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Islam's Contribution and
Influence
on the World
By Faysal
Burhan
Introduction
Perhaps the greatest
gift Muslims gave to the nations of the world is Islam. It
is Islam’s philosophy of utilizing the knowledge of
the Qur’an, purity in the heart and clarity in the mind
that was responsible for influencing the nations of the world
to better serve God, raise the standards of living, and promote
justice and brotherhood for all.
It is the principles outlining the mission of Prophet
Muhammad that made a global change in world’s scientific
realm and world’s social and spiritual culture that
formed the Golden Age of Islam, 7th to 15th century.
God said in the Holy Qur'an:
"A similar favour
have you already received in that We have sent among you a
Messenger (Muhammad) of your own, delivering to you Our Verses,
and purifying you, and teaching you the Book (Qur'an) and
the Wisdom.." Qur'an,
2:151
It was the vehicle of
Muslim achievements in combining reason and faith, accumulating
useful knowledge and creating the experimental method that
subjected Europeans to get out of their "Dark Ages"
and into the renaissance. Regarding this fact, Robert Briffault
in his book, "The Making of Humanity" states:
"It was under the
influence of the Arabs and Moorish revival of culture and
not in the 15th century, that a real renaissance took place.
Spain, not Italy, was the cradle of the rebirth of Europe...Science
is the most momentous contribution of Arab civilization to
the modern world; but its fruits were slow in ripening. Not
until long after Moorish culture had sunk back into darkness
did the giant, which it had given birth to, rise in his might.
It was not science only which brought Europe back to life.
Other and manifold influence from the civilization of Islam
communicated its first glow to European Life."
It is clear to Muslims
that reason and faith do not collide; instead they integrate
and yield fertile goodness. Click
on the links below to see some of the accomplishments early
Muslims made for humanity in scientific endeavors:
Islam’s
contributions in the spiritual and social domains of life
can be endless and infinite. Check out our articles below
for consideration:
Conclusion
With the persistent effort to
integrate faith with reason and spiritual with material, Islam
and Muslim civilization of the Golden Age constructed a tenacious
bond between science and morality in the East and West. This
reform could not have been successful if it hadn't been for
the vehicle of Islam that swept the world with its wisdom.
References:
1. George Sarton, "Introduction
to the History of Science, Vol. I-IV," Carnegie Institute
of Washington, Baltimore, 1927-31; Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore,
1950-53.
2. Robert Briffault, "The Making of Humanity," London,
1938.
3. T. Arnold and A. Guillaume, "The Legacy of Islam,"
Oxford University Press, 1931.
4. E. Gibbon, "Decline and Fall of Roman Empire,"
London, 1900.
5. Lewis, Bernard, Islam and the Arab World, American Hritage
Publishing Co., Inc., New York.
6. Hayes, John R. The Genius of the Arab Civilization, New
York University Press, New York, 1992.
7. Khaleel Kasem, The Arabian Connection, Knowledge House
Publishers, Linclinshire, Illinois, 2000.
8. Ajram, K. The Miracle of Islamic Science, Cedar Graphics,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1992.
9. Seyyed Hossein Nasr. Science and Civilization in Islam.
New American Library. NY 1968.
10. Seddillot, History of the Arabs, Paris.
