sign in sign up
<<
Home , Abbas ibn Firnas, Alchemy, Alembic, Jabir ibn Hayyan, Khalid ibn Yazid

Global Journal of www.gsj-pub.com Social Global Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities 2 (2018) 4-7 and Humanities

www.gsj-pub.com/gjssh

Muslim Alchemists and Their Influence on Modern ;

Ibrahim N. Hassan*, Mohd Yusof Hj. Othman, Muhammad Hilmi Jalil Institut Hadhari, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Bangi, Malaysia

*Email: [email protected]

Abstract The word chemistry was not mentioned in any civilization before the Muslim civilization; neither the civilization nor Egyptian civilization. Thus, chemistry is considered an Islamic by all means. The foremost Muslim alchemist, Jabir ibn Hayyan, the father of chemistry, was born c. 721, Khurasan and died c. 815, Al’ Kūfah, . He has been entitled as al-Sufi, as he was following Tasawwuf, the inner mystical dimension of Islam. Jabir was a colleague of Imam , the founders of the Sunni Hanafi School of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). The Jabirian corpus is renowned for its contributions to . The recognition of the experimentation importance is perfectly expresses by that corpus, which states that “the first essential in chemistry is that thou shouldest perform practical work and conduct experiments, for he who performs not practical work nor makes experiments will never attain to the least degree of mastery”. Thus, in this paper, we look at the from Islamic angle, and we have revealed why Muslims have developed Chemistry and what the Islamic perspective of Chemistry is.

Keywords: Founder of Chemistry, Muslim , Islamic perspective, Jabir ibn Hayyan, chemical apparatus

Introduction Islamic Chemistry

The actual founders of modern sciences were the Before we talk about the Islamic Chemistry, there is Muslims’ fore-fathers (Robinson 1996; The Indian an important issue that must be resolved; that is Express 2016). The impact of Muslim scientists in using the word “alchemy” rather than chemistry. Europe, especially on their scientific revival, is not However, that is the kind of corruption in history, limited to one or two sciences but in numerous which deceived a lot of people who do not have a disciplines like chemistry, philosophy, , deep perception on the outcome of this historical , , geography, , mathematics, corruption, or perhaps because they aim to a literature and technology, they presented their scholarship causing them to misrepresent the image ability to the West (Al-Hassani et al. 2007). of history, especially the Islamic history, or in order to obliterate the Islamic civilization. Alchemy, is an “The use of common words used in the incorrect translation of the Arabic word Chimia English language today, like chemistry, cotton, (chemistry) started with Al, which is widely used in algebra, , earth, and alkaline, is the Arabic language and means: the, as well as in living proof to the revolutionary and original work French and some other languages. of the Muslims itself” (Chambers 1870). There may be another motive behind the use of alchemy rather than chemistry. Western scientists say that means the chemistry of modern science, while alchemy means , which belongs to expert, dissimilar with the others who are either Muslims. The idea that alchemy ended with the end experts in chemistry, but have no Arabic of the , and that chemistry began with background, or but understand a little bit Western scientists, has absolutely no basis in of chemistry. Holmyard noted that the growth and .(Vaux 1926). development of the Islamic chemistry was not given In the 1st century AH / 7th century AD, Muslims big space, and whatever information exist are knew chemistry, which has led them to engage in incorrect and misleading, because of Kopp's this concept early and this explains that the first unfavorable vision on Islamic Chemistry, and Arab scientist who study chemistry was Khalid ibn Berthelot’s quick conclusions from his insincere Yazid (Died 704 CE), son of Yazid ibn Mu’awiya studies on Islamic material. ibn Abi Sufyan, the second Caliph of the Umayyad According to Holmyard, both Berthelot and Kopp (Fakhry 2004). Islamic conquests has were not Arabists, and therefore, the conclusion played an important role in opening eyes on forms they got on Islamic Chemistry was unable to stand of literature in the science of chemistry, including the test of reproach because much information is books on the industry, and the types of various obtainable. Indeed, scholars today can always chemical processes, so that was the outcome of disregard evidence which appear since Berthelot Muslims work in chemistry field - in the end – and Kopp, and remain stick with their distorted rather than physics field (Burckhardt 1967). statements, misinformation, or errors, and blame on either one of them. Actually, in any field of history, this tactic is very common amongst scholars writing Muslim Revolution of Chemistry who structure and restructure events have all the essential references and sources in order for their First and foremost, many discoveries and products writing to be rationalized. Several “scholars” even made by the Muslims have become part of our go as far as they blame the references in their modern world. Mathe (1980) summarizes the university, mentioning in their conclusion or legacy of Muslim chemists, which include the preface that any shortcoming in their writing was discovery of alcohol, , nitric acid, due to limited material they could access (Palter potassium nitrate and nitrate, determining the 1961). weight of many of the objects, and mastery of , crystallization, and sublimation In Makers of Chemistry (Holmyard 1928), techniques. Muslim chemists took many industrial Holmyard outlining the science growth from the uses including: tinctures and their applications in earlier periods until presence. Although he had not leather tanning, and textile, distillation plants and as much information as many of today's scholars flowers, and perfume-making and pharmacy have, he shaped it excellently. It does not include therapeutic. For example, Al-Majriti (950– any usual gaps of centuries which could be found 1007CE), described experiments for mercuric with other historians; nor does it include the chloride, mercuric chloride sublimation erosion, contradictions caused by miraculous, enlightened, processes and the result is a sign of the beginning of or sudden breakthroughs from nothing. the synthetic chemistry (Meri 2005; Russell et al. 1995). After this revelation, shall we look to the Fair Historians of Chemistry Islamic Chemistry as the West claims that it was the mysterious or magical practices called Alchemia? (1743 – 1794CE) (Lavoisier, Are not there are a lot of aspects in Alchemia are 2001) was a French central to the 18th- exactly the same in modern chemistry? And if all of century and had a large these are not enough, let us see what Muslims influence on the (Schwinger thought of the vague Alchemia; both Ibn Sina and 2002). He was considered the father of modern Ibn Khaldoun attacked the experimentalists who chemistry (de Lavoisier). Yet, he was born ten were trying to turn ordinary into gold. Ibn centuries after the father of chemistry, Jabir ibn Khaldoun, for example, condemns the frauds when Hayyan (722-815CE) (Samir S. Amr 2007), the first applying a thin layer of gold on top of silver chemist in the history who has used chemistry jewelry, and does some other manipulations on practically (Julian 2003). several metals. According to Ibn Khaldoun, silver Holmyard (Sarton and Sarton 1948) was the only and gold are made by the Divine wisdom as rare scholar who gave the due to Islamic Chemistry, and metals in order to guarantee wealth and profits. In bravely call it so. In fact, Holmyard, more than any the Book of Minerals, Ibn Sina denounced the work other scholar, has the correct qualifications for of artisans who dye to give it an outward discussing the Islamic chemistry as he is a great appearance similar to gold and silver. He proved chemist and in training, that made him that turning other metals into gold and silver is qualified to see this science from the angle of practically impossible and unsustainable from a philosophical and scientific point of view. Among other influential Muslim chemists (Rashed Transactions could be useless due their 1996) who started and developed Chemistry; disproportionate growth and could run against such  (died 704) (Calid) wisdom (Holmyard 1928).  Jafar al-Sadiq (702-765)  (810-887) (Armen Firman) Jabir Ibn Hayyan  Al-Kindi (801-873) (Alkindus)  Al-Majriti (fl. 1007-1008) Nearly 3000 cursive about chemistry, as well as  Ibn (932-1030) several other sciences, was found belonging to the  Abu Rayhan al-Biruni (973-1048) father of chemistry, Jabir ibn Hayyan (Meri 2005).  (980-1037) Jabir was born and educated in Tus, and he later  Al-Khazini (fl. 1115-1130) traveled to south of Iraq. He is generally  Nasir al-Din Tusi (1201-1274) known as the father of chemistry, and has  (1332-1406) contributed a lot in the field of chemistry. His  Al-Jaldaki (?-1342) influence in the fundamental significance to  chemistry was covering the excellence of many scientific techniques like evaporation and sublimation, , distillation, Conclusion crystallization, and development of numerous instruments. He has presented experimental Muslim scholars have developed and transferred examination into alchemy, from which modern Chemistry, as well as other sciences, from Greece chemistry was emerged. It is now well-established civilization to us. However, Crusades were one of that the have studied and developed the main reasons behind the demise of Muslims chemistry as a distinct branch of science, and the contribution in science. We must, therefore, give very name “chemistry” is derived from Alchemia, Islamic Chemistry its rightful place in history. In the Arabic word, which was comprehensively order for this to happen, truest accounts of Islamic developed by the Muslim scientists (Warren 2005; chemistry in history have to be written by honest Zahoor 1997). Arabic speaking, able scholars, who should concentrate their efforts to do for Islamic Chemistry His showed the seeds of the what Hill and al-Hasan did for Islamic , modern classification of elements into metals and or what Samso, Kennedy, Saliba, King and Saliba non-metals (Rashed and Sardar 1996). He are doing for Islamic Astronomy, and what Rashed, suggested three categories: Djebbar and Yuskevitch did for Islamic mathematics, in order to awaken slumbered Islamic  "Spirits" which vaporize on heating, like Chemistry and give it back its place in science (realgar, orpiment), camphor, , , sal (Zaimeche 2001). ammoniac, and ammonium chloride.  "Metals", like gold, silver, , tin, , iron, and khar-sini (Chinese iron). Acknowledgements  “Non-malleable substances”, which can be converted into powders, such as stones. The authors would like to record their appreciation to Institute of Islam Hadhari and The National In Jabir’s time, chemical equivalents idea was University of Malaysia for granting the research known as the certain amount of acid that is required fund under Research Grant STEM-2014-002, and for the neutralization of a given quantity of base. GUP-2016-026. Hence, the origins of this idea could be traced back to Jabir. (Schufle and Thomas 1971). References

Despite the research carried out by Jabir Ibn Hayyan [1] Al-Hassani Salim TS, Elizabeth Woodcock, and was in the field of chemistry, he was a prominent Rabah Saoud.1001 inventions: Muslim heritage chemist and alchemist, physician, pharmacist, in our world:(Abdelrahman Aly Abounegm. physicist, , geographer, engineer, 2007). astrologer, and astronomer (Julian 2003). Yet, his [2] Burckhardt, Titus.Alchemy: Science of the intention was to solve the problems of mankind, cosmos, science of the :(Stuart & Watkins. which is, In fact, the noble mission of Islam and 1967). noble and duty of Muslims. Hence, it can obviously [3] Chambers, Ephraim.Chambers's Encyclopædia: be understood that it was a manifestation of the A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge for the implementation of his responsibilities as a Muslim. People. Vol. 1:(JB Lippincott & Company. 1870). [4] de Lavoisier, Antoine-Laurent."Antoine Medieval World:" Book of the Categories of Lavoisier Explained." Review of. Nations"." In.: JSTOR. Fakhry, Majid. A history of : [16] Samir S. Amr, Abdelghani Tbakhi."Jābir ibn (Columbia University Press. 2004). Hayyān." Review of. Arab and Muslim [5] Holmyard, E J., 1931. "Makers of Chemistry." Physicians and Scholars 1 (2007). Oxford, Clarendon Press. [17] Sarton, George, and George Alfred Leon [6] Holmyard, Eric John, 1928."Great chemists." Sarton.Introduction to the . London, Methuen & Co Ltd. Vol. 3:(JSTOR. 1948). [7] Julian, Franklyn. 2003. "Dictionary of the [18] Schufle, Joseph A, and George ." In.: Kessinger Publishing. Thomas."Equivalent Weights from Bergman's [8] Lavoisier, Antoine. 2001. "Antoine Lavoisier." Data on Phlogiston Content of Metals." Review In.: Np. of. 62 (1971):499-506. [9] Mathe, Jean, 1980. "The Civilisation of Islam, [19] Schwinger, Julian Seymour.Einstein's legacy: tr. by David Macrae." New York, the unity of space and time:(Courier Books. Corporation. 2002). [10] Meri, Josef W., 2005. Medieval Islamic [20] The Indian Express. "A world without civilization: an encyclopedia. London, Muslims? We’d have no coffee or toothbrush: . This post has gone viral for a reason." Sept 6, [11] Palter, Robert, 1961. Toward modern science: 2016. studies in ancient and medieval science. Vol. 1. http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trendi New York, Noonday Press. ng-globally/a-world-without-muslims-wed- [12] Rashed, R, and Ziauddin Sardar."Encyclopedia have-no-coffee-or-toothbrush-this-post-has- of the History of Arabic Science. Vol 1: gone-viral-for-a-reason-3016390/. Accessed on Astronomy. Vol. 2: Mathematics and the 30 June 2017. Physical Sciences. Vol. 3: Technology, [21] Vaux, Carra de.Les penseurs de l'Islam. Vol. Alchemy and Life Sciences." Review of. 5:(Paris. 1926). 383 (1996):492-. [22] Warren, John."War and the Cultural Heritage [13] Rashed, Roshdi, 1996. "The Encyclopedy of of Iraq: a sadly mismanaged affair." Review of. the History of Arabic Science, ed., 3 jilid." In.: Third World Quarterly 26 (2005):815-30. London: Routledge. [23] Zahoor, Dr A."JABIR IBN HAIYAN [14] Robinson, Francis, 1996.The Cambridge (Geber)." Review of. University of Indonesia illustrated history of the Islamic world: (1997). Cambridge University Press. [24] Zaimeche, Salah."Muslim Contribution to [15] Russell, GA, Ṣāʿid al-Andalusī, Samaʿan I Chemistry." Review of. (2001). Salem, and Alok Kumar. 1995. "Science in the