The Classical Heritage in Islam

The contribution of the Muslim World to a wide range of sciences and academic disciplines is often overlooked or taken for granted. In the troubled and extremist times, when the religion and culture of Islam are under seemingly perpetual attack. It is salutary to consider how much we, living in the Christian West, have in common with, and how much we owe to, the spiritual insights of that great culture. Religious tolerance, respect for learning, the concepts of chivalry and brotherhood – these principles were brought by the Islamic Moors when, in medieval Spain, they acted as “Beacons of Light” in the Dark Ages of European religious arrogance, intolerance and persecution. Western mathematics is based on Arabic numerals and calculations, and the first effective medical school in Europe was founded by Jewish doctors who had been trained in Moorish Spain and North Africa. This book provides a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage within the muslim world and the significant role that Muslims have played in the advancement of knowledge.