origins. While the modern world's Western methods showcase easy adaptation for contemporary usage, there's something captivating about ancient mathematics. Personally, I wasn’t great at math during my childhood. But a sudden spark of interest ignited when I began learning about ancient mathematical practices. One reason is that ancient mathematicians had zero bias, focusing purely on practical problem-solving.

Take Bhaskara II, for example, from my earlier blog post. His works are filled with practical examples and problem-solving techniques that are still relevant today. If you're keen to learn more, there are several books available online that delve deeper into his contributions.


Conclusion

Islamic science during the Golden Age epitomizes the profound intertwining of faith and reason, where the pursuit of knowledge was seen as a divine duty. Scholars like Al-Khwarizmi, Avicenna, and Al-Biruni exemplified this quest, making groundbreaking contributions that shaped the future of mathematics, medicine, and astronomy. Their work not only advanced scientific thought but also facilitated cultural exchanges that enriched global understanding. The legacy of Islamic science continues to inspire, reminding us that the quest for knowledge transcends time and borders, embodying the timeless human spirit of curiosity and discovery.

For more ref to my previous blog about Islamic contributions to science: Arab Contributions To Civilization And Science