Regular
readers know that I lift weights with two other guys. I call us the Three Muscleteers,
although their testosterone toned strength turns heads while I am a 199-pound weakling, a Charles Atlas reject. Nonetheless I like
the name (even though no one laughs at the witty expression except me) so I’ve stuck with it.
Being
very proud of the long hours of research I put in on A Brief History of Islam I sent
the link to the two muscleteers. The next day as the three of us drove to the
Weight Club neither mentioned receiving the blog. Finally I asked what
they thought about the entry expecting to get praise for a fantastic, very, very
smart summary (maybe I’ve been watching Donald Trump too much).
Instead
Michael said he thought the writing reflected a Christian perspective. “Christian
perspective!” I yelled, going into a harangue about how the blog epitomized
factual reporting, contained no inflammatory remarks, and showed no bias in the
hot spot Middle East section.
“What
did you think Mike?” I asked the brawny other half sitting in the back seat.
“Well
John sometimes we can’t comprehend our prejudices," Mike replied while I sat stupefied by the unexpected comments.
That
night I reconsidered. After all I am a Christian and I know that the grace of Jesus
Christ offers love, joy, peace and salvation. So I am biased.
After admitting my predilection to prejudice I
began to contemplate Islam's contributions to civilization.
Here, then, out of respect for the muscleteers I bring you the rest of the story.
Following
the death of Mohammad a great wave of Islamic expansion swept over Asia,
Africa and Europe. When Muhammad died
in 632 Islam's authority extended over little more than one-third the Arabian
Peninsula. Within a hundred years of
Muhammad’s death Islam dominated half of the civilized world.
The conquerors were lenient. Jews and Christians permitted to retain their
own beliefs and customs lived unmolested in the Islamic empire for centuries.
Islamic
culture left a splendid legacy of
original discoveries and achievements:
- Astronomy, mathematics, physics, chemistry and medicine advanced under
Islam.
- Europe adapted the Arabic system
of numerals.
- Muslims expanded algebra and trigonometry beyond
Hellenistic times.
- They developed optics and the compass.
- Muslims found uses for alum,
borax, sulfuric acid and sodium carbonate.
- Muslims made paper.
- They developed the art of
weaving pile carpeting and rugs and making brocaded silks and tapestries.
- Muslims inlaid metal work, enameled glassware
and painted pottery.
- They improved
farming techniques, terraced slopes and irrigated barren land.
- They produced cotton, flax, silk, rice,
wheat, spinach, asparagus, apricots, peaches, olives, banana, coffee and
oranges.
- The
songs of the troubadours and love poetry of medieval France were directly
inspired by Muslim writings.
- The Book of the Arabian Nights influenced
Boccaccio and Chaucer.
- The medical writings of Avicenna became the
authoritative work in Europe until the late seventeenth century.
- Medical progress included the description of
smallpox, tuberculosis, stomach cancer, eye infections, pleurisy and a variety
of nervous conditions.
- The spread of disease through contamination of water and soil were
described.
- Under the Muslims commerce
and manufacturing grew to an extraordinary degree.
- Muslims developed checks, receipts, bills of
lading, letters of credit, trade associations and stock companies.
- They developed domes, minarets, horseshoe
arches and built magnificent cities.
One final note: Every night I pray for the radical Islamic terrorist: “Lord please forgive the terrorist and open their hearts to receive your grace.” This petition presents difficulties for me but it follows Christ’s command to forgive our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
