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Ahmed Abdullah

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Outlines:
 Defining Science and Hikmah
 Basic concepts of Islam & Science
 Contribution of Quran to science
 Contribution by Muslim scientists to modern
science
 Down fall of Islamic era of science
 Action plan to revert the present situation

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Science or Hikma

 Study of nature
 Islam stresses to explore nature (‫)حتقيق‬
 Expect us to know the force behind nature
 Once the concept of Creation is realized (‫)خملوق‬
the Creator (‫ )خالق‬become obvious
 Knowledge of nature brings you closure to Allah

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 Branches of science

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 Verses in the Quran that values Science
and Scientist
 “Are they equal those who got the knowledge and those who did
not get the knowledge” (Al-Zumar: 9)

 “…Those who fear GOD (watch and consider to please HIM all the
time) are those who have got the knowledge” (Al Fater: 28)

 “Say, My LORD Give me more knowledge” (Taha: 114)

 “Verily, WE (GOD) honoured the children of Adam (Human

beings) i.e. by giving the blessing of having the most capable
brain of all creatures”. (Al Israa: 70)

 “ On top of a knowledgeable person, there is a more

knowledgeable one”. (Al Yousaf: 70)

 The scientist passes by 3 storeys, when he achieves the first storey he

shows off, when he achieves the 2nd he becomes humble and when he
reaches the 3rd storey he realises that he still knows nothing.
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Science

 Al-Quran initiated a different thinking process in

Muslim Scholars (Hukma or Muslim Scientists)
 Reaching precision and accuracy was their
measurement
 They developed the method of investigation
(Scientific Method)

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Science
 After the birth of Mohammad (SAW) science took
a different course
 Revelation of Al-Quran-ul-Hakeem changed the
thinking process of mankind
 Islam brought science from imaginary
philosophical concept to modern experimental
and practical stage, so call Modern Science

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Islamic era of Science

 Birth of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH)
(570 AD – 632 AD)

 Begins with
revelation of Quran
(610 AD)

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The Rights Of Qur’an
Islam and Modern Scientific Methods

 The Challenge of Quran

Soon we will show them our signs in the (furthest)

regions (of the earth), and in their own souls until
it manifests truth on them.

(Sura Fussilat (Ha Mim Sijdah) 41:53

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Importance of observation in Quran

Say : “Behold all that is In the heavens and on earth”

(Sura Yunus 10:101)

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 Say: “Travel through the earth And see how God did
Originate creation; so will God produce a later creation:
For God has Power over all Things

(Sura Ankabut 29:20)

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Quran gives many Scientific facts

Do not the Unbelievers see That the heavens

And the earth Were joined together (as one Unit
Of Creation),

(Sura Anbiyaa 21:30)

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Expansion of the Universe

And the heaven, we have built it with power.

Verily, we are expanding it.

(Sura Al Zariyat 51:47)

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 “From 8th century to 12th century, Arabic
was the scientific language”.
British Research 4:1

“Muslim scholars introduced precise observation,

controlled experiment and careful records”.
Will Durant

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Science and Islam, Learning in Medieval‫قرون وسطی‬

 Early Islamic teaching encouraged the pursuit of all

knowledge that helped to improve people’s lives
 Arabic became the international language of
scholarship
 Muslims translated important works from ancient
Greece and Egypt
 Huge libraries were established in big cities like
Baghdad, Cairo and Damascus

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Mathematics
 Islamic mathematicians built on the work of Greek,
Indian, Persian and Chinese mathematicians
 Islamic mathematicians were interested in different
number systems
 Developed algebra and geometry which was important
in architecture and other technologies

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 Islamic tile patterns used to
decorate buildings

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Medicine and surgery
 Islamic medicine was based on the Greek model of the
four elements and ‘humours’
 Disease was thought of as an imbalance of ‘humours’
 Pharmacy, combining herbal medicine and alchemy,
was important
 Islamic law forbade dissections

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Technology
 Arab lands were often dry and harsh environments
 Improvements in water technology were important for
agriculture
 Other industries included manufacture of paper,
machinery and scientific instruments

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 Water raising
machine from
Al-Jazari
manuscript

http://www.muslimheritage.com/ImageLibrary/
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 Questions
 Is there any conflict between science and religion?
And can one replace the other?

 Does the word Scientist equates a non believer ? Or

Is being scientific contradicts being religious?

 Is religion just a group of myths, which was meant to

suit the time it was revealed or is it a logical,
intellectual, sensible curriculum.

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 The Answers
 Religion and sciences are originating from the same
source.

 Miracles were one of the most important tools that GOD

supported HIS messengers to convince people.

 In the Quran, GOD has approached human beings through

a different pathway: logic, practicality, precision and
employment of mind.

 What is key point of my discussion? ”The Quran

mentioned scientific facts 1440 years ago, that we, human
beings and in the 20th century, proved to be correct”.
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First five verses revealed in Quran

 “Read in the name of your LORD (GOD) WHO has

created (all that exists),
HE (GOD) has created man from a clot (a piece of
thick coagulated blood),
READ and your LORD (GOD) is the most Generous,
WHO (GOD) has taught (the writing) by the pen,
HE (GOD) has taught mankind that which they
knew not” (Quran 96: 1-5)

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 Origin of Universe
Modern Science Quran
 Modern cosmology  “….Then HE (GOD) turned to
indicates that, at one point the heaven when it was
in time, the whole universe smoke...” (Quran, 41:11)
an opaque highly dense
and hot gaseous  “Have not those who
composition). disbelieved known that the
 The earth and the heavens sky and the earth were one
above (the sun, the moon, connected entity, then WE
stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) (GOD) separated
were formed from this them?...” (Quran, 21:30)
same ‘smoke’? They were
one connected entity
then separated from each
other (The First Three Minutes, a
Modern View of the Origin of the
Universe, Weinberg, pp. 94-105.)
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 Astronomy
Modern Science Quran

 Moon is a dark body reflects  “See you not how ALLAH

light but does not produce (GOD) has created the seven
heat whereas the sun skies one above another, and
produces both light and has made the moon a light
heat. therein and made the sun a
glowing lamp? (71: 15-16)

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 Astronomy
Modern Science Quran

 The sun and moon each  “And the moon, WE (GOD)

rotates in its own orbit. have measured for it mansions
 The moon starts as a (to traverse), till it returns like
crescent then becomes full the old dried, curved date
moon and then half moon stalk.
then crescent again.  It is not for the sun to
overtake the moon, nor does
the night outstrips the day
and they all float, each in an
orbit.” (Quran 36: 39-40)

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 Geography/ Geology
Modern Science Quran
 Mountains :  “Have WE (GOD) not made the
1. Shaped like a peg = have earth as a bed, and the
underlying roots deeply mountains as pegs? ” (Quran,
embedded in the ground which 78:6-7)
can reach several times their
heights.  And HE (GOD) has set firm
2. Modern theory of plate mountains in the earth so that it
tectonics: mountains work as would not shake ... (Quran,
stabilizers for the earth. (Professor 16:15)
Emeritus Frank , President of the National
Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC).

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 Chemistry
Modern Science Quran

 At the meeting point of 2 seas/  “HE (GOD) has set free the two
oceans (or a river and a sea) there is a seas meeting together. There is
barrier because of own a barrier between them. They
temperature, salinity, and do not transgress”. (Quran,
density). 55:19-20) .
 Example, Mediterranean water  “HE (GOD) is the one who has
enters the Atlantic over the set free the two kinds of water,
Gibraltar and moves several hundred
kilometres into the Atlantic at a one sweet and palatable, and
depth of about 1000 meters with its the other salty and
own warm, saline, and less dense bitter. And HE (GOD) has
characteristics (Principles of made between them a barrier
Oceanography, Davis, pp. 92-93.) and a forbidding
partition”. (Quran, 25:53).

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 Embryology
Modern Science Quran
• Blood Clot (relatively large  “WE (GOD) made him
amounts of blood present in the
,
(human being) as a drop in
embryo during this stage does
(of blood) a place of
not circulate until the end of
3/52). settlement, firmly
fixed. Then We made the
• Suspended structure In the
drop into an Alaqah
mum’s womb.
(The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p.
(suspended structure)”
65. (2) The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th
ed., p. 8. (3) The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud,
(Quran, 23:12-14)
5th ed., p. 9

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 The formation of embryo
Modern Science Quran
“Chewed Substance.” Ex. Chewed  “……..then We made the
gum >> Teeth marks alaqah into a Mudghah”
resembles somites at the back (chewed substance) (Quran,
of the embryo (The Developing 23:12-14)
Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 65.
(2) The Developing Human, Moore and
Persaud, 5th ed., p. 8. (3) The Developing
Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 9)

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 Embryology
Quran Modern Science
 “So let mankind see from
what they were created, They
were created from water
gushing forth (Semen),
coming out from in between
the backbone and ribs”
(Quran 86: 5-7)

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 Creation
Modern Science Quran

 Creates  “Is not HE (GOD) who

created the heavens and the
❑ But :
earth, ABLE to create the like
1. Reproduction of them? Yes, indeed! HE
2. Effect on other creation (GOD) the ALL KNOWING
3. Excreta SUPREME CREATOR”

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 Medicine
Modern Science Quran
• Osteoporosis: (Thin Bone): • “…and whom we grant long
1. The wall (cortex) of long bones life, WE (GOD) reverse him
becomes thinner inner diameter of in creation, Will they not
the bone increases; (human beings) then
2. why? Resistance to bending forces ͚ understand (our/ GOD’s
(R)3 of a cylinder. signs)? (Quran 36: 68)

3. The vertebrae collapse and person

becomes shorter again.

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 Medicine
Modern Science Quran
Proved that :
1. Menstrual blood is harmful “They ask you (Mohammed
for a man. PBUH) about
menstruation(in females).
2. Premenstrual tension
Say: “It is harmful for a
man, therefore , avoid
females during the time of
the menses and don’t
approach them till they get
purified (have a shower/
bath)”.

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 Breast Feeding
Modern Science Quran

  “The mothers will breast

Breast Feeding : (Paediatric
Clinic of North America): feed their children for two
1. Do better in schools. whole years, (that is) for
2. Better long term health. those (parents) who desire to
complete the term of breast
3. Protects against certain
feeding” (Quran 1: 233).
neoplasms, Ex Lymphoma.

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The holy Quran says
(And he is the one who created the night, daylight, sun and the
moon, all are swimming in an orbit).

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 Modern science informed us that the moon is
moving around the Earth in an oval, or elliptical
orbit. Also the Earth and the rest of the planets,
revolve in oval, or elliptical orbit around the sun.

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 "He created the heavens and the earth in true
proportions. He makes the night overlap the day, and the

day overlap the night. He has subjected the sun and the
moon to His law; each one follows a course for a time
appointed..." (39:5).

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 Scientific discoveries have proved

that we live in a huge universe

that depends on revolution

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 And send the winds fertilizing (to fill heavily the clouds with
water), then cause the water (rain) to descend from the sky,
and We give it to you to drink, and it is not you who are the
owners of its stores (15:22)

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 The winds carry water particles which are rich in salt up into
the atmosphere; these particles which are called 'aerosols'
function as water traps and form cloud drops by collecting
around the water vapor themselves.

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 Nay, We are able to put together in perfect order the every

tips of his fingers. (Quran 75:4)

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 Every one's finger print is unique to himself, every person
who is alive or who has ever lived in this world, has a set of
unique finger prints, that is why the finger prints are
accepted as a very important identity exclusive to the owner,
and it is used for this purpose around the World.

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 Conclusion

 GOD approached human beings through a scientific pathway

to address their minds.

 GOD told us WHAT and we found out WHY and HOW,

which proves HIS existence and supported our faith.

 Faith makes ethics for science and science helps to reach faith.

 Science tagged with faith is unlikely to go astray.

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 MUSLIM
CONTRIBUTION TO
SCIENCE

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The sciences of the Arabic-Islamic world underwent
remarkable development during the 8th to 13th
centuries C.E., a flowering of knowledge and
intellect that later spread throughout Europe and
greatly influenced both medical practice and
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Muslims have had such a great contribution to science
that if it weren’t for them neither the Reneissance nor
the Scientific Revolution would have been possible.
Despite this, due to a concious act of ignorance and
neglect their names and great inventions have been
written out of science and history books.

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 General types of science

Chemistry Biology Geography Physics Math

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 Muslim scientists

Chemistry Biology Geography Physics Math

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 The first

The Thefirst The first The first The first

first university pharma hospital astrolabe
library cy was was built by
was built in Muhammad
was built in
built by Baghdad. al-Fazari.
built in Baghdad.
the Fatima
Islamic al-Fihri
world.
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 In the year 700, an early industrial factory
complex for Islamic pottery and glass
production was built in Ar-Raqqah, Syria.
Extensive experimentation was carried out at
the complex, which was two kilometres in
length, and a variety of innovative high-purity
glass were developed there. Two other similar
complexes were also built, and nearly three
hundred new chemical recipes for glass
were produced at all three sites.

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 In 754, the first
pharmacy and
drugstores were
opened in
Baghdad.

The first (pharmacist) shops

were also opened in the
Islamic world.
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 of Wisdom was
founded and the
translation
movement was
started by the
Abbasid caliph
Harun al-Rashid.
In 763, the first The caliph would
Bimaristan (hospital) pay it’s weight in
opened in Baghdad
during the Caliphate of gold for every
Harun al-Rashid.
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translated book. 59
 In 780, Jabir ibn Hayyan, a Muslim chemist
who is considered by many to be the father of
chemistry, introduced the experimental
scientific method for chemistry, as well as
laboratory apparatus such as the alembic, still
and retort, and chemical processes such as
pure distillation, liquefaction,
crystallisation, and filtration.

He also invented more than

twenty types of laboratory
apparatus, leading to the
discovery of many chemical
substances. He also developed
recipes for stained glass and
described lustre-painting on
glass.
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 In 800, Tin-opacified
glazing was developed
by Islamic potters.

Tin-glazing is the process of giving ceramic

items a tin-based glaze which is white, shiny
and opaque.

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 In 810, Abbas Ibn Firnas was born. He
was the first to make glass from stones
(quartz).He made the earliest recorded
attempt at controlled flight, devised
means of manufacturing colorless glass,
and developed a process for cutting rock
crystal.
Another invention was
an artificial weather
simulation room, in
which spectators were
astonished by artificial
thunder and lightning.
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In 820, Amr ibn Bahr al-Jahiz wrote a number of
works on zoology, Arabic grammar, rhetoric, and
lexicography. His most famous work is the Book of
Animals, in which he first discussed food chains.
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In 820, Muhammad ibn
Musa al-Khwarizmi wrote
The Compendious Book on
Calculation by Completion
and Balancing, more briefly
referred to al-jabr, or
algebra.
Algebra (Algorithm) gave
mathematics a whole new
development path so much
broader in concept to that which
had existed before, and provided
a vehicle for future development
of the subject.
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 In 865 Muhammad ibn
Zakariya Razi was
born. In his Secretum
secretorum, he
described a variety of
tools for melting
substances and the
preparation of drugs.

He also classified natural and

derivative (artificial) chemical
substances which was the early form
of the periodic table of elements.
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 In 1000 Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi
publishedd his 30-volume medical
encyclopedia, the Al-Tasrif, which
remained a standard textbook in Muslim
and European universities until the 16th
century.
The book first introduced many
surgical instruments and a variety of
other instruments. He also invented
the plaster cast cotton dressing,
oral anesthesia, inhalational
anesthetic, and anesthetic
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sponge. 66
 In 875 Abbas Ibn Firnas
Abbas Ibn Firnas ( Armen
Firman) 810-887 CE
Izn-Rand Onda, al-Andalus
(today's Ronda, Spain)as
reportedly successfully
employed an ornithopter‫آغاز‬
for manned flight.
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In 880, Al-Dinawari, the founder of Arabic botany,
wrote the Book of Plants, which describes at least
637 plants; it discusses the phases of plant growth
and the production of flowers and fruit.
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 In 925, Kerosene was produced
from the distillation of
petroleum and was first
described by al-Razi in
Baghdad. He also described the
first kerosene lamps (naphtha)
used for heating and lighting in
his Kitab al-Asrar (Book of
Secrets).
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 In 1000 in Al-Andalus, Ibn Khalaf al-
Muradi invented complex gearing,
Epicyclic gearing, segmental gearing,
and the geared mechanical clock.
Muslim engineers also invented the
Weight-driven mechanical clock.

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 Ibn al-Haytham proved that light
travels in straight lines using the
scientific method by carrying out
various experiments with lenses,
mirrors, refraction, and reflection in
his Book of Optics (1021). He was
considered the father of optics and
pioneer of scientific method.
His Book of Optics correctly explains light and vision, and
introduces experimental scientific method, laying the
foundations for experimental physics.

Ibn al-Haytham also gave the first

clear description and correct
analysis of the obscure and
pinholee camera and built the
world's first camera obscure.
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 In 1025 Avicenna published
his 14-volume encyclopedia,
The Canon of Medicine, which
remained a standard text at
European universities until the
17th century.
Its contributions include the
discovery of contagious disease,
and introduction of experimental
medicine, clinical trials, and
clinical pharmacology. It also
discusses neuropsychiatry, the idea
of a syndrome, and early cancer
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therapy. 72
 In 1030, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni stated
that light has a finite speed, and he
was the first to theorize that the speed
of light is much faster than the speed
of sound.

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 In the 12th century, Muhammad al-Idrisi
produced a world map and the first known
globe. His Tabula Rogeriana was the most
accurate world map in his time and was used
extensively for several centuries through to the
explorations during the European Age of
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 In 1259 The Maragheh
observatory was founded by
Nasir al-Din al-Tusi. It was the
first example of the observatory
as a research institute.

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  In 1260, the first portable hand
cannons ( midfa) loaded with
explosive gunpowder, the first
example of a handgun and portable
firearm, were used by the Egyptians
to repel the Mongols at the Battle of
Ain Jalut. The cannons had an
explosive gunpowder composition
almost identical to the ideal
compositions for modern explosive
gunpowder. They were also the first
to use dissolved talc for fire
protection, and they wore fireproof
clothing, to which Gunpowder
cartridges were attached.
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  In 1300, when the Black Death
bubonic plague reached Al-
Andalus, Ibn Khatima
discovered that infectious
diseases are caused by
microorganisms which enter
the human body.

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 In 1720, the Ottoman dockyard
architect Ibrahim Efendi invented a
submarine called the tahtelAJbahir.
The Ottoman writer Seyyid Vehbi, in
his Surname-i-Humayun, compared
this submarine to an alligator.

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Fortunately, now in the 21st century the West and the
Muslims are starting to rediscover this golden age of
Islamic Science and many documentaries and books
are being produced on this subject.
Some of those documentaries are:
BBC- Science and Islam:The language of science
BBC- Science and Islam:The Empire of Reason
BBC- Science and Islam:The Power of Doubt
BBC- What the anciens did for us:The Islamic World
BBC-An Islamic History of Europe
Channel 4- When the Moors ruled in Europe.

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Why did the “Golden Age” looking to come
to an end?
 Religious divisions caused problems by the end of the
11th century
 Conservative theologians imposed a return to
orthodox beliefs and rejected ‘foreign sciences’
 The European crusades and attacks by the Mongols
weakened the empire.

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 Summary:
 Defining Science and Hikmah
 Basic concepts of Islam & Science
 View of Quran on sciences
 Contribution to modern science by Muslim
scientists
 Down fall of Islamicera of science
 Action plan to revert the present situation

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 1. Discuss about Islam and science?
2. What is the difference between Islam and
science?
3. Learn the name of some Muslim scientists?
4. Recall the inventions of Muslim scientists?
5. What is the down fall to Muslim world about
research?

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