User:Sal Ladha/sandbox

The Achievements of the Early Islamic World

Heading text
Q1. What is the HOUSE OF WISDOM?

A1. The House of Wisdom ( Bayt Ul-Hikma ) in Arabic was a Library and Translation Institute established in Abbasid-era    in      Baghdad ( in modern day Iraq).

It was a key institution in the Translation Movement and considered to have been a major intellectual centre during the Islamic Golden Age.

In Baghdad, Caliph Ma'mun (813–833 AD) son of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, built the famous University called “The House of Wisdom” where a wide range of subjects were studied.

The House of Wisdom brought a new scientific spirit to the Muslim world. The great works of the ancient Greeks, as well as books from India, Syria, Persia and northern Africa, were translated into Arabic.

Q2. Who are Polymath scholars?

A2. Many Muslim scholars were polymaths which mean they were expert in several subjects. One of the earliest scholars at the House of Wisdom was:

i.	Abu Yusuf Al Kindi (800c – 870c): He is sometimes called the first Arabic scholar. He studied and wrote about many subjects including medicine, geography, geology, astrology, optics and even sword making.

ii. Mohammad Ibn Zakariyya al Rizi or Rhazes (865 – 924):

Rhazes in his youth, studied music, literature, philosophy, magic and alchemy (a type of chemistry). He wrote a hundred of medical books and was considered the greatest doctor of the Islamic world. His famous works were on smallpox and measles. He also wrote books on natural science, mathematics, logic, astronomy, philosophy and religion. iii. Ibn Sina or Avicenna (980 or 1037):

Ibn Sina who was also known as Avicenna was a polymath who worked as a doctor at several royal courts. His most famous work is a book called ‘Canon of Medicine’, which contained all the medical knowledge of his time. It had a great influence on medicine in Europe until at least the 16th century.

Q3. What are Magic Squares?

A3. A square that contain numbers arranged in equal rows and columns such that the sum of each row, column and sometimes diagonal is the same. 8	1	6 3	5	7 4	9	2

Date back more than 4000 years to ancient times, they were thoughts to be good-luck charms in China. During the Golden Age, interest in Magic squares spread from China to the Middle East.

Q4. List down some achievements in Islamic science?

A4. Some achievements in Islamic science are:

i.	Muslims were able to learn from the people of the civilizations they conquered and to make new developments helped to create their own civilizations.

ii. The Arabic Language spread and became the language of scholars.

iii. Scholars translated the writings of other civilizations into Arabic. iv. Great Islamic cities became centre of learning with schools and universities with libraries and laboratories.

Q5. What is calligraphy?

A5. Calligraphy is the art of fine writing or script. It is derived from the Greek word kalla meaning "beautiful", and graphia meaning "writing." "Calligraphy is essentially defined as "written letters, dependent upon the flow and rhythm of the pen or brush". Quotations from the Quran and other Islamic texts were used to decorate buildings and artifacts.

Q6. What do you mean by “ Golden Age of Islam”?

A6. The time from the 8th to the 10th centuries is known as the “Golden Age of Islam” because during these centuries Islamic culture flourished throughout the Muslim world. Philosophers, Scientists and Engineers of the Islamic world are credited with a period of contribution to scientific knowledge, cultural arts, civilization and architecture.