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Muslim Sciences:
Origin and
Development
1
1. Philosophy, natural and
physical sciences
• The real development of Muslim
natural and physical sciences started
after the era of translation.
• Translation of the intellectual heritage
of other nations and civilizations started
in the 2nd Islamic century from the four
major languages: Greek, Syriac, Persian
and Sanskrit.
2
• In the 3rd century, the
establishment of bayt al-Hikmah
(The House of Wisdom) founded
by Harun al-Rashid and well
developed by his son al-Ma’mun.
• It was a research and educational
institute and the centre for
intellectual development.
3
• Many scientific works were
rendered into Arabic in the field
of mathematics, physics,
astronomy, medicine,
pharmacology, history, philosophy
and other sciences.
• The translators were Muslims as
well as non-Muslim citizens.
4
Translation: advantages & disadvantages
Positive impact
• Benefiting from human knowledge
and experience
Negative impact
• Translation was not confined to
what is useful (pure sciences)
• Extended to theology and
metaphysical issues
5
• Creating confusion among some
Muslims
• Led to the creation of an elite group
of philosophers who were fascinated
with Greek philosophy and to some
extent deviated from the right
principles of Islam
• Tension between this elite group and
religious scholars
6
2. Islamic sciences
• Established and developed
solely by Muslims
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