❖ Rule of Ptolemy II After Alexander the Great
In the 3rd century BCE, following the era of Alexander the Great, Ptolemy II assumed power over Egypt. Ptolemy was known for his love of knowledge, and it was under his patronage that the renowned Library of Alexandria was established. This grand center of learning housed approximately 500,000 books encompassing a variety of disciplines. It became one of the most significant intellectual institutions in history, famously known as the Library of Alexandria.
❖ Destruction of the Library and False Accusations
The Library of Alexandria was destroyed well before the advent of Islam. Despite this, certain circles attempt to link its destruction to the era of Caliph ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه)—a claim that is contrary to established historical facts.
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1984 Edition), the library existed until the 3rd century CE during Roman rule, after which it was destroyed.
(Reference: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Volume I, Page 227)
❖ Historical Phases of the Library’s Destruction
The destruction of the library occurred in multiple phases:
➊ 47 BCE: The library suffered damage due to a fire caused by Julius Caesar during his military campaign.
➋ 391 CE: During the rise of Christianity, the library was completely burned.
Encyclopaedia Britannica confirms:
“These institutions survived until the main museum and library were destroyed during the civil war of the 3rd century AD; a subsidiary library was burned by Christians in AD 391.”
(Reference: I/479)
❖ Baseless Allegations
Despite the above acknowledgments, the same encyclopedia makes an unfounded connection to Muslims under the section on “Censorship”:
“There are many accounts of the burning, in several stages, of part or all of the library at Alexandria, from the siege of Julius Caesar in 47 BC to its destruction by Christians in AD 391 and by Muslims in 642.”
(Reference: 3/1084)
This statement contradicts other documented entries in the same source. The truth is that Islam is a religion that promotes knowledge and encourages research.
❖ The Allegation of Knowledge-Hatred and the Christian Role
Dr. Philip Hitti, in his book “History of the Arabs”, categorically dismisses the claim that Caliph ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) ordered the burning of the library. He states:
“The story is one of those fables that make good fiction but poor history.”
(Philip K. Hitti, History of the Arabs, London, 1970, p. 166)
❖ Destruction of Libraries by Christians
The destruction of libraries has historical precedent in Christian actions, as illustrated in several key events:
➊ Tripoli, 503 AH: The Christians burned down a library.
➋ Crusades: Libraries in Egypt, Syria, Spain, and other Islamic lands were systematically destroyed.
➌ Spain: After Christian conquest, millions of books were burned.
➍ Tripoli: The library built by Qāḍī Ibn ʿAmmār, containing 100,000 books, was destroyed during the Crusades.
❖ Islamic Civilization and Encouragement of Knowledge
Islam has always championed the cause of knowledge, introducing the world to new realms of research and development. Where ancient philosophers were executed for their inquiries, Muslims freely engaged in scientific exploration and excelled in all branches of knowledge.
