Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Emperor Hirohito asked his aides not how many soldiers had survived, but how many teachers remained. We can subsequently observe the fantastic progress Japan achieved in a remarkably short span of time—a testament to how deeply they value teachers and knowledge. The quality of a nation is measured by its ability to apply knowledge—to harness it in managing the natural world to create greater utility and value. This is the primary indicator of a civilization.
While
some today may tend to interpret "knowledge" solely as religious
knowledge, Muslim scholars of the past broke through such rigid constraints
through tangible, practical work. There is no prohibition against studying any
field of knowledge, with the exception of sorcery. There are no restrictions on
whom one may learn from; the Prophet Muhammad once instructed a companion to
learn the language of the Jewish people (Hebrew)—with a Jewish person serving
as the teacher. All knowledge originates from God. To truly be a "blessing
to all worlds" (rahmatan lil alamin), Muslims must master all
forms of knowledge.
Islam
explicitly states that those who perish while on the path to seeking knowledge
may be considered martyrs (syahid). Those who possess knowledge are
elevated in rank, alongside those who believe (Surah Al-Mujadilah: 11). The
injunction to "seek knowledge, even as far as China"
clearly refers not to religious studies, but to other fields—such as practical
skills, social organization, statecraft, and the sciences of health and
medicine.
The
way in which Muslims have interpreted the concept of knowledge, the mandate to
acquire it, and the pursuit of its advancement has been demonstrated by the
generations that came before us. This imperative gave rise to a multitude of
Muslim experts across various scientific disciplines, whose contributions laid
the foundational knowledge upon which modern sciences are built.
Dr.
Fuat Sezgin,
Institute for the History of Arabic-Islamic Science, Johann Wolfgang Goethe
University, Frankfurt, Germany The brilliance of Islamic scholars centuries ago
was truly invaluable. Europeans learned various branches of knowledge from
these experts.
In
the field of medicine, there was Muhammad bin Zakaria—known as Al-Razi—an
Iranian-born scholar who pioneered techniques for suturing wounds and was the
first to distinguish between smallpox and measles. Among his most renowned
students was Ibn Sina (Avicenna).
In
the realm of education, there was Al-Amidi, the inventor of a
Braille-like system. While the world may recognize only Louis Braille
(1809–1852) as the creator of a writing system for the visually impaired, 600
years earlier, Professor Ali ibn Ahmed ibn Yusuf ibn al-Khizr al-Amidi had
already pioneered such a system. Born blind, he did not let this limitation
dampen his passion for learning and the pursuit of knowledge; the Syrian
scholar became celebrated as an expert in law and foreign languages.
Unfortunately, Al-Amidi’s achievements appear to have been lost amidst the
turmoil that swept through Iraq in 1401 AD, when the city of Baghdad was
destroyed by invading forces.
In
the field of mathematics—specifically regarding algorithms—the term
"algorism" originally referred to the method used by those who
calculated with Arabic numerals; such a person was known as an
"algorist." Historians of mathematics have traced the origin of this
term to the name of a renowned author of Arabic texts, Abu Abdullah Muhammad
ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (770–840 AD). In Western literature, this
mathematician from Uzbekistan is more commonly referred to by the name
"Algorism." Al-Khwarizmi also pioneered several branches of
study, including astronomy and geography. The theory of algebra is likewise a
product of his intellect; the term "algebra" is derived from the
title of his famous book, Al-Jabr wa al-Muqabala. He developed detailed
trigonometric tables—incorporating sine, cosine, and cotangent functions—as
well as concepts related to differentiation.
He
employed a systematic and logical approach, synthesizing knowledge from Greek
and Hindu traditions with his own original ideas to advance the field of
mathematics. Al-Khwarizmi adopted the use of zero in arithmetic and the decimal
system. Furthermore, he also made significant contributions to the creation of
world maps.
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