Islam.indd 1 16/12/2008 18:20:33 Islam.indd 2 16/12/2008 18:20:33 Science and Islam A History Ehsan Masood I C O N B O O K S Islam.indd 3 16/12/2008 18:20:33 Published in the UK in 2009 by Icon Books Ltd, Omnibus Business Centre, 39–41 North Road, London N7 9DP email:
[email protected] www.iconbooks.co.uk Sold in the UK, Europe, South Africa and Asia by Faber & Faber Ltd, 3 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AU or their agents Distributed in the UK, Europe, South Africa and Asia by TBS Ltd, TBS Distribution Centre, Colchester Road, Frating Green, Colchester CO7 7DW This edition published in Australia in 2009 by Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd, PO Box 8500, 83 Alexander Street, Crows Nest, NSW 2065 ISBN 978-184831-040-7 Text copyright © 2009 Ehsan Masood The author has asserted his moral rights. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Every attempt has been made to contact copyright holders. The author and publisher will be glad to make good in future editions any omissions brought to their attention. Typesetting in 11.5pt Plantin by Marie Doherty Printed and bound in the UK by CPI Mackays, Chatham Islam.indd 4 16/12/2008 18:20:33 Contents List of illustrations vii A note on language ix Prologue xiii 1 The Dark Age Myth 1 Part I: The Islamic Quest 15 2 The Coming of the Prophet 17 3 Building Islam 29 4 Baghdad’s Splendour 39 5 The Caliph of Science 55 6 The Flowering of Andalusia 65 7 Beyond the Abbasids 81 Part II: Branches of Learning 93 8 The Best Gift From God 95 9 Astronomy: The Structured Heaven 117 10 Number: The Living Universe of Islam 139 11 At Home in the Elements 153 12 Ingenious Devices 161 Part III: Second Thoughts 167 13 An Endless Frontier 169 14 One Chapter Closes, Another Begins 187 15 Science and Islam: Lessons From History 207 Timeline 217 Acknowledgements 223 Bibliography 227 Index 233 v Islam.indd 5 16/12/2008 18:20:34 Ehsan Masood is Acting Chief Commissioning Editor at Nature.