But :
'Scientific research in the Muslim world declined and the intellectual environment became inhospitable to the open and honest exchange of ideas.'
Prosperity and the rise and fall of Islam
Amma Ba'du
I have finish reading your article, its not like what i expected. Also its not
John Perkins that once i had thought, this is John "L" Perkins, not John Perkins.
I found this essay contain lots of unjust tendescies, i can understand if it was writen by an early modern writer like Bentrand Russel, but i cant imagine that kind of writer are still exist until this very sunny bunny day.
The Meaning Of Itjtihad
Ok lets start the discussion.
There is no such thing as Islam forbiding technology research or quest of knowledge. U must know that in Quran the word "ILM" (knowledge) are one of the many word that oftenly repeat. And book of Allah or Kitabullah, put a very a high attention and prestige for those who possess intelegence.
What u see on muslim world today, on variety aspect such like economy, social, technology, etc its a cause of many factor. Also it just appear as a cycle of history, try to think more dialectic, reality and fact are not stable, one can't judge another by his/her condition today, because there was yesterday, and there will be still tomorow. And the cause of our downfall is nothingless and nothing more because we are (the Muslim) being seperated by the book of Allah, but now i sense an awakening among the muslim. This fact are very contrary compare to what John L Perkins had said.
He try to mix closing the door of itjtihad with closing the door of research and intelectual developtment. He twist the meaning intentionally, closing the door of itjtihad in this term are more regarding to internal religious affair that connect with things like fatwa. Closing to itjtihad mean that the door for fatwa that already being fixed by the early muslim or the salaf are not to be change, this statement are for the Muthazillah. Its really un-related issue and he can be consider putting the wrong argument to construct a false understanding and misguiding for noobs Islam learner.
Its appear as an empty bullets to attack the muslim. As it will not hurt the mukmin, and those who have knowledge about Islam.
Leonardo Of Pisa and the quest of founding number
Muslim contribution to the world of science seems to be simplify. He only credit the muslim for contribute world of science in europe by introducing numerical simplification.
Its start when
Leonardo Of Pisa from north Italy, go to the Muslim world to studying math, or Aljabar, and share the knowledge that further will contributing part of europe renaissance by one of his book "
The Book of Calculation" or in the original language is "
Liber Abaci" wrote in 1202.
But he (J. Perkins) not mention about muslim contribution to the world on Chemistry, and in the early time we not call it chemistry but Al-khemi or Alchemy. Further the basic logic of algorism or al-goritma. And we still seeing the trace of it until this very day, as all university bachelor are being call Alumni, from the word "Al-Alim" or The-man of knowledge.
If i mention the list still goes on, and this post are began to tiring to read, it expand from post to essay and essay to article but i wont let that happen.
What if i tell u, there are those who try to burry the muslim magnificient contribution to put the very foundation of knowledge now adays?
I can show you tons of evidence, but let me tell u the most common one, one that u can found even on your bbc knowledge because this fact cant being avoid or cover anymore, as it now clear being reveal and exposed.
Once upon The Time in 1950 : Copernicus Plagiarism
In 1950, several scholars, including Otto Neugebauer, of Brown University; Edward Kennedy, of the American University of Beirut; Noel Swerdlow, of the University of Chicago; and George Saliba, of Columbia University, reexamined Copernicus's mathematics.
They found that to revolutionize astronomy Copernicus needed two theorems not developed by the ancient Greeks. Neugebauer pondered this problem: did Copernicus construct these theorems himself or did he borrow them from some non-Greek culture? Meanwhile, Kennedy, working in Beirut, discovered astronomical papers written in Arabic and dated before A.D. 1350. The documents contained unfamiliar geometry. While visiting the United States, he showed them to Neugebauer.
Neugebauer recognized the documents' significance immediately. They contained geometry identical to Copernicus's model for lunar motion. Kennedy's text was written by the Damascene astronomer Ibn al-Shatir, who died in 1375. His work contained, among other things, a theorem employed by Copernicus that was originally devised by another Islamic astronomer, Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, who lived some three hundred years before Copernicus.
Thinking and Islam
I notice, uncle Frank, said something like "put our thinking caps" remind me of Edward De Bono, i remember, there are one of my relative, seeing Edward De Bono ask, "can everyone provide me, how many counts the word of thinking mention in Quran?" no answer. If someone answer it, then the number will be abundance. Thinking is a work of deed in Quran, and its mention and massively repeat quantation, with many word, it can "hijr", it can be "aql", it can be "tafakur", Quran describe thinking in many words with form, variation, type and meaning. This is a religion for those who think, how can be this such religion forbid research activity, this is a fraud claim. It contradict reality.
But bruno, i do enjoy my discussion with u, and Hezam said the right things, europe encounter the economical depression by quest to the east, establisihing the concept of imperialism which is "gold, glory and gospel"
Reading The Quran to know Better
as a closure, allow me to quote Quran ayah 189-191 are picturing how contemplation, deep thought and thinking are ibadah or form of good deeds in Islam, while i cant find recitation only recording to that ayah, but i found recitation on 189-195 in Ali Imran. So i add further translation if everyone want to know the meaning, if it seems unworthy, freely no need to read it. i do pray everyone of us take benefit from every muslim post in this forum :
Ali Imran-click to hear how it recite.
189. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heaven and the earth, and Allah have power over all things.
190. Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.
191. Those who remember Allah standing, sitting and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying) : "Our Lord! You have not created this without purpose, glory to You. Give us salvation from the torment of the fire.
192. Our Lord! Verily, whom you admit to the fire, indeed, you have disgraced him and never wil the zalimun (wrong doers) find any helpers.
193. Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one calling to faith : 'believe in your Lord, and we have believed. Our Lord! forgive us our sins and remit from us our evil deeds, and make us die in the state of the righteousness along with Al-Abrar.
194. Our Lord grants us what you promised unto us through your messenger and disgrace us not on the day of resuccrection, for you never break promise.
195. So their Lord accepted of them, "never will i allow to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female. You are (members) one of another, so those who emirgrated and were driven out from their homes and suffered harm in My cause, and who fought and were killed, verily, i will remit from them their evil deeds and admit them in the gardens under which rivers flows (paradise) a reward from Allah, and Allah is the best of rewards.
rayer and pilgrimage and Umrah charity Zakat and helping the needy, not lying, not arrogance and respect the old man and compassion for young children, and lack of perjury and not to talk about someone from our friends unless it was with us(if you will say something bad about him) and not lying, and also of the beautiful things that Muslims should not do it , not sleep fill your belly and your neighbor hungry , all this things muslims should do it , and no one can say it's wrong , let them do what they want , cuz they have to do what they want , like the prostitutes do what they want (of course they're a big difference).
