Muslim Heritage In Our Homes - introduced by HM Queen Rania

Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan introduces us to the underappreciated wealth of Muslim Heritage that exists all around us in our everyday lives.

Historian Bettany Hughes tells us how coffee, crystal glasses, fine dining, carpets, spectacles, fountain pens, the distillation of perfume, soap, deoderants, hand creams, mouthwashes, teeth bleaching, sun tan lotions, and many other cultural and scientific achievements came to us from Muslim civilisation.

Discoveries made from the 7th to 17th centuries by multi-faith scientists in Muslim civilisation have had a huge but hidden influence on the modern world.

Knowledge from Assyrian, Babylonian, Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Indian, Persian and Roman civilisations was highly prized in the Muslim world.

Men and women scholars advanced science by building upon the ancients and making breakthroughs that paved the way for the European Renaissance.

This Golden Age of Discovery in the Muslim World (southern Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia and to China) took place during the so-called Dark Ages of Europe.

Muslim civilisation promoted free-thinking, rationalism and tolerance. Many scholars expressed their faith by seeking to serve society and improve quality of life for others.

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Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• 1001 Inventions
• Queen Rania of Jordan
• Muslim Heritage
• Muslim Civilisation
• Science
• Technology
• Culture
• History

[liam196501]

The heritage Bettany refers to are not dependant on religion but on culture. Religion may be a component of it - but it is not it.

[1001Inventions]

@liam196501

Liam you are correct that "Muslim Heritage" pertaining to science and technology is not necessarily a religious heritage. And there were many different scientists, scholars, mathematicians, physicians and inventors living within the Muslim world who played a key role in the success of the scientific advancement that took place in what is known as the "Muslim Golden Age".

Our project works hard to make this point clear. Sadly it isn't always reflected in the media coverage we get.

[4eversomalia]

we are people who even don't remember better thier past.

long live my muslim brothers and sisters

[hydromalik]

Allahu Akbar - God is Great

[Tarapsa]

@fugue137 Freedom is the catalyst for creativity. Governments in the Arab world have since the times of the Ottoman Empire been very repressive, which hinders arts and science. It is only until recently that some governments in the Muslim world are beginning to respect peoples individual freedoms and encourage research, science and art e.g. like some of the GCC countries today. That's how it goes, look at the Roman and Greek world, they have also declined from the peak.

[fugue137]

Muslim (or Arab) civilisation was the pinnacle of culture and learning 700 years ago. What happened since then? What proportion of Nobel science laureates are Muslim? Why? Do we blame Al Ghazali? It could be noted that the proportion of Nobel science laureates who are Christian is also rather small, but most of them come from Judeochristian cultures. Why? What can be done about it? How, in general, does one plummet from such pinnacles of greatness into a dark age? How does one come back?

[rlinfinity]

Fascinating...