By: Akhlaq Ahmad Qadri
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.
While the West hails Greek philosophy and science, it ignores that:
Islamic civilization left a linguistic imprint on Europe:
Such terms prove Arabic intellectual influence on modern scientific and navigational language.
European achievements like Columbus’s expeditions or Vasco da Gama’s route to India are lauded without mention of Muslim support:
Acknowledged by both Arab and Portuguese historians, ibn Majid was:
Even French Orientalist Ferrand admits ibn Majid was the first to formally document modern nautical sciences.
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.
❖ 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.
