[1].
The first effect of Islam on astronomy was the adoption of the lunar calendar for Islamic history which starts on 15 July 622. In more than one verse, the Qur'an urges Muslims to study astronomy. For practical purposes also Islam had a great influence on the development of this science when astronomers worked actively in compiling astronomical tables and in determining the direction of al-qibla from various geographical locations.[2]
12/633, Abu Bakr asked Zayd b. Thâbit to collect the Qur'ân and to record it, and in 30/650-651
The most prominent Arab physician during the Prophet's period and during Abu Bakr's caliphate was al-Harith b. Kalada, who was called the Physician of the Arabs. It is reported that he died in 11-13/632-634. It seems that al-Harith studied medicine in Jundishapur and he was familiar with medical books either in Greek or Syriac or both. Some reports claim that al-Nadar b. al-Harith b. Kalada succeeded his father as a physician.[3]
'Umar ibn al-Khattab built the cities of Basra in 16/637 and Kufa in 17/638 as city camps for the Islamic armies.
These developed and grew until they became great cities which influenced profoundly the political and cultural history of Islam.
'Umar appointed Abu Musa al-Ash'ari as the first governor. Al-Ash'ari governed during the period 17-29/638-650. He began building two important canals linking Basra with the Tigris River.
'Umar also built in Egypt the city of Fustat in 21/641-642. During the time of the Umayyads, `Uqba ibn Nafi' built al-Qayrawan in North Africa in 50/670 during Mu'awiya's caliphate.
Abu al-Aswad al-Du'ali (fl. 89/688) was the first to lay the foundations of this science (Arabic grammar) in Basra.
The Kunnash was translated during the reign of Marwan ibn al-Hakam, 64/784 – 65/685. Another prominent physician from Basra was Masarjawayh, who was a Jew from Persia. He translated from Syriac into Arabic a medical book written originally in Greek by Ahron (or Ahren). It is possible that this was the earliest translation into Arabic of a medical work that had a Greek origin. The Arabic title is al-Kunnashwhich means in Syriac ' a medical summary'. This book contained thirty chapters. The author Ahren lived in Alexandria during the reign of Hiraql (Heraclius) in the period 610-641.[4]
The construction of the Dome of the Rock was started by 'Abd al-Malik in 68/687 and was completed in 72/691.
Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan decided to mint the Arabic dinar and to liberate the economy from dependence on the Byzantine dinar and on the Persian one. This took place in 76/695 following the Arabization of government records. This financial reform had far-reaching consequences and it is considered one of the major achievements of the Umayyads. The Islamic gold dinar abolished the Byzantines' monopoly of golden currency. The economy of the Islamic countries was thus liberated and a new era of Islamic financial supremacy on the international scene was established. The appearance of the Islamic gold dinar and the silver dirham implied the adoption of elaborate measures in the mining of gold and silver and in strict and effective controls of the mint and of the circulation of coins.
The construction of the Great Mosque in Damascus was started in 87/705 by al-Walid and it was completed in 97/715.
It is important to mention in this brief survey that the Umayyads established the first hospitals in Islam. The first proper hospital was established by al-Walid ibn 'Abd al-Malik (d. 96/715). In this hospital patients affected with leprosy were isolated in special quarters and received special care.[5]
Al-Hajjaj b. Yusuf al-Thaqafi (d. 96/714) was instrumental in developing the school of Basra
Al-Hajjaj was particularly active in constructing irrigation works and the later governors followed his policy.
One of the Umayyad caliphs, Yazid ibn Mu'awiya, was so interested in irrigation projects that he was called al-Muhandis, `the Engineer'. In addition to his interest in the irrigation works in Iraq he improved the water distribution canals of the Barada River in Damascus. One of these canals, Nahr Yazid or the Yazid River, still carries the name of that Umayyad caliph in commemoration of his great service.
Sulayman ibn 'Abd al-Malik (97-100/715-718), built al-Ramla in Palestine, and al-Hajjà j built Wasit in Iraq.
Among the physicians of this period also was `Abd al-Malik ibn Abjar al-Kinani, who was teaching medicine in Alexandria, and was a physician to `Umar ibn `Abd al-`Aziz when the latter was governor of Egypt. When `Umar became caliph, he invited him to move to Syria, and thus the teaching of medicine moved to Antioch.[6]
Abu Hanifa al-Nu'man, who was born in Kufa in 81/700 and died in Medina in 151/768. He is the founder of the Hanifite School of jurisprudence, whose grandfather was a Persian
Al-Khalil b. Ahmad (d. 170/786), another scholar from Basra, compiled al-'Ayn, which was the first dictionary in the Arabic language.
His pupil Sibawayh (d. 179/795), who was of Persian origin, wrote the first systematic presentation of Arabic grammar in al-Kitab
Astronomy and astrology
[1] “The beginning of Arabic and Religious Sciences”, History of Science and Technology in Islam, http://www.history-science-technology.com/Articles/articles%2012.htm, 19 April 2011.
[2] “Astronomy and Astrology”, History of Science and Technology in Islam, http://www.history-science-technology.com/Articles/articles%2012.htm, 19 April 2011.
[3] “Medicine”, History of Science and Technology in Islam, http://www.history-science-technology.com/Articles/articles%2012.htm, 19 April 2011.
[4] “Medicine”, History of Science and Technology in Islam, http://www.history-science-technology.com/Articles/articles%2012.htm, 19 April 2011.
[5] “The First Hospital in Islam”, History of Science and Technology in Islam, http://www.history-science-technology.com/Articles/articles%2012.htm, 19 April 2011.
[6] “Medicine”, History of Science and Technology in Islam, http://www.history-science-technology.com/Articles/articles%2012.htm, 19 April 2011. Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umar_ibn_Abd_al-Aziz, 19 April 2011
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