Whether it is the toothbrush we use first thing in the morning or the cup of coffee we need to rejuvenate ourselves to get ready for work or the clock we see to know the time, there are several things we use daily that were created by Muslims, however, only a few of us are aware of the genius minds behind it.
Historically, the era which is termed as Dark Age in the accounts of European historians was in fact a Golden Age of Islam where the regions were flourishing culturally and economically. The minds belonging to this period of the Abbasid Caliphate were far ahead of their time and created things that we use even today.
From Algebra to Hospitals, Muslims have invented things that have significantly helped model our world in the present time. Here are the 10 things invented by Muslims-
1. Surgery
Also called the Father of Modern Surgery, Al Zahrawi, sometimes referred to as Albucasis, was one of the greatest surgeons in the history of medical sciences.
Born near Cordoba, located in the middle of Andalusia, Spain, Al Zahrawi published a 1500 pages long encyclopaedia that was used by the doctors in Europe for the next hundreds of years. It is also believed that he performed the first caesarean operation. He also invented several medical equipment, being the creator of more than 200 surgical tools. Some of his tools like forceps, scalpels and bone saws are still used in modern-day surgeries.
Among his numerous inventions in the medical field, he accidentally found out that catgut dissolves naturally when used for internal stitches.
2. Coffee
The cup of coffee you need to revive your spirit for the day has a parallel story for its root. It is believed that the first cup was brewed in Yemen during the ninth century however historical connections indicated the use of coffee in the mid-fifteenth century. Records have shown that by the sixteenth century, coffee was known in Turkey, Persia, and Syria.
After this, coffee was introduced in Cairo by a group of students and soon it scattered in the whole empire. Currently, it is the second-most traded goods, falling only behind petrol.
Coffee was initially made for the Sufis of that time who had to be awake for the entire night to pray and devote themselves in the remembrance of God.
It was much later, probably in the sixteenth century, that the coffee beans reached Europe, all thanks to a trader from Venice who brought it to Italy.
3. Algebra
Probably one of the most important contributions in the field of Mathematics belongs to Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi , whose Latin name is “Algorithmi.”
Yes, the word algorithm is derived from the Latinised name of this 9th century mathematician. He also created the system of algorithms, due to which he is also titled as “Grandfather of Computer Science.”
Al-Khwarizmi was the first person to introduce the concept of raising a number to a power. His findings also benefited to discover the solutions of rules of inheritance, salary distribution and land distribution.
4. University
The world’s first university wasn’t the University of Bologna or University of Oxford, as it is popularly believed. It was the University of al-Qarawiyyin established in Morocco by a woman determined to enhance the intellectual process of her community. She was Fatima al-Fihri, a firm believer and a devoted Muslim, and a young princess in Fez.
Islam has given importance to acquiring knowledge. In fact, the first word revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was “Iqra” which literally translates to read.
The university was founded in 859 almost 150 years before the next university in Italy would be established.
5. Hospitals
Although there are traces of basic hospitals installed in the region of Baghdad, the first proper hospital with wards, nurses and doctors was established during the rule of the Tulunid Dynasty. For the same, this hospital was named as Ahmad ibn Tulun Hospital and was founded in Cairo during the 870s.
Following the traditions of Islam to look after the sick people, Tulun Hospital provided free medical assistance to anyone who were in need. Similar medical centres started developing in the Muslim world leading to the beginning of Hospitals.
6. Clocks
The clock that we use today to be on time had their invention story for similar purposes. A genius engineer, Al-Jazari, from Diyarbakir in Turkey was the brain behind the invention of clocks. He formulated various clocks in different shapes and sizes.
This invention was necessary for Muslims of that time because they offer their daily prayers, five times a day, according to the time. So, the development of clocks helped generations of Muslims to come after to offer their prayers at the right time.
