The Religion of Islam Introduction Prophets Qur'an Prophet of Islam Sunnah (practices) of the Prophet What is the Islamic Religion? Islamic Law (al-Shari'ah) The Spread of Islam Islam, Knowledge and Science The Attitude of the Qur'an and the Prophet toward Knowledge Integration of the Pre-Islamic Sciences Mathematical Sciences and Physics Astronomy Mathematics, Algebra Geometry Trigonometry Number Theory Physics, Balance, Projectile Motion, Optics Experimental Method Medical Sciences Pharmacology Natural History and Geography Botany, Zoology Geography Chemistry Technology Man and Nature Architecture Influence of Islamic Science and Learning Upon the West Islam In The Modern World Islam In The Modern World Aftermath of the Colonial Period Revival and Reassertation of Islam Education and Science in the Islamic World Islam A World Civilization General Characteristics of Islamic Civilization Global religion A Brief History of Islam, The Rightly Guided Caliphs The Caliphates North Africa and Spain Islamic History after the Mongol Invasion Ottoman Empire Persia India Malaysia and Indonesia Africa Frequently Asked Questions About Islam What is Islam? Who are the Muslims? What do Muslims believe? How does someone become a Muslim? What does 'Islam' mean? Why does Islam often seem strange? Do Islam and Christianity have different origins? What is the Ka'ba? Who is Muhammad? How did he become a prophet and a messenger of God? How did the spread of Islam affect the world? What is the Qur'an? What is the Qur'an about? Are there any other sacred sources? What are the 'Five Pillars' of Islam? Does Islam tolerate other beliefs? What do Muslims think about Jesus? Why is the family so important to Muslims? What about Muslim women? Can a Muslim have more than one wife? Is an Islamic marriage like a Christian marriage? How do Muslims treat the elderly? How do Muslims view death? What does Islam say about war? What about food? What is Islam's presence in the United States? How does Islam guarantee human rights ? What is the makeup of The Muslim World? Conclusion General Source: ![]() The Alim for Windows Release 4.5 by: Shahid N. Shah |
In astronomy the Muslims integrated the astronomical traditions of the Indians, Persians, the ancient Near East and especially the Greeks into a synthesis which began to chart a new chapter in the history of astronomy from the 8th century onward. The Almagest of Ptolemy, whose very name in English reveals the Arabic origin of its Latin translation, was thoroughly studied and its planetary theory criticized by several astronomers of both the eastern and western lands of Islam leading to the major critique of the theory by Nasir al-Din al-Tusi and his students, especially Qutb alDin al-Shirazi, in the 13th century. The Muslims also observed the heavens carefully and discovered many new stars. The book on stars of 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi was in fact translated into Spanish by Alfonso X el Sabio and had a deep influence upon stellar toponymy in European languages. Many star names in English such as Aldabaran still recall their Arabic origin. The Muslims carried out many fresh observations which were contained in astronomical tables called zij. One of the acutest of these observers was al-Battani whose work was followed by numerous others. The zij of al-Ma'mun observed in Baghdad, the Hakimite zij of Cairo, the Toledan Tables of alZarqali and his associates, the ll-Khanid zij of Nasir al-Din al-Tusi observed in Maraghah, and the zij of Ulugh-Beg from Samarqand are among the most famous Islamic astronomical tables. They wielded a great deal of influence upon Western astronomy up to the time of Tycho Brahe. The Muslims were in fact the first to create an astronomical observatory as a scientific institution, this being the observatory of Maraghah in Persia established by al-Tusi. This was indirectly the model for the later European observatories . Many astronomical instruments were developed by Muslims to carry out observation, the most famous being the astrolabe. There existed even mechanical astrolabes perfected by Ibn Samh which must be considered as the ancestor of the mechanical clock. Astronomical observations also had practical applications including not only finding the direction of Makkah for prayers, but also devising almanacs (the word itself being of Arabic origin). The Muslims also applied their astronomical knowledge to questions of time-keeping and the calendar. The most exact solar calendar existing to this day is the Jalali calendar devised under the direction of 'Umar Khayyam in the 12th century and still in use in Persia and Afghanistan. |