Malik posed a few provocative questions: Why are Muslim countries not among today’s global superpowers? Why are the founders of Tesla, Microsoft, and Apple not Muslims?
I would like to address these questions collectively, as they are interconnected. I hope to answer them comprehensively, and if need be, I will split the discussion—Inshaa Allaah.
Let me begin by addressing the fake intellectual. Without the rich legacy of Muslim civilization, many of the feats achieved in modern science would not have been possible. The Muslim past was the fertile ground upon which the modern world grew.
Had you studied the pre-Renaissance era, you would know how intellectually stagnant the West once was. Their rediscovery of knowledge began only after encountering Muslim scholarship during the Crusades and through Al-Andalus.
(A side note: During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, many Westerners were surprised to learn that Muslims use water for personal hygiene after using the toilet. This reminded me of how, in our Yoruba childhood, Christians were colloquially known as “Asu ma nudi, ajá bàbà”—those who defecate without washing just like Baba's dog. That speaks volumes about cultural priorities.)
Muslim Contributions to Science and Civilization
Muslim civilization—especially during the Golden Age of Islam (8th–14th centuries)—laid the groundwork for modern scientific and intellectual advancement. Consider the following contributions:
1. Mathematics
Algebra: Al-Khwarizmi’s Kitab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala systematized algebra and introduced the term itself.
Numerals: Muslims transmitted the Hindu-Arabic numeral system (0–9), revolutionizing mathematics and accounting.
Trigonometry: Al-Battani and Nasir al-Din al-Tusi advanced spherical trigonometry, crucial to astronomy and geography.
2. Astronomy
Observatories: The Maragha and Samarqand observatories pioneered celestial research.
Planetary Motion: Al-Tusi’s Tusi Couple anticipated later Copernican ideas.
Star Catalogues: Al-Sufi refined Ptolemaic models and identified new constellations.
3. Medicine
Canon of Medicine: Ibn Sina’s Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb was a primary reference in Europe for centuries.
Surgery: Al-Zahrawi’s Al-Tasrif included 200+ surgical instruments—many of his own design.
Ophthalmology: Muslims pioneered cataract extraction using hollow needles.
4. Chemistry (Alchemy)
Jabir ibn Hayyan: The father of early chemistry, he systematized distillation, crystallization, and mineral classification.
Alcohol Distillation: The word “alcohol” derives from Arabic al-kuḥl.
5. Physics and Optics
Scientific Method: Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen) laid the foundations of the empirical method.
Optics: His Book of Optics refuted Greek theories and correctly explained vision through light reflection.
6. Engineering and Technology
Mechanical Devices: Al-Jazari invented clocks, pumps, and automata, documenting 50+ mechanical innovations.
Hydraulics: Muslims developed sophisticated irrigation and water-raising systems.
7. Geography and Navigation
Cartography: Al-Idrisi created one of the most accurate pre-modern world maps.
Navigational Tools: Muslims refined the astrolabe and developed the quadrant and compass.
These achievements highlight how Islamic civilization shaped modern science and technology. Unfortunately, much of this knowledge was appropriated by the West without due credit—mirroring today’s brain drain, where talent is absorbed while its origin is erased.
Spotlight: Muslim Contributions to Surgery
1. Al-Zahrawi – The Father of Modern Surgery
Wrote the Al-Tasrif, a 30-volume encyclopedia, with the final volume dedicated entirely to surgery.
Described over 200 surgical instruments—many invented by himself.
Produced some of the earliest known surgical illustrations.
2. Surgical Tools
Introduced scalpels, forceps, scissors, bone saws, and more.
Pioneered the use of catgut for internal stitching—still used today.
Developed cauterization tools to treat wounds and stop bleeding.
3. Surgical Procedures
Performed eye surgeries (e.g., cataract removal).
Treated bladder stones, tonsils, and dislocated bones.
Contributed to obstetrics, including cesarean techniques.
4. Influence on Europe
Al-Tasrif was translated into Latin by Gerard of Cremona.
Used in European medical schools for over 500 years.
Influenced surgeons like Guy de Chauliac.
5. Medical Ethics and Hygiene
Muslim surgeons emphasized cleanliness, preoperative preparation, and ethical restraint.
Advocated for non-invasive treatments before resorting to surgery.
Muslim physicians transformed surgery from a crude practice into a science governed by knowledge, care, and ethics.
Legal, Social, and Political Legacy
1. Law and Jurisprudence (Fiqh)
Developed comprehensive legal systems based on the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Introduced key concepts: presumption of innocence, due process, property rights, etc.—centuries before the West.
Schools like Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali provided robust legal methodologies.
Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence):
Formalized tools like qiyas (analogy), ijma (consensus), and istihsan (juristic preference).
Influenced European legal systems via Andalusian scholarship and Crusader interactions.
2. Sociology
Ibn Khaldun (1332–1406): Regarded as the father of sociology and historiography.
His Muqaddimah laid the foundation for social theory centuries before Western scholars.
Introduced ‘asabiyyah (group solidarity) and the cyclical theory of civilizations.
Muslims institutionalized social welfare through waqf (charitable endowments) that funded education, health, and housing.
3. Politics
Islamic Political Theory:
Scholars like al-Mawardi, Ibn Taymiyyah, and Ibn Khaldun articulated theories of governance rooted in justice, public interest (maslahah), and Shari’ah.
Key concepts:
Bay‘ah: A mutual pledge between the ruler and the people.
Shūrā: Consultative councils ensuring accountability.
Bayt al-Māl: State treasury with transparent oversight.
Qādī: Independent judiciary.
Ethical Governance:
Rulers were not above the law.
Justice was the foundation of legitimacy—predating Locke and Rousseau.
Comparison with Western Political Thought
While Enlightenment thinkers like Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau laid down foundational ideas for Western democracy, their work came centuries after Islamic scholars had written on governance, law, and ethics:
Social Contract vs. Bay‘ah: Both stress consent and accountability, but Bay‘ah preceded by centuries.
Rule of Law: Locke emphasized it; Muslims had long embedded it in political discourse.
Public Welfare: Muslim political philosophy mandated maslahah as a core objective.
Malik, it is historically inaccurate and intellectually dishonest to claim that Muslims contributed nothing to modern civilization. Our past is filled with light, intellect, and innovation. Muslims were not parasites—we were pioneers.
The unfortunate reality is that Western institutions built upon Muslim knowledge without attribution, while colonialism, oppression, and modern political failures disrupted our continuity.
This is Part Ten, in the next episode I will tell you the injustice the West is doing to the world, and the Muslims especially.
