By: Akhlaq Ahmad Qadri
❖ Summary
- Roger Bacon, the “father of Western science,” was a student of Arabic sciences.
- Muslims preserved and translated Greek texts, laying the foundation for the European Renaissance.
- Arabic vocabulary influenced Western languages, yet Western historians ignore these intellectual debts.
- Columbus and Vasco da Gama’s nautical achievements were only possible through Muslim maritime expertise.
- Ahmad ibn Majid, a renowned Muslim navigator, guided Europeans and authored foundational works in nautical science.
❖ Western Historical Claims vs. Reality
Western thinkers claim their version of history as the only authentic narrative.
Yet they omit that Roger Bacon, a pillar of Western thought, himself urged students to learn Arabic to access true knowledge.
This reflects the depth of Muslim influence on early Western intellectual development.
❖ Muslim Revival of Greek Sciences
While the West hails Greek philosophy and science, it ignores that:
- These texts lay forgotten in ruins of Alexandria, Athens, and Constantinople.
- Muslim scholars recovered and translated them into Arabic.
- These translations fueled the Renaissance, guiding European scholars centuries later.
❖ Arabic Terms in Western Languages
Islamic civilization left a linguistic imprint on Europe:
- “Mirror” from Arabic “mi‘yār”
- “Influenza” from “inzāl al-anf”
- “Admiral” from “Amīr al-Baḥr”
Such terms prove Arabic intellectual influence on modern scientific and navigational language.
❖ Columbus, Vasco da Gama & Islamic Navigation
European achievements like Columbus’s expeditions or Vasco da Gama’s route to India are lauded without mention of Muslim support:
- Columbus’s navigation education came from Islamic institutions.
- He used a Muslim-invented compass.
- Vasco da Gama reached India only through the guidance of Ahmad ibn Majid, a master Muslim navigator.
❖ Ahmad ibn Majid’s Contributions
Acknowledged by both Arab and Portuguese historians, ibn Majid was:
- Known as “Muʿallim al-Kawkab” (Teacher of the Stars) for his celestial navigation skills.
- Author of 38 works covering astronomy, nautical science, and navigation.
- Writer of “Kitāb al-Fawāʾid”, detailing sailing principles of the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea.
- Credited with improving the magnetic compass, though he didn’t invent it.
Even French Orientalist Ferrand admits ibn Majid was the first to formally document modern nautical sciences.
✿ Conclusion
❶ The Western intellectual renaissance relied heavily on Islamic sciences.
❷ Roger Bacon and many others built upon Muslim scholarship.
❸ Muslim contributions in navigation, astronomy, and linguistics were foundational, not incidental.
❹ Muslims must recognize and revive their legacy to challenge false Western historical dominance.
