By Maryam al Bulushiya -
I was impressed by a specific episode of Khawatir — a show usually featured in Ramadhan — that talks about the Islamic civilisation in various countries, in particular, Al Andalus and how the
first Muslims were able to spread different means of knowledge at a time when Europe was living in total darkness.
The episode displayed Al Hambra palace, mentioning Muslims’ interest in architecture. The palace is decorated with beautiful words, symmetries and above all, fountains on every corner.
These passages of water are said to be called the Fardousi design, inspired by what’s written in the Quran: “He prepared gardens under which rivers flow” in Surat Al Tawbah, verse number 100.
Besides this, previous episodes spoke about Muslims’ innovative inventions, like the camera, which comes from the Arabic word: “Al Qumra”. It was invented by Ibn Al Haitham, whose experiment revolved around capturing pictures through a hole in the middle of a closed, dark space.
The fields in which Muslims helped were many. You get Abbas ibn Firnas in engineering, the man who came
up with the concept of flying first in 852, later developed by the Wright brothers.
Al Jazari, a mechanic inventor who helped to raise water for irrigation. And Islam’s foremost scientist, Jabir ibn Hayyan who invented many basic processes and
apparatus in 800, that are used today in Chemistry labs everywhere.
There’s no doubt to the fact that our ancestors were hard-working people, who, not only invented spectacular inventions; but used the knowledge they had for the good of people. It is our turn now, to work on what they introduced further.