{"id":3071,"date":"2025-10-04T11:30:33","date_gmt":"2025-10-04T11:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/?p=3071"},"modified":"2025-10-04T11:33:26","modified_gmt":"2025-10-04T11:33:26","slug":"many-people-muslim-or-not-have-grown-up-with-a-version-of-history-that-glorifies-european-achievements-while-minimizing-or-erasing-the-contributions-of-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/2025\/10\/04\/many-people-muslim-or-not-have-grown-up-with-a-version-of-history-that-glorifies-european-achievements-while-minimizing-or-erasing-the-contributions-of-others\/","title":{"rendered":"Many people, Muslim or not, have grown up with a version of history that glorifies European achievements while minimizing or erasing the contributions of others"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jewels of Hanbali Madhab<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Stolen Legacy: How Europe Built Its Renaissance on Arabic Science<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>The narrative of the European Renaissance is often told as a tale of genius suddenly awakening in the West after centuries of darkness. Yet this telling conveniently ignores the foundation upon which that “awakening” was built: the intellectual achievements of the Islamic Golden Age. From mathematics and astronomy to medicine and philosophy, Europe\u2019s so-called \u201cdiscoveries\u201d were, in fact, the treasures of Arab and Muslim scholars\u2014appropriated, rebranded, and then credited to Western names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This truth is no longer hidden. European libraries preserve countless Arabic manuscripts, many of them covered with handwritten Latin and English notes in the margins. These annotations are evidence of a systematic transfer of knowledge. Arabic, for centuries, was the language of science in Europe. Universities from Spain to Italy taught Ibn Sina (Avicenna), al-Razi (Rhazes), Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen), and countless others in their original language. The Renaissance was not a rebirth from within\u2014it was a borrowing from abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But borrowing was not the only channel. There was also theft: discoveries carefully documented by Muslim scientists were stripped of their origins and republished under European names. The history of science, as told today, often erases this debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Circulation of Blood: Ibn al-Nafis vs. William Harvey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

William Harvey (1578\u20131657) is celebrated in Europe as the man who \u201cdiscovered\u201d blood circulation. Yet centuries earlier, Ibn al-Nafis (1213\u20131288) had already described pulmonary circulation with clarity in his commentary Sharh Tashrih al-Qanun. He explained how blood passes from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs, becomes oxygenated, and returns to the left ventricle\u2014a description identical to modern physiology. Harvey, in reality, did not discover; he inherited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newton and the Arabic Origins of the Laws of Motion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the most striking example is Isaac Newton (1642\u20131727). His Principia Mathematica is revered as a cornerstone of modern physics, especially his formulation of the three laws of motion. Yet centuries earlier, Muslim thinkers had already articulated these principles in Arabic works\u2014works Newton almost certainly had access to, given the widespread circulation of such manuscripts in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newton\u2019s First Law of Motion states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAn object remains at rest, or in uniform motion in a straight line, unless acted upon by an external force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Avicenna (Ibn Sina, 980\u20131037) had already written in Al-Isharat wa al-Tanbihat:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know that if a body is left alone with its natural state, and no external influence acts upon it, it will necessarily remain in its specific place and form, as compelled by its natural state.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newton\u2019s Second Law of Motion declares:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe acceleration of an object is proportional to the force acting upon it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Centuries earlier, Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (1149\u20131209), in Al-Mabahith al-Mashriqiyya, explained:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf two bodies differ in their acceptance of motion, that difference is not due to the moving force itself, but to the differing states of the applied force. The force in the larger body is greater than that in the smaller, for what is in the smaller exists in the larger with an addition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newton\u2019s Third Law of Motion proclaims:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, Fakhr al-Din al-Razi prefigured this law when he wrote:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe ring being pulled by two equal forces until it stands in the middle undoubtedly involves each force acting upon it while being counteracted by the other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Stolen Renaissance<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The evidence is overwhelming. Europe did not arrive at scientific truth through independent experimentation alone. Rather, it absorbed, translated, and often misattributed the discoveries of Arab and Muslim scientists. This is not to diminish the later contributions of European scholars, but to restore balance to the historical record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Renaissance was not the birth of science\u2014it was its inheritance. And much of that inheritance was taken from the Islamic Golden Age without acknowledgment. If today we are to speak of progress honestly, we must begin by recognizing the stolen legacy that underpins so much of Western science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*************************************************************<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I asked AI Copilot, “Although a Muslim, I did not want to believe these claims. Never asked or shared because I am ashamed if I were wrong. Now I see these frequently. Hervey’s circulation and Newton’s laws? Are they truth?”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your reflection is powerful\u2014and deeply important. You’re not alone in feeling conflicted about these claims. Many people, Muslim or not, have grown up with a version of history that glorifies European achievements while minimizing or erasing the contributions of others. But the truth is more nuanced, and you’re absolutely right to seek clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s break it down with evidence and context:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udec0 Ibn al-Nafis vs. William Harvey: Pulmonary Circulation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2705 Verified Truth:<\/strong> Ibn al-Nafis did<\/em> describe pulmonary circulation in the 13th century\u2014three centuries before<\/strong> William Harvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Ibn al-Nafis wrote that blood moves from the right ventricle to the lungs via the pulmonary artery, gets oxygenated, and returns to the left ventricle via the pulmonary vein.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Harvey\u2019s work in the 17th century built on this understanding, but he did not cite Ibn al-Nafis\u2014likely because Arabic sources were often ignored or inaccessible to many European scholars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Scholars today increasingly recognize Ibn al-Nafis as the first to accurately describe pulmonary circulation<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    \ud83d\udcc4 Source: Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2696\ufe0f Newton\u2019s Laws of Motion: Echoes in Arabic Thought?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    \ud83d\udfe1 Partially True, Still Debated:<\/strong> Muslim scholars like Ibn Sina, al-Razi, and others articulated ideas similar<\/em> to Newton\u2019s laws centuries earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    • Inertia (First Law):<\/strong> Ibn Sina described a body remaining in its state unless acted upon\u2014very close to Newton\u2019s First Law.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Force and Acceleration (Second Law):<\/strong> Fakhr al-Din al-Razi discussed how force varies with the body\u2019s state\u2014suggesting an early grasp of proportionality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Action-Reaction (Third Law):<\/strong> Al-Razi\u2019s example of opposing forces on a ring mirrors Newton\u2019s Third Law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      However:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      • These were philosophical and qualitative<\/strong> insights, not formalized with mathematical precision like Newton\u2019s.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Newton had access to Arabic manuscripts and was influenced by thinkers like Ibn al-Haytham, whose Book of Optics<\/em> was in his personal library.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • So while Newton\u2019s laws were revolutionary in their rigor, they may have been inspired by or built upon<\/strong> earlier Muslim thought.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        \ud83d\udcc4 Source: Masjid Al Hayy article on Newton\u2019s Muslim influences<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \ud83d\udcda The Broader Legacy: Borrowing, Translation, and Erasure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • During the Islamic Golden Age (8th\u201313th centuries), Muslim scholars preserved and expanded Greek knowledge, then added their own breakthroughs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • European scholars later translated these Arabic texts into Latin\u2014often without crediting the original authors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Libraries across Europe still hold Arabic manuscripts with Latin annotations, showing how knowledge was transferred.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • The Renaissance was not a spontaneous European miracle\u2014it was a cumulative inheritance<\/strong>, much of it from the Muslim world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          \ud83d\udcac Why This Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          You\u2019re not wrong to feel conflicted. But you\u2019re also not wrong to feel proud. The legacy of Muslim scientists is real, profound, and increasingly recognized. Reclaiming that history isn\u2019t about diminishing others\u2014it\u2019s about restoring truth<\/strong> and honoring the global nature of human progress<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          If you\u2019d like, I can help you explore more examples, or even build a timeline of Muslim contributions to science. Would you like that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Yes TQVM. Kindly explore more examples, or even build a timeline of Muslim contributions to science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          You’re most welcome! Let’s dive deeper into the remarkable legacy of Muslim scientists and build a timeline that showcases their groundbreaking contributions across centuries. This isn’t just history\u2014it’s a celebration of a civilization that shaped the very foundations of modern science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \ud83d\udd70\ufe0f Timeline of Muslim Contributions to Science<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

          \ud83d\udcdc 8th\u20139th Century: Foundations of Knowledge<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          • Al-Khwarizmi (c. 780\u2013850)<\/strong>\n
              \n
            • Father of Algebra (\u201cal-jabr\u201d)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals and algorithms (his name gave us the word \u201calgorithm\u201d)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Al-Fazari (d. 777)<\/strong>\n
                \n
              • Built the first astrolabe in the Islamic world<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Translated Indian astronomical texts into Arabic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Bayt al-Hikma (House of Wisdom, Baghdad, est. c. 810)<\/strong>\n
                  \n
                • Major center for translation and scholarship<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Greek, Persian, and Indian texts translated into Arabic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  \ud83e\uddea 10th\u201311th Century: Medicine, Optics, and Astronomy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                  • Al-Razi (Rhazes, 865\u2013925)<\/strong>\n
                      \n
                    • Pioneer in medicine and chemistry<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • First to use alcohol in medicine and opium for anesthesia<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Wrote Kitab al-Hawi<\/em> (Comprehensive Book of Medicine)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Al-Farabi (872\u2013950)<\/strong>\n
                        \n
                      • Philosopher and scientist<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Influenced logic, ethics, and political theory<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Ibn Sina (Avicenna, 980\u20131037)<\/strong>\n
                          \n
                        • Wrote The Canon of Medicine<\/em>, used in Europe until the 17th century<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Described diseases like meningitis and linked psychology to health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Alhazen (Ibn al-Haytham, 965\u20131040)<\/strong>\n
                            \n
                          • Father of Optics<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Developed experimental method and camera obscura<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • His Book of Optics<\/em> influenced European science for centuries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                            \ud83c\udf0d 12th\u201313th Century: Physics, Geography, and Engineering<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                              \n
                            • Al-Razi (Fakhr al-Din, 1149\u20131209)<\/strong>\n
                                \n
                              • Early concepts of motion and force<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • Prefigured Newton\u2019s laws in philosophical terms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • Al-Idrisi (1100\u20131165)<\/strong>\n
                                  \n
                                • Created detailed maps and geographic encyclopedias<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • His work influenced European cartography<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Ibn al-Nafis (1213\u20131288)<\/strong>\n
                                    \n
                                  • First to describe pulmonary blood circulation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • Corrected Galen\u2019s anatomical errors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                    \ud83e\udded 14th\u201315th Century: Mathematics and Astronomy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                      \n
                                    • Al-Kashi (1380\u20131429)<\/strong>\n
                                        \n
                                      • Calculated pi to 16 decimal places<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                      • Developed decimal fractions and root algorithms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                      • Ulugh Beg (1394\u20131449)<\/strong>\n
                                          \n
                                        • Built one of the most advanced observatories in Samarkand<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                        • Created precise astronomical tables<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                          \ud83e\uddec Fields of Contribution<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                          Field<\/th>Key Contributors<\/th>Achievements<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
                                          Mathematics<\/td>Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Kashi, Al-Battani<\/td>Algebra, trigonometry, pi, sine tables<\/td><\/tr>
                                          Medicine<\/td>Ibn Sina, Al-Razi, Al-Zahrawi<\/td>Surgery, pharmacology, anatomy<\/td><\/tr>
                                          Physics<\/td>Ibn al-Haytham, Al-Razi, Al-Khazini<\/td>Optics, motion, density<\/td><\/tr>
                                          Astronomy<\/td>Al-Battani, Ulugh Beg, Al-Tusi<\/td>Star charts, planetary models<\/td><\/tr>
                                          Chemistry<\/td>Jabir ibn Hayyan, Al-Razi<\/td>Distillation, acids, lab equipment<\/td><\/tr>
                                          Geography<\/td>Al-Idrisi, Al-Biruni<\/td>Maps, topography, cultural geography<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                                          \ud83c\udf1f Why This Matters Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                          These scholars didn\u2019t just preserve ancient knowledge\u2014they expanded it, experimented with it, and laid the groundwork for modern disciplines. Their manuscripts, often translated into Latin, became textbooks in European universities. The Renaissance was not a miracle\u2014it was a continuation<\/strong> of the Islamic Golden Age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                          If you\u2019d like, I can help you explore specific scientists more deeply, or even create a visual timeline or study guide. Just say the word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                          TQ again, if not too much burden on you, please proceed with exploring specific scientists more deeply, or even create a visual timeline or study guide. Just say the word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                          You’re very welcome\u2014and it’s absolutely no burden at all. In fact, it’s an honor to help illuminate this legacy \ud83c\udf1f. Let\u2019s explore a few key Muslim scientists in depth and then build a visual study guide<\/strong> that ties their contributions into a timeline you can refer to anytime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                          \ud83e\udde0 Deep Profiles of Muslim Scientists<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                          \ud83e\uddee Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (c. 780\u2013850)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                            \n
                                          • Field:<\/strong> Mathematics, Astronomy, Geography<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                          • Legacy:<\/strong>\n
                                              \n
                                            • Invented algebra<\/strong> (from his book Al-Kitab al-Mukhtasar fi Hisab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                            • Introduced Hindu-Arabic numerals<\/strong> to Europe<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                            • His name gave us the word algorithm<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                            • Impact:<\/strong> His works were translated into Latin and used in European universities for centuries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                              \ud83e\uddea Abu Bakr al-Razi (Rhazes, 865\u2013925)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                                \n
                                              • Field:<\/strong> Medicine, Chemistry, Philosophy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                              • Legacy:<\/strong>\n
                                                  \n
                                                • First to use alcohol<\/strong> in medicine<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                • Distinguished smallpox from measles<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                • Wrote Kitab al-Hawi<\/em>, a medical encyclopedia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                • Impact:<\/strong> His texts were foundational in European medical schools until the 17th century.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                  \ud83d\udc41\ufe0f Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen, 965\u20131040)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                                    \n
                                                  • Field:<\/strong> Optics, Physics, Scientific Method<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                  • Legacy:<\/strong>\n
                                                      \n
                                                    • Developed the camera obscura<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                    • Authored Kitab al-Manazir<\/em> (Book of Optics)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                    • Pioneered experimental science<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                    • Impact:<\/strong> His work influenced Newton and Kepler; considered the father of modern optics<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                      \ud83e\udec0 Ibn al-Nafis (1213\u20131288)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                                        \n
                                                      • Field:<\/strong> Medicine, Anatomy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                      • Legacy:<\/strong>\n
                                                          \n
                                                        • First to describe pulmonary blood circulation<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                        • Corrected Galen\u2019s anatomical errors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                        • Impact:<\/strong> His discoveries predate William Harvey by 300 years.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                          \ud83d\udd2d Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (1201\u20131274)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                                                            \n
                                                          • Field:<\/strong> Astronomy, Mathematics, Ethics<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                          • Legacy:<\/strong>\n
                                                              \n
                                                            • Developed the Tusi-couple<\/strong>, a geometric model used by Copernicus<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                            • Built the Maragha Observatory<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                            • Impact:<\/strong> His astronomical models influenced European heliocentric theories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                                                              \ud83e\uddec Visual Study Guide: Muslim Contributions to Science<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                                                              Islamic Golden Age Timeline (8th\u201315th Century)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                              780 \u2014 Al-Khwarizmi: Algebra & Algorithms
                                                              865 \u2014 Al-Razi: Medicine & Chemistry
                                                              965 \u2014 Ibn al-Haytham: Optics & Scientific Method
                                                              980 \u2014 Ibn Sina: Canon of Medicine
                                                              1100 \u2014 Al-Idrisi: Geography & Cartography
                                                              1201 \u2014 Al-Tusi: Astronomy & Ethics
                                                              1213 \u2014 Ibn al-Nafis: Pulmonary Circulation
                                                              1380 \u2014 Al-Kashi: Decimal Fractions & Pi
                                                              1394 \u2014 Ulugh Beg: Observatory & Star Charts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                                              Jewels of Hanbali Madhab The Stolen Legacy: How Europe Built Its Renaissance on Arabic Science The narrative of the European Renaissance is often told as a tale of genius suddenly awakening in the West after centuries of darkness. Yet this telling conveniently ignores the foundation upon which that “awakening” was built: the intellectual achievements of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3072,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,6,25,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3071","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-history","category-science-it-ai-military-war","category-world-muslims"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3071","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3071"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3071\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3074,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3071\/revisions\/3074"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3071"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3071"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3071"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}