describe the contribution of Muslim in the field of science

 

Introduction

 

It were the muslims who were the leaders of scientific thought in the world for several centuries were known for the freedom of scientific thinking practiced by them for long. Their contribution to science and arts is so vast and rasied that occupied all the aspects of knowledge deeply Botany, the scientific study of plants and their structures are also included in this works.    Early Muslim scientists, specially the botanist did a remarkable deed in the field of botany. They were very keen observers of nature. They went out to the field and observed plants of flowers. These observation became the foundation of a number of history original , now a days which is very important to a student of botany and the nature. In this essay, I shall try to describe the contribution of Muslim in the field of Botany.  Inspiration for the Muslims:- In the pursuit of knowledge Muslims get inspired various sources such as-

 

1.1.    Al-Quran

2.2.    AL-Hadith

3.3.    Rituals of Islam

4.4.   Patronage of the Muslim Calips.

In Botany, these sources also inspired the Muslims to go ahead. Specially,Al-Quran was the great source of influence about it. These are no less than 88 verses in the Holy Quran about the plants and plant organs. This Holy book also draw the attention to phenomena like- Germination

 

Relation of water cycle to fruit

 

 Sex in plants

 

Some verses related to botanical matter are given below: Beginning of the botanical Study:  We find many categories of people intireated in plants: For instance Lexicographers: Agriculturists

 

Biologists

 

Medical

 

Student of plant science

 

Student of foresty etc

 

But earliest of them among Muslims to be interested in Botany were the commentators of the Quran. Because, in this Holy Book, we find many verses related to this field.     According to the Holy Quran, when the first man Adam was created, plants were already in existence. Allah allowed Adam to profit by everything in the paradise excepting a certain tree. Al-Quran says, (2:35) Further, when Adam and his Wife Eve got conscious of their nakedness in their natural state, it  the leaves of tress with which they covered their bodies as a short dress. (7:22) In this regard the commentators of Quran give more has detailed description of the plants mentine in the text. Such an early author/commentator was Ibn Abbas, a companion and cousin of the Holy Prophet (SM). Who explained their verses of Al-Quran- (36:80) Ibne Abbas explains it by saying:    It refers to the markh and afar trees which grow in the Hijaj. It is a leafless bush that grows in the Arabian deserts. When one wants to light a fire and has no field available, he takes two green branches of these trees and  one against the other (with sand in between) and it produced spark just like the    Thus we see the study of botany began from the early period of Islam deter on, in medieval age, muslim scientists give emphasis on its advancement. Contribution of Muslim to the field of botany

 

 8Th Century

 

This century was the golden age of Muslim Scientists. So we can easily guess that the study of botany formed a modern structure in that age. The most Popular botany of this age was Jabir Bin Hayyan, though he was known as Chemist, but as a botanist his work was remarkable. On botany he worte-

 

Ilm an-Nabat (knowledge of plants)

 

 Kitab al-Fillahah

 

9Th Century

 

The ninth Century was essentially of Muslim activities in all sphere of science. They dominated in the sphere of biology and botany. In the second half og the 9th Century the scientists views on botanical matters may be found in the literary historical complications written by the Muslim in Arabic. Some of the greatest botanists of that age were: Al-Dinawari

 

Abu Zaid O ansari (Basra)

 

 Ibn As-Sikkat (Kufa) Said al-Asmai

 

 Ali Ibn Rabban al Tabari

 

10Th Century

 

 In this century, Muslim botany takes a new trends. It gives the emphasis on medicine related works. In this age medical works in Arabic also begun to appear with important sections on plants their medical properties. The renoned botanists of age were: Al-Razi

 

Ibn

 

Jul Ali-Ibn Abbas

 

11Th Century

 

There is nothing exceptional in this century. This time the botanists contained the course of the previous ages. Among the botanists of this line the famous were Ibn Sina

 

Ibn

 

Al Biruni

 

12th-13Th Century

 

 In 12th-13th Centuries the contribution of Muslims in the botany covers a wide range of topics in palnt sciences. In this field they gave importance on herbalistic section.The Botanists of this age were Ibn Bajjah

 

Al-Ghafiqi 

 

Ibn Al-Suri

 

Ibn al-Baitar.

 

Modern Age

 

After the 13th Century will now Muslims contribution to botany, even in another science are worn words. There is no pure fundamental works in their ages. The botanists of these time were totally depend upon the works of medical ages. They translated it into various languages. And research through their works of Muslim botanists of medieval ages. It is a matter of sorrow that, the Muslims of present world are not yet interested in the field of science and technology. So we the, Muslim of present world, should be aware of it and bring the history of medieval age in this millennium.

 

Al-Dinawari (815/825-895)

 

Al dinawary born at Dinawar in Iraq, was a well known Persian scholar, a historian, a mathematician, an astronomer, a medical man and a geographer, besides being a botanist.

 

He has complied a huge encyclopedia of Botany in six volumes. His plan was to deal with as many different topics of botanical interest as possible under various chapters followed by an annotated alphabetical lists of plants. The described matter of this encyclopedia are as following:

 

◾In all there are description of 1120 plants.

◾ Water is indispensables for plants to like no wonder that he hegins by speaking of sky, sun, moon, cloud, winds, rain etc.

◾On earth he will speak of mountains, rivers, lakes, valleys, deserts, soils of different qualities.

◾He also described-

1.Life history of plants

2.Their growth

3.Production of flowers

4.Fruits

5.Growth places

6.Agriculture

7.Horiculture

8.Ploughing

9.Irrigation

10.  Harvesting etc.   

 

Al-Biruni (973-1050) Al-Biruni was born at khwarijm (was known as Khira) in central asia. He was a versatile scholar. His contribution to botany is remarkable. • The momnetal contribution of al-iruni in his “Kitab al Saydanah fi al-Tibb, (The book of pharmacy in the healing art) This book is a piece of collection and treasure of Hindi, Sindhi, Sigzi, Zubili, Tirmidhi and khawarazmian equiratemts as well as synonyms in other dialects that are no longer extant. • Another remarkable scientific works of Al-Biruni is related to a plant called Alhagi Mourorum (Camel thorn).  • He also wrote a complete dictionary on herbal drugs, In this book he described man herbs as medicine. • His remarkable observation on to number of petals as 3,4,5,6 or 8 but never 7 or 9 is very important till this modern age. IBN Al-SURI (1777/78-1242) Ibn Ak-Suri was one of the most original Muslim botanists who herborijed conderebly in the country around Damascus and travelled extensively to explore the Lebanon range to discover and collect plants. During his botanical travels he was accomplished by his colleague. He wrote a treatise on herbal medicine Al-adwiya al Mim frada An-Nabati (1165/1171-72-1239) Abdul Abbas was one of the greatest botanists among Muslims. His interest in plants was not simply for medical purpose but for their own sake which was nearly a remarkable attitude in field of botany, especially in an era in which pure botany was inconceivable. It may be pointed out that he may be regarded as a pioneer in the study of plants as a separate discipline of science. • He studied plants growing along the shores of the Red Sea and described some plants for the first time. • On botany, he wrote a famous book-Kitab al-Rihaha • Two other books which are described to him are: 1. Explanations of the names of herbal simples mentioned in D 2. A treatise on the composition of drugs. Al-Ishabili Abu Zakaria Yhya Ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmed ibn al dwwam al- ishbili was an Hispano, Muslim botanists and agriculturalist. His treatise on botany agriculture. Kitab al Falah is not only the most important Muslim contribution but also the outstanding medieval work on the subject. • The book is divided into thirty four chapters out of which all excepting the last four, deal exclusively with agriculture and botany. • This treatise deals with 585 palnts. • He explained the methods of more than fifty different kinds fruit trees. • He described many diseases of trees and • He also talked about their method of Ibn al-Baitar (end of 12th Century-1248) Ibn Al-Baitar is regarded as the greatest of the Muslim botanist of the middle ages. He travelled many countries in search of plants/. • The most important of his contributions as a herbalist is the work on the collection of medical plants namely Kitab-al-Jami-fil Adwiya al Mufrada. Al least, 1400 different items of drugs and various species used as food are dealt with this important work. In this book his deals with plants, drugs and food is not only methodical and a account but also contains a number of personal observations. • The other noted work of Ibn Al-Baitar is “Kitab al-Munghi gil adwiya al Mufarada.” It is mostly a medicine and divided into 20 chapters. • Ibn Baitan also paid considerable attention to the synonyms of plants Local names in Arabic, Greek and sometimes also in Latin and Arabic dialects of Spain, in Persian and Berber Language. Al-Rasuli Al-Abbas al-Rasuli, a famous Muslim botanist and agriculturist wrote a remarkable work named-

 

This Important book is divided into seventeen chapters as follows

 

1.Soil                                                                  2. Fertilizer                                                      3. Water

4. Amelioration of Land                                         5. Seasons                                                    

 

6. Growing from seeds including the granis of sorghum, barley,milluts rice etc

 

7. Pulse including chick peas, Lentils, mango beem, femug reek.

 

8. Cirurbits (melons, vegetable,marrow etc) brinijal or egg.

 

9. Spices                                                                           10. Perfumes

 

 

 

Al-Qurshi

 

Abother important botanist among the Muslims was al –Qurshi. He wrote a marvelous book botany and agriculture named . It contains of the following eight chapters.

 

1.Various kinds of soil

2.Watering, digging of canals and wells and raking out of water

3.Trees and tress plantation

4. Various method of plantaion

5.Seeds and grains, their selection, sowing and cutting.

6.Various types of flowers etc.

Botanical Gardens during Muslim Civilization we saw many gardens around the whole Muslim world I medieval ages. These gardens are not only a place of relation and enjoyment but us at the same time endowed with spiritual and symbolic qualities. It proved the interests of Muslims in the field of botanical science. Some of the famous gardens were-

 

Iranian Gardens

 

The principal elements that are consistently formed in the Iranian gardens are:

 

1.Centrally placed water source of irrigation, cooling and moistening the air.

2.Clearly defined canals interesting the garden.

3.Flowers such as rose that give both colors and scent.

4.Trees that bear fruit and simply provide shade

5.Fountains with trickling water to  sound.

It may be mentioned that, lilacs, lilies. Irise, marigold, tulips, narcissus, jasmine, carnation, cyclamen, daffodils, violets, larkspurs and poppies were very common in that Iranian Gardens.

 

Gardens of the Moorish in Spain

 

The early hardens of Spain reflected the Muslim tradition of science, geometry, symmetry and order. The government of Spain were very profound and regarded that the rulers of Spain introduced plants into Spain from India, Turkestan, Iran, and Syria.

 

One of the best gardens of Spain was Jannut-ul-RAif (the impostors paradise), which was proverbial for its extensive shades, falling waters, soft breeze and various types of plants and flowers.

 

Gardens of North Africa and Cicely

 

In this region, the gardens in Islamic traditions first approved in the ninth century. They were two categories:

 

1.The larger garden of the wealthy which were geometrically laid out in a series of squares that were irrigated successfully. In this garden, followers were chosen for their fragrance rather than their appearance. These were a few selected tress like oranges, lemons, mandarins, figs, aplles, pears, plums, pomegranates, spricots and bananas.

2.The second category of gardens was town patios and public garden with paths coossing at angles, their intersection being marked by apakilion   of fountain.

3.