MUSLIMS MUST KNOW THEIR HISTORY

While it is true that a general state of ignorance was extensive throughout Europe at that time, Western scholars and historians have rarely admitted of the contrasting presence and contributions of the Muslims to knowledge and learning in a corner of this continent. In the period referred to in Europe as ‘the Dark Ages’, the Muslims had already begun establishing many centers of learning and had demonstrated an outstanding civilization in Spanish Andalusia, and this had attracted and drawn many Europeans to study under the Muslim scholars and teachers there. This glaring omission cannot be because of total ignorance, because there are a few rare Western writers who have recorded these facts, albeit that these writers are the exception or perhaps even are a dissenting voice in the midst of others who are silent[1]. The exceptional few who recorded this situation have sometimes admitted the facts quite frankly. They include the following:

“It is to Mussalman science, to Mussalman art, and to Mussalman literature that Europe has been in a great measure indebted for its extrication from the darkness of the Middle Ages.” (Dr. G.W. Leitner; “Muhammadanism “ pp. 17-18) [2]

“Our use of the phrase ‘the dark Ages’ to cover the period from 699 to 1,000 marks our undue concentration on Western Europe ….. From India to Spain, the brilliant civilization of Islam flourished. What was lost to Christendom at this time was not lost to civilization, but quite the contrary …. To us it seems that West-European civilization is civilization: but this is a narrow view.”

(Bertrand Russell: “History of Western Philosophy” London 1948) [3]

“… From a new angle and with a fresh vigour it (the Arab mind) took up that systematic development of positive knowledge which the Greek had begun and relinquished …. Through the Arabs it was and not by the Latin route that the modern world received that gift of light and power.”

(H. G. Wells: “The Outline of History”) [4]

“Europe was darkened at sunset, Cordova shone with public lamps: Europe was dirty, Cordova built a thousand baths: Europe was covered with vermin, Cordova changed its undergarments daily: Europe lay in mud, Cordova’s streets were paved; Europe’s palaces had smoke-holes in the ceiling, Cordova’s arabesques were exquisite; Europe’s nobility could not sign its name, Cordova’s children went to school; Europe’s monks could not read the baptismal service, Cordova’s teachers created a library of Alexandrian dimension.”

(Victor Robinson: “The Story of Medicine”) [5]

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Footnotes:

[1] Perhaps modern scholarship may try to amend these biases, but even so, these observations of the pervasive omission in mentioning Muslims’ contribution to Europe leading to the Renaissance by their previous historians are still valid and remain on record.

[2] quoted by Syed Amir Ali : “The Spirit of Islam”

[3] As quoted by Dr. Muhammad Faz-lur Rahman Ansari : “The Qur’anic foundations and structure of Muslim society” Vol.1)

[4] ibid.

[5] ibid.

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