Algorithm to Zenith: Impact of Classical Islamic Civilization on The Modern World

Volume 5: Modern Science

Dr. Wow Ali Ibn-Sina Nation Builders & Civilization Movers Impact of Islamic Civilization: Introduction by Prince Charles "If there is much misunderstanding in the West about the nature of Islam, there is also much ignorance about the debt our own culture and civilization owe to the Islamic world. The medieval Islamic world, …was a world where scholars and men of learning flourished. But because we have tended to see Islam as the enemy of the West, as an alien culture, society, and system of belief, we have tended to ignore or erase its great relevance to our own history… Islam is part of our past and our present, in all fields of human endeavour. It has helped to create modern Europe. " - Prince Charles at Oxford University, 1993 Introduction to Science by Dr. Briffault (a well-recognized Social Anthropologist) What we call science arose as a result of new methods of experiment, observation, and measurement, which were introduced into Europe by the Arabs... Science is the most momentous contribution of Arab civilization to the modern world... Other and manifold influences from the civilization of Islam communicated its first glow to European life. [...] The debt of our science to that of the Arabs does not consist in startling discoveries or revolutionary theories; science owes a great deal more to Arab culture, it owes its existence...! The ancient world was, pre-scientific. The astronomy and mathematics of Greeks were a foreign importation never thoroughly acclimatized in Greek culture. …but the patient ways of investigations, the accumulation of positive knowledge, the minute methods of science, detailed and prolonged observation and experimental inquiry were altogether alien to the Greek temperament. [...] What we call science arose in Europe as a result of new spirit of enquiry, of new methods of experiment, observation, measurement, of the development of mathematics, in a form unknown to the Greeks. That spirit and those methods were introduced into the European world by the Arab. – Dr. Robert Briffault, 1928, ‘The Making of Humanity’ (page 190-202) A REVOLUTIONARY OF VISION: Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn al-Hasan al-Haytham (aka Alhazen or Alhacen) Light travels in straight lines. Speed of light is finite (long before Einstein). Particle nature of light (long before photons). Dimension of Space. Inventor of a Model for Camera … and Calculus! From Calculus to Camera: Al-Haytham aka Alhazen Crater on the Moon A Revolution in Physics: Optics Ibn al-Haytham or Alhazen (965-1039, Basra, Iraq)

Ibn Al-Haytham is credited with fostering the fields of experimental physics, astrophysics, and mathematics i.e. calculus and analytical geometry. Model for 7 planets. Numbers Theory. Alhazen’s Problem (solved in 1997 at Oxford alsoby Peter Neumann). ‘Kitab al Manazer’ or ‘The Book of Optics’ is the first analysis of light as a physical phenomenon. Revolution in Physics: Optics Ibn al-Haytham or Alhazen (965-1039, Basra, Iraq) Before Ibn Al-Haytham, for centuries; Plato, Euclid and Ptolemy (5thBC- 1 AD) believed that light rays were produced by the eye hit the object to perceive it as in the illustration below of Greek mythology known as ‘Greek Science’ in many current text books. First Experimental Scientist: Optics Ibn al-Haytham or Alhazen (965-1039, Basra, Iraq) Ibn Al-Haytham, designed experiments in physics to understand the natural phenomenon relatd to light like rainbows, shadows, sunset, eclipse, refraction of light with lenses and mirrors. Revolution in Vision: Optics Ibn al-Haytham or Alhazen (965-1039, Basra, Iraq) Ibn Al-Haytham, as a physician to Fatimid Caliph in Egypt experimented with pinhole camera to decipher the physiology of vision. Also credited as founder of Experimental Physics: Optics Ibn al-Haitham or Alhazen (965-1039, Basra, Iraq)

First in use of extensive experiments in physics to study the ‘Ibn al Haytham: First Scientist’ by Bradley Steffens’ natural phenomenon. First in use of Algebra in Geometry to creating a new field of applied mathematics called ‘analytical geometry’. Ibn-al Shatir’s Revolution in Astrophysics: Was his Planetary Model plagiarized by Copernicus? Ibn al-Shatir (1304-1375), Syria: His astrophysical model Astronomers at work, in this contemporaneous painting was ‘mathematically identical’ to the Copernicus’ depicting an experimental observatory. heliocentric model 150 years later. Was Ibn-al Shatir’s Model adopted by Copernicus?

“Ibn al-Shātir's planetary theory was investigated for the first time in the 1950s, and the discovery that his models were mathematically identical to those of Copernicus raised the very interesting question of a possible transmission of his planetary theory to Europe. This question has since been the subject of a number of investigations, but research on the astronomy of Ibn al-Shātir and of his sources, let alone on the later influence of his planetary theory in the Islamic world or Europe, is still at a preliminary stage. It is known, however, that Copernicus' Mercury model is that of Ibn al-Shātir and that Copernicus did not properly understand it.” - David A King (From: Thomas Hockey et al. (eds.). The Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers, Springer Reference. New York: Springer, 2007, pp. 569-570) http://islamsci.mcgill.ca/RASI/BEA/Ibn_al-Shatir_BEA.htm

Mosque in Damascus where Ibn-Shatir worked. Muslim Astronomers in Somnium Scipionis (Medieval Print shows High European Regard for Muslim Astronomy) Muslim & Arab astronomers studying the heavens in a scene from a commentary on Cicero’s Somnium Scipionis. In Cicero’s story the protagonist Scipionis who destroyed Carthage goes thru various levels of heavens in his dream. Abd al Rahman al Sufi’s ‘Treatise on Fixed Stars’ 10 Century Star Positions and Tables

One of the books translated from Arabic in 13th Century Toledo (Ref: ‘Rediscovering Arabic Science by Richard Covington’, Saudi Aramco World, 2007) Omar Khayyam (b.1048)’s Solar Calendar, - not Gregorian? Omar Khayyam developed geometric algebra, Omar Khayyam, b.1048, in Balkh, Afghanistan. quadrilateral & binomial theorem. Below his manuscript on Astronomer and mathematician gave the most accurate “Cubic equation and intersection of conic sections.” So how solar calendar, adopted in Iranian regions in come Omar Khayyam is known as a poet and a Pope an 1079 and 503 years later by Pope Gregory in 1582. astronomer? He gave a physical demonstration to prove that earth moved on its axis based on his astronomical observations. Khayyam’s statue in Bucharest, Romania. Nasir ud Din Tusi’s Maragha Observatory (1259) Tusi couple helped Ibn Shatir and Copernicus’s Models of Planetary Systems Ulugh Beg Observatory (Uzbekistan, 1410) Taqi al-Din Muhammad (1526-1585)’s Observatory at Work Taqi al-Din Muhammad (1526-1585)’s Observatory was Model for Instruments in Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)’s Observatory

Taqi ud-Din (1526-1585)’s Sextant Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)’s Sextant Taqi al-Din Muhammad (1526-1585)’s Observatory was Model for Instruments in Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)’s Observatory

Taqi ud-Din’s Armillary Tycho Brahe’s Armillary Taqi al-Din Muhammad (1526-1585)’s Observatory Model for Instruments in Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)’s Observatory

Taqi ud-Din’s Azimuthal Semicircle Tycho Brahe’s Azimuthal Semicircle Astronomers at Work, 17th Century Ottoman Miniature Painting Origins of Time Clocks

Astrolabe Clock by Johann Bommel, Clock-Calendar by Mohammad Abu Bakr. inspired by one on Right of 650 years Oldest Surviving Gear Mechanism. earlier c.1686, Nuremberg, Germany. 1221, Isfahan, Iran Robotics: Hydraulic Technology

• A page from Al-Jaziri’s ‘Manual of Robotics’ (1206) – a page from 14th century edition (Figures depicted in picture are robotic dolls not of men. The water tubes connected to the robots use hydraulics as power). • A first, in concept and design in human history. • Devices such as these were popular in 10th Century Andalusia, Baghdad, Cairo & Damascus. Robotics: Prototype of an Automobile

• Al-Jaziri’s ‘Manual of Robotics’ (1206) – This 14th century edition depicts robotic dolls and toy animals used as a mobile Watch Tower. Conceivably this is earliest prototype of an automobile that worked. • A combination of art, physics and engineering. • Industrial scale in automation not attained until 18th century and Robotics until 20th Century. The picture can't be displayed. Taqi ud Din Muhammad: First Steam Engine This Documented Prototype (Turkey, 1551) may have helped James Watt (UK, 1776)

In 1551, Taqi al-Din invented an early practical steam turbine as a prime mover for the first steam-powered self- rotating engine. In his book, ’Al-Turuq al-samiyya fi al-alat al-ruhaniyya’ (The Sublime Methods of Spiritual Machines), completed in 1551 AD (959 AH), Taqi al-Din writes: "Part Six: …Let the nozzle of the pitcher be opposite the vanes of the wheel. Kindle fire under the pitcher and steam will issue from its nozzle in a restricted form and it will turn the vane wheel. When the pitcher becomes empty of water bring close to it cold water in a basin and let the nozzle of the pitcher dip into the cold water. The heat will cause all the water in the basin to be attracted into the pitcher and the [the steam] will start rotating the vane wheel again.” (Ref: Wikipedia) The picture can't be displayed. Taqi ud Din Muhammad: First Steam Engine This Documented Prototype (Turkey, 1551) may have helped James Watt (UK, 1776) More than 200 years: ‘ James Watt’s friend, Professor John Robison, called his attention to the use of steam as a source of power, and Watt began to experiment with it. Watt had never seen an operating steam engine, but he tried constructing a model. It failed to work satisfactorily, but he continued his experiments and began to read everything he could about the subject.’ (Ref: Wikipedia) Did he chance upon Taqi ad Din’s ‘Method’s of Spiritual Machines’? Astrolabe: Astronomy & Maritime

Earliest known Astrolabe, 927, Iraq. • Sindbad or ‘Sinbad’ the legendary Iranian sailor navigated the seas around the world with the help of an instrument like this. • Notice the Arabic notations. • Necessity of finding Qibla, - the orientation to Mecca. • It was the most sophisticated scientific instrument known at that time. Aviation: Earliest Model for Air Planes

• Abbas ibn Firnas, b. 810, used a glider to fly from this Tower of Cordoba Mosque, in Islamic Spain (see pic). He was inspired by a parachute jump by Armen Firman as a child. He inspired other attempts in Europe and Leonardo da Vinci’s untested flight designs 700 years later in 1500s, Ahmed Celebi’s glider flight in 1638 in Turkey, and finally, Wright brothers in 1903. Aviation: Earliest Model for Air Planes

‘Firnas for the First Flight…’ An artist’s reconstruction. “Ibn Firnas was the first man in history to make a scientific attempt at flying.”

- Philip Khuri Hitti, Professor of History Aviation: Earliest Model for Air Planes

Even 1100 years back, Firnas’ contribution was Muslim astronomers had a tradition of considered historic enough to have a lunar naming heavenly bodies or landmarks on the landmark named after him. He was a polymath: moon after historic figures e.g. ‘Mamun’ crater on engineer, optic physicist and astronomer all rolled the moon named after the Caliph who had a into one. ‘Ibn Firnas’ crater on the moon. Royal College of Knowledge built in Baghdad, circa 819. Experimental Chemistry: Jabir Ibn Hayyan aka Geber, 721-815, Tus, Iran ‘The first essential in chemistry is that thou Invented: Sulphuric Acid, Nitric Acid, shouldest perform practical work and conduct Hydrochloric Acid, Aqua Regia and experiments, for he who performs not practical Ethanol. He invented many chemicals work nor makes experiments will never attain used in etching on glass, making rust- to the least degree of mastery.’ - Jabir less steel & many industrial chemicals. He evolved Alchemy into Chemistry. A Lunar Crater named after ‘Geber’. To Chemistry, from ‘al-Chemey’

• The laboratory equipments like glass beakers, distillers and alembics (Arabic) were invented and used for hundreds of years by Muslims before rest of the world had any concept of what experimental chemistry was. Muslim scientists like Geber, al-Kindi, al-Iraqi, Ibn-Sina exposed the superstitious aspects of Greek al-chemy lead by a greed for gold than science for facts and truth. To Chemistry from al-Chemey

Al-Jildaki’s 1342 treatise on Chemistry, a 19th century copy from Morocco. • An illuminated opening from the alchemical treatise The Proof Regarding Secrets of the Science of the Balance (Kitab al-Burhan fi asrar 'ilm al-mizan) by 'Izz al-Din Aydamir al-Jildaki (d. 743 H/1342 CE). Undated copy made in Morocco in the late 19th century, held in the National Library of Medicine (Bethesda, Maryland) Perfecting Metal Metallurgy: Zinc & Brass

Astrolabe by Allah-dad, Lahore, Pakistan, 1570 Zinc with Brass inlay, circa, 1670, India. Pharmacopoeia, Ottoman Manuscript

Muslim & Arab physicians added hundreds of medicines to those recorded by the Greeks. In this Ottoman manuscript, two doctors give instructions on the preparation of prescriptions. Abu al-Qasim Khalaf al-Zahrawi aka Abulcasis, 10th Century, Islamic Spain A page from ‘Properties…’ translated The 10th-century Andalusian into Latin in medieval Europe. surgeon Abu al-Qasim Khalaf ibn al-Abbas al- Zahrawi (aka Abulcasis) wrote many medical books, including ’The Properties of Various Products’. This page discusses the use and preparation of absinthe. Material Medica, Arabic Manuscript 1240, Baghdad, Iraq Two types of thyme are depicted on these pages of De Materia Medica, a guide to remedies by the Greek physician Dioscorides. Avicenna, Averroes & Rhazes as Reference Books in a Venice Physician’s Office’s Bookshelf, 1495 Doctor’s Office Scene on a Woodcut, Venice, 1495 Anatomy by Mansur Ibn Ilyas 14th Century, Iran A page on Arteries from Manual of Anatomy by Mansur Ibn Ilyas. • First illustrated manual of anatomy that detailed five systems then understood to constitute human anatomy. • Ibn Ilyas was a surgeon and he depicted with sophistication the drawings of complex organs like heart and brain. Avicenna’s ‘Canon of Medicine’ A page from Avicenna’s ‘Qanun al Tibb’ (see more in Vol 4 on Medicine). • Ibn-Sina aka Avicenna (980- 1037), authored the classic textbook of medicine, ‘Canon…’ that was used for nearly 700 years and he propounded scientific method for medical research. • First Latin translation in 12th century as ‘Canon Medicinae’ for ‘Qanun al Tibb’ (Arabic, qanun= law, tibb=medicine). Avicenna’s ‘Canon of Medicine’ An undated Latin (?) translation of Avicenna’s ‘Qanun al Tibb’ (see • Ibn-Sina gave the method of more in Vol 4 on Medicine). clinical trials for testing new remedies. • Ibn-Sina wrote 450 books of which 250 survive that include subjects on chemistry, physics and mechanics. • He is equally well known for his commentaries on Greek philosophy. References

1. George Saliba, ‘Islamic Science and the Making of the European Renaissance’ (MIT Press, 2007) 2. Richard Covington, ‘Rediscovering Arabic Science’ (Aramco World, 2007) 3. Gene W. Heck, ‘Charlemagne, Muhammed and Arab roots of Capitalism’ (Walter de Guyter, 2006) 4. Rom Landau, ‘The Arab Heritage of Western Civilization’ (University Press of the Pacific, 2003) 5. Maria Rosa Menocal, ‘Ornament of the World’ (Little Brown & Co, 2002) 6. Philip K. Hitti, ‘The Arabs: A Short History’ (Regnery Publishing, 1996) 7. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, ‘Science and Civilization in Islam’ (Kazi Publications, 1996) 8. Toby Huff, ‘The Rise of Early Modern Science: Islam, China and the West’ (Cambridge University Press, 1993) 9. Richard Hodges & David White House, ‘Mohammed, Charlemagne and the Origin of Europe’ (Cornell University Press, 1983) 10. John Hayes, ed, ‘The Genius of Arab Civilization: Source of Renaissance’ (MIT Press, 1983) 10. Ali Abdullah al-Daffa, ‘The Muslim Contribution to Mathematics’ (Prometheus Books, 1977) 11. Sir Thomas Arnold and Alfred Guillaume, eds, ‘The Legacy of Islam’ (Oxford University Press, 1968) 12. Robert Briffault, The Making of Humanity (Allen & Unvin, 1928) Disclaimer 1. This presentation is work in progress. Accuracy of every detail, every fact and every assumption can not be guaranteed as the graphics and facts are obtained from publically available informational sources which may be inaccurate in some instances. 2. This presentation offers an informed analysis to foster discussion. Its uniqueness is in providing a perspective on heterogeneous data of multifarious origins over hundreds of years. Therefore, some subjective bias may be assumed, though that is not the intent of the author. 3. Any profits earned from the nominal payments made here shall be used for development of not-for-profit educational materials for public awareness and electronic media presentations or to promote the objectives enunciated in Obama's Speech to the Muslim World. 4. Any payments made might remain valid for the next versions of this presentations as long as 'Scribd, Inc' payment policy allows. 5. Graphics used under "Fair use" exception to United States copyright law that allows for the reproduction of limited portions of copyrighted works for limited purposes such as criticism, commentary, parody, news reporting, research and teaching. However, such shall be removed within reasonable time if the owner of any such material so demands, - upon proving their copyright ownership. 6. All dates are as provided are from public sources using current international calendar which is a derivative of the Omar Khayyam’s solar calendar adopted later by Pope Gregory of which we are in the year 2010. Acknowledgments 1. Oxford University, UK 2. Museum of Fine Arts, New York, USA 3. Louvre Museum, Paris, France 4. Vatican City, Rome, Italy. 5. Cloisters Museum, New York, USA 6. Islamic Manuscripts, National Library of Medicine, USA 7. All those who built those monuments and objects throughout the world 8. All the unknown photographers who put their picture for public service 9. World Wide Web for collaboration and dissemination of information 10. Google Search & Archiving 11. Wikipedia 12. Aramco World 13. Microsoft 14. Disney 15. Scribd