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العلم و الإسلام
Between the 8th and 15th centuries, scholars and researchers working from Samarkand in modern-day Uzbekistan to Cordoba in Spain advanced our knowledge of astronomy, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, medicine and philosophy to new heights. It was Musa al-Khwarizmi, for instance, who developed algebra in 9th century Baghdad, drawing on work by mathematicians in India; al-Jazari, a Turkish engineer of the 13th century whose achievements include the crank, the camshaft, and the reciprocating piston; ibn Sina, whose textbook Canon of Medicine was a standard work in Europe's universities until the 1600s. These scientists were part of a sophisticated culture and civilization that was based on belief in God - a picture which helps to scotch the myth of the 'Dark Ages' in which scientific advance faltered. Science writer Ehsan Masood weaves the story of these and other scientists into a compelling narrative, taking the reader on a journey through the Islamic empires of the middle ages, the cultural and religious circumstances that made this revolution possible, and its contribution to science in Western Europe. He unpacks the debates between scientists, philosophers and theologians on the nature of physical reality and limits to human reason, and explores the many reasons for the eventual decline of advanced science and learning in the Arabic-speaking world. This eye-opening, enjoyable book, which complements and builds on the BBC television series, should be essential reading for anyone keen to explore science's hidden history and its contribution to the making of the modern world.
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First published May 15, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
May 24, 2020
"If science is to return to the nations of Islam, it must do so without interfering in people's freedom to believe."
As a history buff, I really loved this book! Short and simple yet so detailed! It's an easy reads as well for someone who rarely reads non fictions.
I loved reading about Islamic history and I would totally recommend this book!
It's not only revolved around Science in Islam, but it also talked about how religions, politics, wars affected scientific revolution. It started from the birth of our Prophet Muhammad S.A.W and still hasn't end yet because you know, we are still evolving. Reading this made me excited to further my studies one day and hoping one day to contribute in bringing back the Islamic Golden Age.
As a history buff, I really loved this book! Short and simple yet so detailed! It's an easy reads as well for someone who rarely reads non fictions.
I loved reading about Islamic history and I would totally recommend this book!
It's not only revolved around Science in Islam, but it also talked about how religions, politics, wars affected scientific revolution. It started from the birth of our Prophet Muhammad S.A.W and still hasn't end yet because you know, we are still evolving. Reading this made me excited to further my studies one day and hoping one day to contribute in bringing back the Islamic Golden Age.
July 26, 2012
Ehsan Masood (Twitter) produced a BBC documentary on Islam and science. This book is its companion. It's excellent as a survey introduction to this topic in the history of science. It discusses multiple causes of historical phenomenon and the predominant historiography and its dissenters.
As in any work of history presented to the public, the academic academician, or even the humble ABD history student such as myself, can find weaknesses. But the wider public is not reading and watching our fascinating works, so maybe we can cut people like Ehsan Masood and Henry Louis Gates, Jr (Ali Mazrui's series on African history is better) and Neil deGrasse Tyson a break if they slip up now and again. Hopefully, the public intellectual strives to be like Carl Sagan and not Thomas Friedman, who can no doubt answer all of your questions.
The writing style is simple. The only references are listed as a bibliography at the end of the book.
Most readers will come away from the book thinking that, based on Muslims' past acceptance of the validity of scientific work, especially when it supported religiously-mandated activities such as determining prayer times or healing the sick or approved secular activities such as improving quality of life through applied technology in chemistry and horticulture, and their past tolerance of non-Muslims and non-orthodox Muslims, Muslims can participate in the global scientific enterprise. Their history of coercive pre- and early modern monarchies and colonial administrations has placed some stumbling blocks in their path, primarily mass suspicion of the science class, so to speak, as an arm of the state. The few who want more will simply need to follow up on the clues Dr. Ehsan has left for them to follow.
I personally think the bigger problem facing Muslim-majority society's participation in scientific production is the lack of infrastructure to support modern science (see this article for a description of how medical research might take place in a clinical setting), which is no longer a matter of one brilliant individual with enough time and energy to conduct his/her own experiments.
Brain drain is a serious problem. Mills et al estimated that nine sub-Saharan African countries lost more than 2 billion USD of investment through the emigration of trained doctors. This investment equates to subsidizing medicine in the developed nations to which they immigrated.
Based on the number of doctors working from the nine source countries and the average cost of medical education in these countries, this equals a saving of at least $621m for Australia, $384m for Canada, $2.7bn for the United Kingdom, and $846m for the United States; $4.55bn in total.
The World Health Organization has adopted the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel, but implementation is not widespread (see Norway's effort).
Muslims are participating in the global scientific enterprise (my guess again is in applied science), as evidenced by searches in PubMed, the National Library of Medicine's indexing service of peer-reviewed biomedical publications. See articles where the first author's last name begins with Abdul (350 as of 2012-Jul-26), Abdel (299), and Abdal (156).* Or Moham (679), Muham (68), Ahmad (845), and so on. They're just not participating, for the most part, in institutions in Muslim-majority countries.
And to whip out a Tom Friedman-like anecdote on you, I remember in 1988 or 1989 meeting in Cairo an Egyptian who studied physics in the Soviet Union. He told me how frustrated he was at not being able to do physics in Egypt because there was no institutional backing and lack of equipment.
Brain drain is simply one of the obstacles world systems theory predicts developing nations have to face.
I don't remember Ehsan Masood dealing with these types problems at all in his book.
Review my other blog entries related to science, particularly my reviews of Taner Edis's book Illusion of Harmony: Science and Religion in Islam and George Saliba's Islamic Science and the Making of the European Renaissance. I also liked a volume Ehsan Masood edited about how people are adapting to their arid climates.
On another note, no Georgia public library participating in the PINES system had the book, so I had to request it using my public library's Interlibrary Loan process. This cost me $8.65. Certainly this kind of book is appropriate for public libraries. Why doesn't my library carry this book?
*Christian Arabs have names like Abdulla and Abdelmasih, so some of these authors are certainly not Muslims.
As in any work of history presented to the public, the academic academician, or even the humble ABD history student such as myself, can find weaknesses. But the wider public is not reading and watching our fascinating works, so maybe we can cut people like Ehsan Masood and Henry Louis Gates, Jr (Ali Mazrui's series on African history is better) and Neil deGrasse Tyson a break if they slip up now and again. Hopefully, the public intellectual strives to be like Carl Sagan and not Thomas Friedman, who can no doubt answer all of your questions.
The writing style is simple. The only references are listed as a bibliography at the end of the book.
Most readers will come away from the book thinking that, based on Muslims' past acceptance of the validity of scientific work, especially when it supported religiously-mandated activities such as determining prayer times or healing the sick or approved secular activities such as improving quality of life through applied technology in chemistry and horticulture, and their past tolerance of non-Muslims and non-orthodox Muslims, Muslims can participate in the global scientific enterprise. Their history of coercive pre- and early modern monarchies and colonial administrations has placed some stumbling blocks in their path, primarily mass suspicion of the science class, so to speak, as an arm of the state. The few who want more will simply need to follow up on the clues Dr. Ehsan has left for them to follow.
I personally think the bigger problem facing Muslim-majority society's participation in scientific production is the lack of infrastructure to support modern science (see this article for a description of how medical research might take place in a clinical setting), which is no longer a matter of one brilliant individual with enough time and energy to conduct his/her own experiments.
Brain drain is a serious problem. Mills et al estimated that nine sub-Saharan African countries lost more than 2 billion USD of investment through the emigration of trained doctors. This investment equates to subsidizing medicine in the developed nations to which they immigrated.
Based on the number of doctors working from the nine source countries and the average cost of medical education in these countries, this equals a saving of at least $621m for Australia, $384m for Canada, $2.7bn for the United Kingdom, and $846m for the United States; $4.55bn in total.
The World Health Organization has adopted the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel, but implementation is not widespread (see Norway's effort).
Muslims are participating in the global scientific enterprise (my guess again is in applied science), as evidenced by searches in PubMed, the National Library of Medicine's indexing service of peer-reviewed biomedical publications. See articles where the first author's last name begins with Abdul (350 as of 2012-Jul-26), Abdel (299), and Abdal (156).* Or Moham (679), Muham (68), Ahmad (845), and so on. They're just not participating, for the most part, in institutions in Muslim-majority countries.
And to whip out a Tom Friedman-like anecdote on you, I remember in 1988 or 1989 meeting in Cairo an Egyptian who studied physics in the Soviet Union. He told me how frustrated he was at not being able to do physics in Egypt because there was no institutional backing and lack of equipment.
Brain drain is simply one of the obstacles world systems theory predicts developing nations have to face.
I don't remember Ehsan Masood dealing with these types problems at all in his book.
Review my other blog entries related to science, particularly my reviews of Taner Edis's book Illusion of Harmony: Science and Religion in Islam and George Saliba's Islamic Science and the Making of the European Renaissance. I also liked a volume Ehsan Masood edited about how people are adapting to their arid climates.
On another note, no Georgia public library participating in the PINES system had the book, so I had to request it using my public library's Interlibrary Loan process. This cost me $8.65. Certainly this kind of book is appropriate for public libraries. Why doesn't my library carry this book?
*Christian Arabs have names like Abdulla and Abdelmasih, so some of these authors are certainly not Muslims.
June 13, 2019
A good light reading on the history of science in Islam. Masood briefly brings the readers to the main figures and ideas that painted the canvas of Islamic Civilisation and propose a thesis that one of the crucial factor that slow down the development of science in Muslim countries is due to the lack of the governmental support and infrastructures.
Masood take examples like Nasir al-Din al-Tusi who is supported by Hulagu Khan, Ibn Haytham by al-Hakim in Egypt and other scholars by Sultan al-Ma'mun in Baghdad.
Masood take examples like Nasir al-Din al-Tusi who is supported by Hulagu Khan, Ibn Haytham by al-Hakim in Egypt and other scholars by Sultan al-Ma'mun in Baghdad.
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October 24, 2023In these times of insanity where those in power would destroy the edifices of those they dislike (looking at the Middle East as I say this), it is important to look back and see what those who came before us built for us. It is important to come to appreciate the debt that we owe to those who laboured and toiled so that we could be here today.
I am no expert, but it seems to me that a large part of the problem in the Middle East at the moment is an "us versus them" mentality which has bubbled over in recent years, and which probably has its more recent origins in the setting up of an "Arab" state and a "Jewish" state by the British empire in the twentieth century. Of course, the tensions in the Holy Land go back much farther than this, probably back to the moment Abraham first heard God's voice calling to him all those many aeons ago. But, as the Lutheran bishop Munib Younan says, the Holy Land will only become a truly Holy Land when the three brothers - the Jew, the Christian and the Muslim - learn to live side-by-side. They don't need to live in the same houses, but they need to learn to live on the same street.
It was never easy for siblings to get along. The sibling relationship is a uniquely confrontational relationship, one in which egos can too often get the upper hand of the friendship, trust and security that so often naturally builds up in the family during the early years of childhood. We have now come to the point where it has become a matter of life and death for these siblings, these children of Abraham, to learn to live together.
In reading this book, I sought to understand my Muslim brothers and sisters. I wanted to see what they have discovered that I do not know. I wanted to learn their language and to understand their way of thinking. Through reading this book, I came to develop an appreciation for Islamic culture as I saw how this particular way of thinking is so conducive to scientific discovery. As is so often repeated throughout this book, Islamic thought proposes a radical idea to the culture of its time. Namely that the world, and all within it, is made by God, and we humans are given an intellect in order that we can come to understand the world that He created, and become partners in the great work of creation - finishing the job, as it were. In this mode of thinking, scientific study rises to the heights of religious worship.
The danger in any moment of religious fervour is that it can so consume the individual, and even a culture, that this fire becomes something destructive. It seeks to encompass all that it encounters in its burning flame. I believe it was the late Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, of blessed memory, who said that people of faith are "guardians of the flame". And how right he is. And how desperately, how urgently, how tragically, we need the people in positions of authority in the Middle East to come to this realisation. That it is not theirs to light the flame - that is the work of the Lord - and it is not theirs to brandish the flame. It is rather theirs to protect, nurture, stoke and maintain the flame. To keep the fire going, but let it be a fire that warms rather than burns, and lights rather than blinds.
Throughout religious history, we see moments where the act of religious fervour reaches a fever pitch, and becomes a force of oppression. And then we see how, soon after, scientific progress is stifled and blotted out by the imposition of uniformity in thought, faith and culture. God created the human family, and he left it to us to learn how to live together. The most successful civilisations are those in which the brothers learn to live together. Where they can set aside their differences and sit around the table of friendship and share meals, share stories, shed tears together. And finally smile at one another in recognition. There are many such examples in Islamic history. But all too few in the Holy Land.
May we see such a table in the Holy Land. May it come soon. There is no higher level of sanctity than the breaking of bread together.
I am no expert, but it seems to me that a large part of the problem in the Middle East at the moment is an "us versus them" mentality which has bubbled over in recent years, and which probably has its more recent origins in the setting up of an "Arab" state and a "Jewish" state by the British empire in the twentieth century. Of course, the tensions in the Holy Land go back much farther than this, probably back to the moment Abraham first heard God's voice calling to him all those many aeons ago. But, as the Lutheran bishop Munib Younan says, the Holy Land will only become a truly Holy Land when the three brothers - the Jew, the Christian and the Muslim - learn to live side-by-side. They don't need to live in the same houses, but they need to learn to live on the same street.
It was never easy for siblings to get along. The sibling relationship is a uniquely confrontational relationship, one in which egos can too often get the upper hand of the friendship, trust and security that so often naturally builds up in the family during the early years of childhood. We have now come to the point where it has become a matter of life and death for these siblings, these children of Abraham, to learn to live together.
In reading this book, I sought to understand my Muslim brothers and sisters. I wanted to see what they have discovered that I do not know. I wanted to learn their language and to understand their way of thinking. Through reading this book, I came to develop an appreciation for Islamic culture as I saw how this particular way of thinking is so conducive to scientific discovery. As is so often repeated throughout this book, Islamic thought proposes a radical idea to the culture of its time. Namely that the world, and all within it, is made by God, and we humans are given an intellect in order that we can come to understand the world that He created, and become partners in the great work of creation - finishing the job, as it were. In this mode of thinking, scientific study rises to the heights of religious worship.
The danger in any moment of religious fervour is that it can so consume the individual, and even a culture, that this fire becomes something destructive. It seeks to encompass all that it encounters in its burning flame. I believe it was the late Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, of blessed memory, who said that people of faith are "guardians of the flame". And how right he is. And how desperately, how urgently, how tragically, we need the people in positions of authority in the Middle East to come to this realisation. That it is not theirs to light the flame - that is the work of the Lord - and it is not theirs to brandish the flame. It is rather theirs to protect, nurture, stoke and maintain the flame. To keep the fire going, but let it be a fire that warms rather than burns, and lights rather than blinds.
Throughout religious history, we see moments where the act of religious fervour reaches a fever pitch, and becomes a force of oppression. And then we see how, soon after, scientific progress is stifled and blotted out by the imposition of uniformity in thought, faith and culture. God created the human family, and he left it to us to learn how to live together. The most successful civilisations are those in which the brothers learn to live together. Where they can set aside their differences and sit around the table of friendship and share meals, share stories, shed tears together. And finally smile at one another in recognition. There are many such examples in Islamic history. But all too few in the Holy Land.
May we see such a table in the Holy Land. May it come soon. There is no higher level of sanctity than the breaking of bread together.
June 1, 2021
It is as if the memory of an entire civilisation and its contribution to the sum of knowledge has been virtually wiped from human consciousness. Not simply in the West but in the Islamic world too, the achievements of Islamic scientists were, until recently, largely forgotten or at least neglected, except by a few diligent specialists such as Harvard University’s Abelhamid Sabra, David King, Jamil Ragep and George Saliba.
- Ehsan Masood, Science and Islam: A History
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I always love science. If i didnt do so bad in mathematics (which is a pre-requisite for one to pursue science field in Malaysia), i would have pursue biologist as my career because i love that subject. Hence, the reason why i picked the book from Popular book sales. Unfortunately, the book fell flat for me. It has interesting premise but the execution was not quite there. I have such a high expectation because the author has published BBC documentary on the same subject. Be that as it may, i did not want to dismiss the whole book because i did learn many new things about science in the Islamic particularly on the century that i am not familiar with. Throughtout the book, we will come across a brief history of Nabi Mohammad, Umayyad (Pioneer followers of Mohammad), Toledo, Abbassid (descendants of Mohammad's uncles), Fatimids (descendants of Mohammad's daughters) and the Turks (Ottoman empire) along with many examples of scientific contribution done by prominent scholars drawing from Islamic Civilization. The analysis on scientific advances made by Islamic scholars during the European Dark Ages is such an eye opening. Overall, i would recommend this if you wanted a short and well-written on history of Islam and the progress of science particulary during 9th to 12th century. However, if you are knowledgable in this area and you needed more depth and analysis, you won't find it in the book.
- Ehsan Masood, Science and Islam: A History
.
.
I always love science. If i didnt do so bad in mathematics (which is a pre-requisite for one to pursue science field in Malaysia), i would have pursue biologist as my career because i love that subject. Hence, the reason why i picked the book from Popular book sales. Unfortunately, the book fell flat for me. It has interesting premise but the execution was not quite there. I have such a high expectation because the author has published BBC documentary on the same subject. Be that as it may, i did not want to dismiss the whole book because i did learn many new things about science in the Islamic particularly on the century that i am not familiar with. Throughtout the book, we will come across a brief history of Nabi Mohammad, Umayyad (Pioneer followers of Mohammad), Toledo, Abbassid (descendants of Mohammad's uncles), Fatimids (descendants of Mohammad's daughters) and the Turks (Ottoman empire) along with many examples of scientific contribution done by prominent scholars drawing from Islamic Civilization. The analysis on scientific advances made by Islamic scholars during the European Dark Ages is such an eye opening. Overall, i would recommend this if you wanted a short and well-written on history of Islam and the progress of science particulary during 9th to 12th century. However, if you are knowledgable in this area and you needed more depth and analysis, you won't find it in the book.
March 24, 2012
An interesting survey of the topic, but trying to cover eight centuries of history and thought in a single, compact hardcover means that it can only ever skim the surface of of the subject as a whole and the topics within it.
I read this book as research/inspiration for a fiction project but because it's so frantically trying to convey names and dates it doesn't have time to really get much further, so didn't get me thinking as much as I'd have liked. The most interesting section in that respect was the set of (simplified) questions raised at the end, about the relationship between science and Islam (e.g. who needed who more?) and the quick skim over the C19th & the impact of British colonialism; I'd have loved for those questions to be a starting point, and the book to work backwards and explore those themes.
I read this book as research/inspiration for a fiction project but because it's so frantically trying to convey names and dates it doesn't have time to really get much further, so didn't get me thinking as much as I'd have liked. The most interesting section in that respect was the set of (simplified) questions raised at the end, about the relationship between science and Islam (e.g. who needed who more?) and the quick skim over the C19th & the impact of British colonialism; I'd have loved for those questions to be a starting point, and the book to work backwards and explore those themes.
September 20, 2019
I had high expectations on this book, particularly because of the subject matter and the author, but when it came from the postbox, holding the book I somehow knew it would be impossible to fit everything science and Islam in a book. It'll be a good refresher book, or an introduction towards, as history spanning almost 1000 years it has to be on a touch n go approach, and maybe a BBC presenter he is, but an impressive writer he is not. I feel the drag of finishing the book as it were a textbook but with minimal insight from the writer which was the highlight for me , I was really hoping for a much anticipated discussion for the myth of dark ages, but it was briefly tackled. I would still recommend the book though, as it was mesmerising to flip through pages on the magical passion of classical thinkers and the caliphs supporting (causing or ending even) their raison d'etre.
May 24, 2016
Good introductory book, very easy and pleasant to read.
July 1, 2019
It’s the best book I could encounter after reading a few books of non-fiction science by Writers not of the Islam faith. I always wonder why their introduction on science mention so little of the Golden Age of Islamic Empire but mention a lot of the Greek inventor, philosopher that came before. It puzzle me but this book have enlightened me abit on the issue.
Also, from this book, I realised that translated texts of Arabic to Latin may have deviate the Inventor/Scientist/Philosopher/etc. names to match Latin language and it could be that these Writers aren’t aware of the background of them. Though I highly doubt so cause these Writers are Scientists and should have made a thorough research.
Overall, great book that packs with information. Yes, I notice repetition of Names in the book but people back then wears many “hats”. If anything, it should be a read that inspire you to share with others or motivate the younger generation to seek knowledge as it is Science in the process itself.
Also, from this book, I realised that translated texts of Arabic to Latin may have deviate the Inventor/Scientist/Philosopher/etc. names to match Latin language and it could be that these Writers aren’t aware of the background of them. Though I highly doubt so cause these Writers are Scientists and should have made a thorough research.
Overall, great book that packs with information. Yes, I notice repetition of Names in the book but people back then wears many “hats”. If anything, it should be a read that inspire you to share with others or motivate the younger generation to seek knowledge as it is Science in the process itself.
March 17, 2011
setelah sekian banyak buku yang saya baca terkait dengan sejarah sains Islam. Baru dari buku inilah saya menemukan kepuasan.... pokoke mantab lah!
June 12, 2012
The premise of the book was a lot better than the execution, unfortunately.
June 29, 2019
Through this book, I learnt a brief history of ancient Islamic empires in the Middle East, from Nabi Mohammad, Umayyad (Pioneer followers of Mohammad), Toledo, Abbassid (descendants of Mohammad's uncles), Fatimids (descendants of Mohammad's daughters) and the mighty Turks that built the Ottoman empire.
My first taught is that it is really important to pen down the the will. If Mohammad did so, many of the subsequent war MIGHT not be happening.
The author presents a concise summary of what Islamic scientists achieved in the area of astronomy, medics, mathematics, mechanics, chemistry and biology. It comes to my surprise that an Islamic scientist had proposed the idea of evolution a few hundreds years before Darwin presented his. The author also informed that although Islamic scientists didn't challenge the geocentric model, plentiful of their research had been "borrowed" and quoted by Copernicus in presenting his Heliocentric model.
I did not agree with the author's conclusion that suggested an authoritative government could be the key to science advancement because such government ensure social stability. I would think that the only way to encourage innovation is to ensure the knowledge proprietary right to be protected and incentivised.
My first taught is that it is really important to pen down the the will. If Mohammad did so, many of the subsequent war MIGHT not be happening.
The author presents a concise summary of what Islamic scientists achieved in the area of astronomy, medics, mathematics, mechanics, chemistry and biology. It comes to my surprise that an Islamic scientist had proposed the idea of evolution a few hundreds years before Darwin presented his. The author also informed that although Islamic scientists didn't challenge the geocentric model, plentiful of their research had been "borrowed" and quoted by Copernicus in presenting his Heliocentric model.
I did not agree with the author's conclusion that suggested an authoritative government could be the key to science advancement because such government ensure social stability. I would think that the only way to encourage innovation is to ensure the knowledge proprietary right to be protected and incentivised.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2024
An interesting and quick read into the history of science in the Islamic world. The book is easy to read and introduces many names that fill in the gaps of knowledge transfer between the ancient Greeks and post-Medieval Europe. A part that I genuinely enjoyed reading about was the developments in mathematics - it always felt weird to me to start the discussions of more advanced math with Newton and subsequent mathematicians.
On the flip side, it does feel like some names and stories were included so they can be mapped to modern developments, instead of giving a general feel of what science looked like then and there. I felt strange to read about the thoughts of 12th-century thinkers on topics such as evolution or relativity, as those terms have been defined at a much later stage, and it does not do justice to the ideas of the older generations to think of them in that way. Another issue I had with the book is that it did not go in-depth on any scientific or historical topic. I understand that is not its goal, though, and that is more of a personal preference.
On the flip side, it does feel like some names and stories were included so they can be mapped to modern developments, instead of giving a general feel of what science looked like then and there. I felt strange to read about the thoughts of 12th-century thinkers on topics such as evolution or relativity, as those terms have been defined at a much later stage, and it does not do justice to the ideas of the older generations to think of them in that way. Another issue I had with the book is that it did not go in-depth on any scientific or historical topic. I understand that is not its goal, though, and that is more of a personal preference.
September 24, 2022
Let's be clear: This is definitely an introduction to the topic. And a very good introduction.
You will read many reviews poo-pooing that the book wasn't in depth enough. If this topic is new to you, it is a great read.
I have already read some of the source materials mentioned (ibn Sina, etc.),however, this is my first read of a review of the topic.
As a Western educated Westerner living in the middle east, I have a deeper understanding of why I just don't come across any Muslim scientists in my line of work.
Now I think I know why.
You will read many reviews poo-pooing that the book wasn't in depth enough. If this topic is new to you, it is a great read.
I have already read some of the source materials mentioned (ibn Sina, etc.),however, this is my first read of a review of the topic.
As a Western educated Westerner living in the middle east, I have a deeper understanding of why I just don't come across any Muslim scientists in my line of work.
Now I think I know why.
April 5, 2025
Interesting book, at least by its title. I may be one of the few people you know who already have knowledge of science in the Islamic world during that time period. I’ve had the chance to study the history of anatomy and medicine was during the period between the burning of the Alexandrian library and the founding of the great universities in Europe, beginning in Spain after Ferdinand and Isabella. We owe a great deal to the Arab scholars who preserved the knowledge of science from the Greeks and Romans and added so much of their own to it.
December 31, 2017
A swift overview of the science credentials of Islam during its height, before the Mongols invaded... bookended with discussions of the interactions between government, religion and scientific education/support. I'd have like more in the middle of the sandwich. Maybe that's the difficult part to find adequate citations for.
December 3, 2021
I like the book overall. I particularly like the final chapter, "Science and Islam: Lessons from History". Ehsan Masood suggested three (3) key points how science can be returned to Islamic countries that were really good insights such as:
1. Massive investments for both in educating people and building institutions.
2. Citizens must have the freedom to inquire and to innovate
3. Science cannot be used to attack people's freedom to believe.
Wish you enjoy the reading!
1. Massive investments for both in educating people and building institutions.
2. Citizens must have the freedom to inquire and to innovate
3. Science cannot be used to attack people's freedom to believe.
Wish you enjoy the reading!
December 23, 2021
Well written. Probably first book I came across on this subject in which chapters are divided by topics rather than individuals. Avoids hagiographic claims that I came across while reading other books on the subject..
March 22, 2022
It was eye opening to see such incredible individuals through out history of islamic world to become pioneers in science. Kudos to the author to finesse this book into the 2nd edition very written and thought out.
August 21, 2018
Why did science stagnate in islamic cultures?
January 24, 2019
73 - 2019
July 5, 2019
The books had some amazing facts, But it was too hard for me to read. I may reread someday but not now
July 9, 2019
Ehsan Masood shines a light on the scientific achievements and breakthroughs of Muslim scholars during the “dark age” by also crediting Greek, Indian, Roman intellectuals.
April 7, 2021
xasdsdsddasdddaddsa
Want to read
July 25, 2021This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2022
Seperdelapan intisari dari Al-Quran membahas terkait sains
March 6, 2022
4.5 stars: I was hoping for a more in-depth mathematical context, but I enjoyed it regardless.
December 26, 2023
Great concise read.
If you're interested in the history of science, this provides a well written summary of some things that happened in the Muslim world between "the Greeks did this" and "the Renaissance happened a thousand or so years later" :)
If you're interested in the history of science, this provides a well written summary of some things that happened in the Muslim world between "the Greeks did this" and "the Renaissance happened a thousand or so years later" :)
September 6, 2025
Very interesting, but written as the script for a BBC documentary and therefore lacking some flow.
September 19, 2025
really a good book. Amazing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews