Impacts And Contribution Of Islam To World Civilization.

Islam has had a profound global impact since it was founded in the seventh century. During what is known as the Golden Age of Islam, which lasted roughly between the mid-eighth century until the 13th century, the Muslim world was the center of intellectual activity, with Baghdad serving as the capital for philosophers, mathematicians and scientists. Mathematics, language, astronomy and medicine were particularly influenced by this culture and its effects can still be seen to this day.

Mathematics:::
Although the numbers we use today were developed in India and were originally called "Hindu numerals," the symbolic system was spread across the Middle East by mathematician al-Khwarazmi and has come to be known as "Arabic numerals." al-Khwarazmi also authored several important books on math, one of which includes various ways to solve quadratic equations using both words and letters to represent numerical values, a common practice today. The transliteration of his name, in fact, is Algorithmi, which is the origin of the term "algorithm." The word "algebra" is derived from the Arabic word al-jabr, meaning to restore or complete.

Language:::
Like most languages, Arabic has spread throughout the world by way of trade and conquest. The Moors of North Africa, who invaded Spain in 711 and were not completely expelled until 1492, left a distinct mark on the Spanish language. Because the Muslim world was the center of philosophy, science, mathematics and other fields for most of the medieval period, many Arabic ideas and concepts were spread across Europe, and trade and travel through the region made understanding Arabic an essential skill for merchants and travelers alike. As a result, modern English includes Arabic-based words such as "admiral" from "amir-ar-ahl," meaning chief of the transport; "sequin" derived from "sikkah," a die used for coinmaking; and "jar" from "jarrah," a large earthen vase.
Astronomy:::
Because of the requirement to face Mecca during daily prayers, Muslims needed an accurate way to determine their exact geographic location, so Muslim scientists found a solution through astronomical research. Initially attacked as astrologers, false soothsayers who used the night sky to divine the future, astronomers eventually found favor when the religious establishment determined that science could demonstrate the complexity of Allah's (God's) creation. Freed by this new perspective and aided by translations of Greek scientific works (especially the writings of Ptolemy), Muslim astronomers made many important discoveries using various tools, including quadrants and even observatories. Ibn al-Shatir developed the planetary theory and studied the radius of Mercury's orbit, information that would be crucial to Copernicus' work 150 years later. Planetary movements were closely charted, and Islam's Golden Age of science was so thorough in its findings that even today two-thirds of the known stars have Arabic names. Unfortunately, many scientific discoveries were lost when Baghdad was invaded and sacked by Mongol forces.

Medicine::::
Persian intellectual Ibn Sina (980-1037), known as Avicenna in the West, made great contributions to philosophy, mathematics and especially medicine. His Arabic book "The Canon of Medicine" was so influential that it was used by doctors and students of medicine for hundreds of years. In it he describes how to properly quarantine patients to avoid spreading illness, and he provides criteria for properly testing new medicine. During the medieval period, Muslim doctors were the first to use antimony (a metalloid) for its medicinal powers. Hospitals were developed during the Islamic Golden Age and surgical practices, shunned by other societies, were further explored and refined in the Muslim world. Even Islam's ritual ablution before prayer led to advances in hygiene.
Geography:::
Muslim scholars paid great attention to geography. In fact, the Muslims' great concern for geography originated with their religion.

The Quran encourages people to travel throughout the earth to see God's signs and patterns everywhere. Islam also requires each Muslim to have at least enough knowledge of geography to know the direction of the Qiblah (the position of the Ka'bah in Makkah) in order to pray five times a day.

Muslims were also used to taking long journeys to conduct trade as well as to make the Hajj and spread their religion. The far-flung Islamic empire enabled scholar-explorers to compile large amounts of geographical and climatic information from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Among the most famous names in the field of geography, even in the West, are Ibn Khaldun and Ibn Batuta, renowned for their written accounts of their extensive explorations.

In 1166, Al-Idrisi, the well-known Muslim scholar who served the Sicilian court, produced very accurate maps, including a world map with all the continents and their mountains, rivers and famous cities. Al-Muqdishi was the first geographer to produce accurate maps in color.

Spain was ruled by Muslims under the banner of Islam for over 700 years. By the 15th century of the Gregorian calendar the ruler-ship of Islam had been seated in Spain and Muslims had established centers of learning which commanded respect all over the known world at that time. There were no "Dark Ages" such the rest of Europe experienced for the Muslims in Spain and those who lived there with them. In January of 1492 Muslim Spain capitulated to Catholic Rome under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. By July of the same year, Muslims were instrumental in helping navigate Christopher Columbus to the Caribbean South of Florida.

It was, moreover, with the help of Muslim navigators and their inventions that Magellan was able to traverse the Cape of Good Hope, and Da Gamma and Columbus had Muslim navigators on board their ships.



Humanity:::

Seeking knowledge is obligatory in Islam for every Muslim, man and woman. The main sources of Islam, the Quran and the Sunnah (Prophet Muhammad's traditions), encourage Muslims to seek knowledge and be scholars, since this is the best way for people to know Allah (God), to appreciate His wondrous creations and be thankful for them.

Muslims have always been eager to seek knowledge, both religious and secular, and within a few years of Muhammad's mission, a great civilization sprang up and flourished. The outcome is shown in the spread of Islamic universities; Al-Zaytunah in Tunis, and Al-Azhar in Cairo go back more than 1,000 years and are the oldest existing universities in the world. Indeed, they were the models for the first European universities, such as Bologna, Heidelberg, and the Sorbonne. Even the familiar academic cap and gown originated at Al-Azhar University.
Muslims made great advances in many different fields, such as geography, physics, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, pharmacology, architecture, linguistics and astronomy. Algebra and the Arabic numerals were introduced to the world by Muslim scholars. The astrolabe, the quadrant, and other navigational devices and maps were developed by Muslim scholars and played an important role in world progress, most notably in Europe's age of exploration.

Muslim scholars studied the ancient civilizations from Greece and Rome to China and India. The works of Aristotle, Ptolemy, Euclid and others were translated into Arabic. Muslim scholars and scientists then added their own creative ideas, discoveries and inventions, and finally transmitted this new knowledge to Europe, leading directly to the Renaissance. Many scientific and medical treatises, having been translated into Latin, were standard text and reference books as late as the 17th and 18th centuries.