Evan Darraji
ايفان الدراجي
What it called the Islamic Golden Age usually dated from the middle of the 8th century to the middle of the 13th century. People keep repeating what they have been learned by their parents and teachers that the Muslim scientists during the golden age are the reason behind the western modern civilization and to brainwash Muslims and force them to believe that, ‘Islam actually brought science and modernity to this world’.
In addition, the world conspired against Muslims to steal their inventions and end their golden age. Well, let’s take a look to the following facts that you maybe never heard about them, or probably just ignored them:
- * Most of those scientists were not Arab, they were Iranian.
- * Many scholars and engineers were from various faiths: Muslims, Christian, Jews, and Hindus etc. not only from a Muslim background.
- * The fact that they called Muslims is because they born as Muslims.
- * Their achievement is part of the universal force of science and not the tents of Islam.
- * No one can claim Islam is a proponent of critical thinking and skepticism. In fact, Islam misuses science, claiming it is scientific, while whenever there is a clash between science and Islamic rules, always Islam prevails. I was told that masturbation is as horrific as a deadly disease and that circumcision is very healthy and that fasting makes you healthy by science teachers. And then we have ridiculous things like “the scientific miracles of Quran”. Islam like all religions is incompatible with science, and its dishonest claims don’t disprove that.
- * Most of those scientists were accused of heresy and infidelity as you will see (why) as below.
Al-Razi or Rhazes (865-925): On ReligionAl-Razi wrote three books dealing with religion: (1) The Prophet's Fraudulent Tricks, (2) The Stratagems of Those Who Claim to Be Prophets (Arabic حيل المتنبيين), and (3) On the Refutation of Revealed Religions (Arabic مخارق الانبياء). He offered harsh criticism concerning religions, in particular, those religions that claim to have been revealed by prophetic experiences.
Ibn Sina or Avicenna (973-1037): Avicenna's philosophy was based on a combination of Aristotelianism and Neoplatonism. Contrary to orthodox Islamic thought, Avicenna denied personal immortality, God's interest in individuals, and the creation of the world in time. He was holding philosophy superior to theology. In his commentary on theology, he dealt with God, creation, and angels etc. and many of his views on them stood in clear contradiction with their conception in the Islamic theology. He rejected the central Islamic doctrine of the resurrection of the dead in flesh and blood. Ibn-Sina had also thoroughly rejected religions, including Islam, as lies. However, as Ibn Sina himself hailed from Khurasan, one cannot dismiss the possible influences of Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Hinduism on his philosophy. Because of his views, Avicenna became the main target of an attack on such philosophy by the Islamic philosopher al-Ghazali and was even called “apostate”.
Al-Ma'arri, (973-1057): He was a controversial rationalist of his time, attacking the dogmas of religion and rejecting the claim that Islam possessed any monopoly on truth.
The greatest Syrian philosopher poet, skeptic and freethinker known as "Lucretius of the East",
Al-Ma’arri despised religions in general and Islam in particular. In condemnation of religions in general, he wrote his poetic verses:
“Religion are noxious weeds and fable invented by the ancients, worthless except for those who exploit the credulous masses.”
Omar Khayyam (1048-1122): He was an epicurean philosopher, a rationalist skeptic and freethinker and follower of Greek philosophy, and scornful of religion and in particular of Islam. His views on Islam were in sheer contradiction with its fundamental precepts. He objected to the notion that every particular event and phenomenon was the result of the intervention of Allah. He did not believe in resurrection, Judgment Day or rewards and punishments in an alleged afterlife. Instead he was a naturalist and maintained all phenomena of observed on earth were guided by the laws of nature.
Ibn Rushd (1126-1198): He was condemned for heresy by the Christian, the Jewish and the Islamic orthodoxy. Religious leaders did not always praise his works; he was condemned for heresy by the Christian, the Jewish and the Islamic orthodoxy and his works were frequently banished and burnt. Ibn Rushd fell out of favor with the Caliph due to the opposition that theologians had raised against his writings. He was accused of heresy, interrogated and banned to Lucena, close to Cordova. At the same time, the Caliph ordered the books of the philosopher to be burnt, with the exception of his works on Medicine, Arithmetic and Elementary Astronomy (around 1195). Somewhat later the Caliph revoked the banishment and called Ibn Rushd back to Marrakesh. The works of Ibn Rushd also aroused admiration in Europe, even among those theologians who saw a danger for religious faith in his writings. In the 13th century, Ibn Rushd was condemned by bishops from Paris, Oxford and Canterbury for reasons similar to those that had caused his condemnation by the orthodox Muslims in Spain.
Al-Biruni (973-1048): In Islamic theology, al-Beruni assigned to the Qur’an a separate and autonomous realm of its own and held that the Qur’an does not interferes in the business of science nor does it infringe on the realm of science.
Al-Farabi (870-950): He made notable contributions to the fields of mathematics, philosophy, medicine, sociology and music. He was inspired by the Platonism and Neo-Platonism and was a great exponent of the Aristotelian school of philosophy. He wrote rich commentaries on Aristotle and like al-Razi, he considered reason superior to revelation and advocated for the relegation of prophecy to philosophy. According to him as quoted by Nicholson, “…reason should govern and control the life of man. He definitely did not believe in the inherent doctrines of the Islamic creed and wished it could be reformed guided by philosophy.
Jabir or Geber (721-815): Jabir is mostly known for his contributions to chemistry. His books strongly influenced the medieval European alchemists and justified their search for the philosopher's stone. In spite of his leanings toward mysticism (he was considered a Sufi) and superstition, he more clearly recognised and proclaimed the importance of experimentation.
Abbas Ibn Firnas (810–887): A philosopher, musician, singer and an astronomer, where magic and chemistry attributed to him. He frequently challenged his religion -Islam-, so he was accused of his faith, and was, in addition, a poetic poet in his poetry fond of singing and music, they are forbidden -haram- in Islam as you know.
In addition to many other scientists that I did not mention here but of course, you can read about them if you are curious and would like to enlighten your mind.
Religion had been at odds with science, still is at odds, and it will remain so until all religions would take demise from this mortal world. After the Renaissance (i.e. during the last 3-4 centuries) -in the marathon race of dominance, science had won and religion had lost. This is pure and simple. This is the reason ladies and gentlemen that you are living now in the dark ages instead of the golden one.
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