Islamic Golden Age - INFOS

  Ibn al-Haytham and the Camera Obscura: Ibn al-Haytham, also known as Alhazen, was a pioneering scientist, mathematician, and philosopher who lived during the 10th century. He made significant contributions to various fields, including optics and visual perception. One of his most remarkable achievements was his work on the camera obscura, an optical device that laid the foundation for modern photography and cinematography. Ibn al-Haytham conducted experiments with light and devised a method to project an image of the outside world onto a surface inside a dark room through a small hole. This led to the discovery of the basic principles of how light travels in straight lines and how images are formed through this process. Ibn al-Haytham's studies on the camera obscura were groundbreaking. His work not only advanced our understanding of optics but also set the stage for future developments in the science of vision. His insights influenced later European scientists such as Leonardo d...

  Ibn Mardanish, also known as the Wolf King, was a powerful Muslim king in the Iberian Peninsula in the 12th century. He established his own dominion over the cities of Murcia, Valencia, and Dénia after the decline of the Almoravids. Like the Iberian Christian kings, he opposed the spread of the Almohad caliphate, and his reign shows that the "Reconquista" was not a conflict between two clearly divided factions of Christians and Muslims, but of rival kingdoms of both religions that sometimes faced each other in combat or joined in alliances against each other in various contexts. Ibn Mardanish came from a family originally descended from Visigoths who had converted to Islam. He hired Christian mercenaries from Barcelona, Castile, and Aragon to help him preserve the lands of his kingdom, and signed treaties with the republics of Pisa and Genoa, which had strong bases and commercial relations with his kingdom. His reign was marked by conquests and territorial expansions, and h...

  Introducing the Banu Musa brothers, Muhammad, Ahmad, and al-Hasan, three Persian geniuses who received education under al-Ma'mun’s direction, and were enrolled at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad.  The three brothers were commissioned by al-Maʾmūn to measure the length of a degree of latitude and therefrom the circumference of the earth; they carried this task out successfully in the desert plain near Senjār in northern Mesopotamia (Nallino, pp. 420-35). They also made astronomical observations together at Baghdad. They worked together as well as separately: Jafar Muhammad was an expert on mathematics and astronomy, Ahmad excelled in technology, and al-Hasan on mathematics. Muhammed knew the works of both Euclid and Ptolemy, and was considered by contemporaries to be an expert mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher. All but three of the books attributed by scholars to the Banu Musa are now lost. The oldest brother, Moḥammad, was also the most productive, though only one of...

  Astronomy made enormous strides during the Islamic Golden Age (8th–14th centuries CE), when intellectuals made ground-breaking discoveries and inventions. The naming and identifying of stars, with Arabic names such Fomalhaut, Algol, Vega, and Altair still in use today, was one of the most notable contributions. Muslim astronomers created new methods and tools for watching and measuring the skies throughout this time by studying and expanding upon the work of Greek, Indian, and Persian astronomers. The astrolabe, a portable device used to measure the locations of stars and planets, was one of the most crucial tools. The earliest precise solar calendar, which is still employed in some regions of the world today, was created by Muslim astronomers. The naming and identifying of stars by Islamic astronomers may have been their most important contribution. They cataloged and recorded the positions of numerous stars in addition to giving them names. This improved navigational accuracy a...

The Great Mosque of Cordoba, also known as the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, is one of Spain's most recognizable structures and a representation of the rich intellectual and cultural legacy of the Islamic Golden Period. The mosque, which was constructed in the eighth century and later repaired and expanded, was converted into a cathedral after Córdoba was conquered by Christians in the thirteenth century. Its importance as a hub of knowledge and invention throughout the Islamic Golden Period, however, cannot be emphasized. The Mosque-Cathedral served as the epicenter of this intellectual and artistic renaissance in Córdoba, which was at the time a major hub of Islamic learning and cultural success. Al-Zahrawi, a physician and surgeon widely considered as the pioneer of modern surgery, was one of the most significant individuals connected to the mosque. He authored the Al-Tasrif, a significant medical work that was translated into Latin and used as a standard medical reference in Eur...

PDF of the book Study of Relativity Theory of Einstein: The Story of Ashabul Kahf and Isra’ Mi’raj *F M Celina1, N Suprapto1 1Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya 60231,Indonesia  Click below to read  PDF

The Battle of Yarmouk was a major historical event that took place in 636 AD. It was fought between the armies of the Muslim Caliphate and the Eastern Roman Empire. The battle is considered to be one of the most significant battles in the history of Islam, as it marked the beginning of the Muslim conquests of the Levant. The battle took place near the Yarmouk River, which is located in modern-day Syria. The Muslim forces were led by Khalid ibn al-Walid, who was one of the most successful military commanders in Islamic history. The Roman forces were led by Heraclius, who was the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Muslim army was vastly outnumbered, with only 40,000 soldiers compared to the Roman army's 200,000. However, the Muslim army was highly disciplined and had a strong cavalry. Khalid ibn al-Walid used his military tactics to outmaneuver the Roman army and take control of the battlefield. The battle lasted for six days, with both sides suffering heavy losses. However, th...

The Battle of Badr is one of the most significant battles in Islamic history. It took place on the 17th of Ramadan in the year 624 CE, near the town of Badr, in present-day Saudi Arabia. The battle was fought between the Muslim army led by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and a larger enemy force composed of the Quraish tribe and its allies. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Muslim army emerged victorious in the Battle of Badr. This victory is attributed to a combination of faith and strategic planning. The Muslims believed that they were fighting in defense of their religion and that Allah was on their side. This belief gave them the courage and determination to face their enemy, even in the face of overwhelming odds. In addition to their faith, the Muslims also employed a brilliant strategy that helped them win the battle. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) divided his army into three groups and strategically positioned them on the battlefield. This allowed the Musl...

  In the 12th century, the Caliph of Morocco, Abu Yaqub Yusuf, invited Ibn Rushd to his court in Marrakesh to serve as his personal physician and adviser. While there, Ibn Rushd became close with the Caliph and was given access to the royal library, which contained a vast collection of Greek philosophical works that had been translated into Arabic. Ibn Rushd was particularly interested in the works of Aristotle, and he began writing commentaries on Aristotle's works that would become hugely influential in the centuries that followed. However, not everyone was pleased with Ibn Rushd's teachings, and his views were eventually condemned by conservative religious authorities. In 1195, Ibn Rushd was banished from Marrakesh and his works were burned publicly. However, his ideas continued to spread throughout the Islamic world and beyond, influencing European philosophers like Thomas Aquinas and shaping the course of intellectual history for centuries to come. This incident serves as ...

  Musa ibn Nusayr was a Muslim general who played a crucial role in the early Islamic conquests. He was tasked by the Umayyad Caliphate to lead a military campaign to conquer North Africa and spread Islam. In this blog post, we'll explore the story of Musa ibn Nusayr's conquest of North Africa and its significance in Islamic history. Musa ibn Nusayr arrived in North Africa in 698 CE with a small force of soldiers. However, they were initially defeated in battle by the Berber tribes who inhabited the region. Musa ibn Nusayr realized that he needed more troops and reinforcements to achieve victory, so he sent a message to the Umayyad Caliph asking for help. The Caliph responded by sending a large army led by another general named Tariq ibn Ziyad. Together, Musa ibn Nusayr and Tariq ibn Ziyad were able to defeat the Berber tribes and conquer much of North Africa. The conquest of North Africa paved the way for the spread of Islam throughout the region. Local populations were conver...

The Battle of the Trench (also known as the Battle of Khandaq) took place in the year 627 CE, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the early Muslim community in Medina. The battle was fought between the Muslims and a coalition of tribes from Mecca and surrounding regions, who were seeking to attack and destroy the Muslim community. The Meccan forces were led by Abu Sufyan, a prominent leader of the Quraysh tribe, and included fighters from several other tribes, including the Banu Nadir and the Ghatafan. The Muslims, who were vastly outnumbered, were led by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his closest companions, including Ali, Abu Bakr, Umar, and others. The Muslims devised a strategy to defend Medina by digging a trench around the city, which made it difficult for the Meccan forces to launch a direct attack. The battle lasted for several days, during which time the Meccan forces attempted to breach the trench and enter the city. However, the Musl...

Ibn Battuta (1304 –1368 or 1369) was a famous Moroccan scholar and explorer who is best known for his extensive travels and his work documenting his journeys. He is often considered one of the greatest travellers of all time. Ibn Battuta traveled extensively throughout the Islamic world, which at the time spanned from Morocco to China, and documented his experiences in a book called the "Rihla" (meaning "Journey" in Arabic). The book provides valuable insights into the societies, cultures, and religions he encountered during his travels. Ibn Battuta's journeys lasted for over 30 years, during which he visited most of the Islamic world, including parts of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He traveled to cities such as Mecca, Cairo, Constantinople, Delhi, and Beijing, and met with important leaders and scholars along the way. His travels also took him to regions that were largely unexplored by outsiders at the time. Today, Ibn Battuta is remembered for hi...

The Ridda Wars were a series of conflicts that took place in the Arabian Peninsula after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, between various Arab tribes and the newly formed Islamic state. These wars were fought over the issue of loyalty to the Islamic state and its authority. The Ridda Wars, also known as the Wars of Apostasy, took place in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century, immediately following the death of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. These wars were fought by various Arab tribes against the newly formed Islamic state, led by Abu Bakr, the first caliph (leader) of Islam after the death of Muhammad. The cause of the Ridda Wars was the refusal of some Arab tribes to continue to pay the religious tax (zakat) and to acknowledge the authority of the Islamic state. The wars lasted for about a year and a half and resulted in the defeat of the rebel tribes by the Islamic forces.  Abu Bakr, the first caliph of Islam, played a crucial role in the Ridda Wars by leading the Islamic ...

  The strongest caliph Ali was the fourth Rashidun caliph from 656 until his assassination in 661. He is considered to be one of the valiant Muslim warriors. He took part in almost all the battles fought by the nascent Muslim community. His contributions in the Battle of Khyber and the Battle of Badr are very well known. The Battle of Badr was the first large-scale confrontation between Muslims and the Quraysh. In picture: Arabic calligraphy which means "There is no brave youth except Ali and there is no sword which renders service except Zulfiqar"

  Mathematics During the islamic golden age, 9th and 10th centuries mathematics mostly done in Arabics had influenced many mathematicians of Europe in the later centuries. Studies of algebra, geometry and trigonometry had seen some major developments. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi was the founder of Algebra. In the book "The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing" Al-Khwarizmi explains how to solve the positive roots of linear and quadratic polynomial equations. Al-Khwarizmi's algebra was rhetorical which were helpful for others scholars as well. Interesting fact:  Al-Khwarizmi was appointed as the head of House of Wisdom. MacTutor History of Mathematics archive says "Perhaps one of the most significant advances made by Arabic mathematics began at this time with the work of al-Khwarizmi, namely the beginnings of algebra" Al-Khwārizmī's Zīj al-Sindhind also contained tables for the trigonometric functions of sines and cosine. A related t...

Modern spherical trigonometry Al-Jayyani was an Islamic 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯. He wrote many important commentaries on Euclid's Elements and was the first to make spherical trigonometry. fyi spherical trigonometry is the metrical relationships between the sides and angles of spherical triangles. The Spanish scholar was an expert in the Qur'an, also being knowledgeable in Arabic philology, inheritance laws and arithmetic. Al-Jayyani's work on ratio is the most interesting mathematical work. Line, surface, angle, and solid were the four magnitudes used in geometry. He was the first to consider "number" as geometrical magnitude. We are going to learn about Al-Jayyani’s "The book of Unknown Arcs of a Sphere", considered the first treatise on spherical trigonometry. In his book he describes formula for right-handed triangles, the general law of sines, and the solution of a spherical triangle by means of the polar triangle. He had sketched some figures to...