Discover Islam, - Contribution of Islam to the world's civilization

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Let us remember our great and glorious heritage by briefly surveying what Islam has already contributed to the world's civilization, education, culture and to scientific development.
Unlike Christianity where Religion and Science are two separate elements, the study of Science has always been compatible with Islam.
Many young Muslims are discouraged when they see the poor standard of living of Muslims throughout the world and their limited opportunities. They also know the undeveloped status of technology within the Muslim countries in comparison with the West. From these observations, they immediately leap to the conclusion that the Muslim countries are ‘backward’, because Islam cannot adapt itself to the changing conditions; cannot assimilate new knowledge. Some even go so far as to say that Islam is actually against progress and against scientific advancement. However, those Muslims who have studied the later part of Islamic history will know that this is a complete fallacy and misconception.
Let us do a brief review of the contribution of Islam to civilization as we know it.
Trigonometry, Sine, Tangent, Co-Tangent
The Arabs developed these functions in trigonometry and Ibn Moosaa's workHisaab-Al Jab-Wal Muqaabala)The Calculation of Integration and Equation( presented 800 examples in the 8thcentury CE. His work was translated from Arabic into Latin and until the 16th century CE, it wasEurope's main textbook on the subject.
Algebra and Geometry
Muhammad bin Moosaa Al-Khawaarizmi is considered to be one of the founders of Algebra. The word ‘Algorithm’ or 'Algorizm' is a corruption of his name or the name of the town Khwaarizm )Kheva(, in what is now Uzbekistan, where he wasborn. He adopted the use of ‘cipher’ )zero(, that was devised in India some centuries earlier, a numeral of fundamental importance, leading up to the so-called arithmetic of positions and the decimal system. The very word ‘zero’ is a derivative of the Arabic ‘sifr’ or ‘cipher’. His pioneering work on the system of numerals is well known as "Algorithm," or "Algorizm." In addition to introducing the Arabic numerals, he developed several arithmetical procedures, including operations on fractions.
Another great mathematician was Omar Khayyaam, who offered to the world geometric and algebraic solutions of the second degree. Naseeruddeen wrote the treatise on quadrilateral trigonometry, as well as plain and spherical geometry.
Physics and Chemistry
Kamaaluddeen examined the refraction of sunlight in raindrops and offered an explanation of the genesis of primary and secondary rainbows. The story of the invention of the pendulum and the presentation of a water clock to Emperor Charlemagne by Haaroon Ar-Rasheed is well known.
The great historian Gibbons wrote in hisDecline and Fall of the Roman Empire)Volume 5( that the science of chemistry owes its origin and improvements to the Muslims.
Science of Mechanics
The development of the science of mechanics in Islam is an act of genius. Moosaa bin Shaakir described one hundred pieces of mechanical equipment in his book of artifices. Other outstanding Muslim treatises includedAl Kitaab Fi Ma`rifat Al-Hiya Al-Handasiyyah)The Book of the Knowledge of Ingenious Geometrical Contrivances( by Abul Fiaz bin Al Raz andAl Kitaab Meezanal-Hikmah)The Book of Balance and Wisdom( by Al-Khazini. He also did work on accurate weighing, and determination of the specific gravity of substances.
Camera Obscura
In the field of optics, Camera Obscura was invented by Ibn Haytham in 1038 CE.
Theory of Relativity
Qaadhi Abu Bakr had developed the theory of relativity in the 8thcentury CE in terms of time and space by means of mathematical equations and astrophysics. Imagine, Einstein was not even born in the Western world, who propounded the same theory of relativity much later in the 20thcentury CE.
Geography
As far as geography was concerned, Muslim scientists established that the world was round in the 9thcentury CE, and the first map of the globe was made during the Caliphate of Ma’moon.
Paper Making
This was one of the earliest skills attained by the Muslims. As early as the 8thcentury CE, high quality paper was being manufactured in Samarqand.Egyptwas known to have its first paper mill in the year 900 CE. The earliest Arabic manuscript written on paper that has been discovered is theGhareeb Al Hadeethby Abu ‘Ubayed, dated 837 CE. It can be seen inHollandpreserved in the library at theUniversityofLeyden.
Advances in Industry
Under Islamic rule,Spainwas an industrial center. It was one of the wealthiest and most thickly populated of the European countries. Muslims were leading in weaving wool, producing silk, pottery, jewelry, leather and perfume industry. In the Middle Ages, world trade was commanded by Muslims andBaghdad, Bukhaara and Samarqand remained centers for world fairs until the 16thcentury CE. The Bayt Al-Hikmah atCairocontained two million books, the library atTripolicontained some three million, but this library was burned down by the Christians during the first Crusade.
Miracles of the Quran
Let us consider the hundreds of scientific facts mentioned in the Holy Quran. For example, the fact that the earth was previously a part of the sun and after its separation, it became a habitable place for humankind, as mentioned in chapter 21, verse 30. That matter is made up of sub-atomic particles )chapter 10, verse 61(. That the embryo in the mother's womb in enclosed by three epithelial coverings )chapter 39, verse 6(. That each human being has a unique fingerprint )chapter 75, verse 4( etc. There are thousands of other scientific facts in the Holy Quran.
Regrettably, today the West is at its peak and we have lagged behind so far. However, our downfall is not due to Islam, as the West would like us to believe, but due to our sheer neglect of Islamic principles. We must realize that Islam is undeniably the most progressive religion, which is in fact a way of life with a very wide scope.
Of course, life is a very hard struggle. However, struggle is an inbuilt instinct of human nature. Struggle is a way but not an accomplishment or attainment in itself. We should make an effort and struggle but at the same time make Du'aa. This is where Tawakkul, i.e. trust in Allaah comes because destiny supersedes thought. We must trust in Allaah for our betterment, because if success depended merely upon one’s personal struggle, then nobody in the world would be unsuccessful. Furthermore, struggle is itself predestined by Allaah. Man should do his best, then leave the rest to Allaah, Most High.

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Dought & clear, - She is asking about myths concerning getting married between the two Eids, and what is wrong with that according to sharee’ah

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my question is that here in Asia most of the people think that if we got marry between two eids i mean EID-UL-FITAR till EID-UL-AZHA so it is very bad and one of the pair mean birde or groom die because it is not good to marry between two EIDS ,i want to know whether it is right or wrong from Islamic point of view ,i know that there are large numbers of question asked but you can also post the answer to this question in your site it will be very useful InshAllahtala because many people even being muslim have very strong believe that these things are true as far as i know there is nothing in Islam like this and it is wrong but i want more detail so that i could tell other people also you wrote that one should not fast or pray specially beacause it is 15 Shaban and the sawab will be greater but if it is his rotine than he or she can ,here where i am livin muslims are very careful about this day and they fast and pray for Almighty Allah j and tell that it is very sawab and it is in Ahadis sharif and when i told them about your article they told me that no there are Ahadis sharif about the greatness of this day.
Praise be to Allaah.
With regard to the first question:
The answer is in two parts. Firstly, the belief mentioned in the question is not correct; it is a kind of innovation and misguidance which has no basis in sharee’ah, and is not indicated by the Qur’aan or Sunnah.
Secondly, this belief goes against the sharee’ah of Islam in several ways:
(i) The belief that someone will die during this period. It is not permissible to believe this because death and life are in the hand of Allaah and the appointed time of man’s death is something of which Allaah has kept the knowledge to Himself. No one among mankind knows when he will die. This is something which Allaah has not told to any of His creation. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, in the hadeeth whose authenticity is agreed upon which was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him), in the lengthy hadeeth of Jibreel: “There are five things which no one knows except Allaah.” Then he recited the verse (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, Allaah, with Him (Alone) is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allaah is All-Knower, All-Aware (of things”
[Luqmaan 31:34]
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 48; Muslim, 10)
Claiming that marrying during this period will lead to death is a claim to have knowledge of the unseen, and everyone who claims to have knowledge of the unseen is lying. Hence the leaders of falsehood are those who claim to have some knowledge of the unseen.
(ii) This also undermines faith, because it implies a lack of belief in the Divine will and decree (al-qadaa’ wa’l-qadar). Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught Ibn ‘Abbaas, when he was a boy, “Know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you in any way, they would not be able to benefit you in any way except that which Allaah had decreed for you, and if they were to gather together to do you harm in any way, they would not be able to harm you except that which Allaah had decreed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi,Sifat al-Qiyaamah, 2440; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh Sunan al-Tirmidhi, no. 2043). It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas said: “I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say, ‘Allaah decreed the fate of His creatures fifty thousand years before He created the heavens and the earth.’” (Narrated by Muslim,al-Qadar, 4797)
(iii) It also undermines Tawheed and its perfection, because it involves regarding something as an evil omen and pessimism. It says in the hadeeth narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no ‘adwaa [contagion, transmission of infectious disease without the permission of Allaah], no tiyarah [superstitious belief in bird omens], no haamah [refers to a Jaahili Arab tradition described variously as: a worm which infests the grave of a murder victim until he is avenged; an owl; or the bones of a dead person turned into a bird that could fly], and no Safar [the month of Safar was regarded as “unlucky” during the Jaahiliyyah].”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari,al-Tibb, 5316)
Tatayyur (superstitious belief in bad omens) means pessimism. It was narrated in the hadeeth of Ibn Mas’ood that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Tiyarah (believing in evil omens) is a kind of shirk.”
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi,al-Siyar, 1539; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh al-Tirmidhi, no. 1314)
It should be noted that superstitious belief in bad omens contradicts Tawheed in two ways:
Firstly, superstitious belief prevents one from putting one’s trust in Allaah and makes one depend on someone other than Him.
Secondly, it causes people to depend on things that have no basis in reality, for there is no connection between getting married in this month and whatever may happen subsequently. Undoubtedly this undermines Tawheed, because Tawheed means worship and seeking help. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).”[al-Faatihah 1:5]
and:
“So worship Him (O Muhammad) and put your trust in Him”
[Hood 11:123]
Hence ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) used to say that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) married her in Shawwaal and consummated the marriage with her in Shawwaal and she was the dearest and most beloved of his wives to him. The Arabs used to regard this month as inauspicious and they used to say that if a person got married in Shawwaal, the marriage would not succeed, but this is not true.
In the case of one who believes in evil omens, one of two things must apply:
Either he will give up, respond to the “bad omen”, and not take action, which is the worst kind of superstition and pessimism, or he will go ahead, but he will be anxious and worried, fearing that he will be affected by this bad omen. This is less serious, but both detract from Tawheed and adversely affect people. (Seeal-Qawl al-Mufeedby Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, part 2, p. 77-78)
In practical terms, we see that the saheeh Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) prove that this myth is false, for the best of mankind, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), got married to the most beloved of people to him, namely ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), and his marriage to her took place between the two Eids, and she was one of the happiest of people with him. Indeed, she herself refuted this jaahili claim by saying, “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) married me in Shawwaal and he consummated the marriage with me in Shawwaal, and which of the wives of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was dearer to him than me?”
‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr said: ‘Aa’ishah used to like marriages to be consummated in Shawwaal. (Narrated by Muslim, 1423)
Al-Nawawi said:
This shows that it is mustahabb to arrange marriages, get married and consummate marriages in Shawwaal. Our companions stated that it is mustahabb, and they quoted this hadeeth as evidence. By saying this, ‘Aa’ishah intended to refute the practice and belief of the jaahiliyyah. What some of the common people believe nowadays, that it is disliked to arrange marriages, get married and consummate marriages in Shawwaal, is false and has no basis. This is one of the leftovers of the jaahiliyyah. They used to regard that as inauspicious because of the fact that the name Shawwaal carries connotations of lifting.
Sharh Muslim, 9/209
Ibn al-Qayyim said:
‘Aa’ishah the Mother of the Believers (may Allaah be pleased with her) regarded it as mustahabb for a woman to be married or the marriage to be consummated with her in Shawwaal. She said, “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) only married me in Shawwaal, and which of his wives was more beloved to him than me?” even though the people regarded marriage in Shawwaal as inauspicious This is something which the believers who truly put their trust in Allaah and whose hearts truly find contentment with their Lord should resolve to do, those who know that what Allaah wills will happen and what He does not will will not happen, and that nothing will befall them except that which Allaah has decreed, and that no calamity will befall them except that which was already written in the Book before they were created, who know that they will inevitably come to that which has been decreed for them, which must inevitably happen to them. If they are superstitious, this will not ward off the decree from them, rather their superstition will be one of the main reasons why what they fear of the Divine will and decree will come to them. Thus their fear will be the means of bringing what they fear upon them. So according to the will and decree of Allaah, their weakness of faith will be the cause of what they dislike happening to them, so their bad omen is with themselves. But those who put their trust in Allaah, who delegate their affairs to Him, who know Him and His commands, their souls are more noble than that and their interests more sublime. Their trust in Allaah and their positive thoughts of Him give them power, strength and protection against the things which people regard as evil omens and about which they are pessimistic. They know that there is no omen [or no birds] except His, no good except His, there is no god but Him, and that the Creation and Command are His, the Lord of the Worlds.
Miftaah Daar al-Sa’aadah, 2/261

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Dought & clear, - Ruling on the imam saying to the congregation, “Pray Pray like a man bidding farewell”

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What is the ruling on the imam saying, before the first takbeer of the prayer, “Focus your hearts on Allaah” and “Pray like a man bidding farewell”?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It is Sunnah for the imam to straighten the rows himself, or to tell the congregation to straighten the rows. A variety of expressions are narrated in the Sunnah, all of them telling the worshippers to straighten the rows, and warning them against doing otherwise. Among the phrases that have been narrated are: “Straighten the rows and stand close together” and “Straighten your rows, for straightening the rows is part of establishing prayer” and “Straighten your rows for straightening the rows is part of perfecting the prayer” and “Straighten the rows in prayer for straightening the rows is part of doing the prayer well” and “Stand straight and do not make the rows uneven, lest that that create disharmony amongst you” and “Straighten the rows and stand shoulder to shoulder and fill the gaps” – and other such phrases.
There is no need to say any of these or other phrases if the imam sees that the rows are straight.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
But if the imam turns round and sees that the rows are straight and solid (with no gaps), and the people are standing in straight rows, then it seems that he should not tell them to straighten the rows, because that has been done – unless he intends thereby to tell them to keep it like that – because these words have a meaning, they are not just words that are to be said for no purpose.
As’ilat al-baab il-Maftooh, no. 62.
We do not know of any phrase in the Sunnah with which the imam may encourage the worshippers to focus more in their prayer and focus their hearts on Allaah and the prayer, as if it were their last prayer and so on. If the imam always says that then there is the fear that it may come under the heading of bid’ah (innovation). There is nothing wrong with saying such things as a reminder but that should be done sometimes, not all the time and in every prayer.
We know of no basis for saying “Focus your hearts on Allaah”. With regard to the phrase “Pray like a man bidding farewell,” there is a saheeh report that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said this, but that was by way of general advice, not what the imam should say before saying the first takbeer of the prayer.
It was narrated that Abu Ayyoob said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When you stand to pray, pray like a man bidding farewell. Do not say anything for which you will have to apologize. And give up hope for what other people have.”
Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 4171. Classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani inal-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 401.
And it was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Pray like a man bidding farewell as if you can see Him, for although you cannot see Him, He sees you, and do not be concerned about what other people possess, then you will live a rich life. Beware of any action that requires an apology.”
Narrated by al-Bayhaqi inKitaab al-Zuhd(The Book of Asceticism), 2/210.
It is saheeh because of the existence of corroborating reports, as Shaykh al-Albaani said inal-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 1914.

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Dought & clear, - Salat al-Tasbeeh

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Brother, I wanted to know the status and ruling on "Salat-al-Tasbeeh" as reference is givento it from Abu’Dawood and Tirimdhi, but without the hadeeth (narration) number and it says, "Our Beloved Prophet Muhammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to his uncle (father’s brother) Sayyiduna ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), Oh uncle shall I not give you, shall I not grant you, shall I not award you, shall I not do mercy on you; when you do 10 things Allah will forgive your sins, of the future and of the past, new and old, those you have forgotten and those you did knowingly, big and small, hidden and revealed. Then he (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) taught him the way to pray Salat al Tasbeeh and then said if you can pray this salah once a day, if you cannot pray once a day then every Friday, and even if this is not possible then once a month, and even if this is not possible then once a year, and even if this is not possible then at least once in a lifetime (Abu’Dawood and Tirimdhi) and it said that this phrase “Subhan Allahi Wal Hamdulillahi Wa La ilaha illal Lahu Wallahu Akbar " should be recited in different steps in Salah to make it to a count of 300. What is the ruling on this and is this from an authentic source?
Praise be to Allah.
The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed as to whether Salat al-Tasbeeh is prescribed in Islam. The reason for this difference of opinion concerning it is the difference of opinion concerning the soundness of the hadeeth which speaks of it. The prominent scholars are of the view that it is da‘eef (weak).
1. Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Mughni (1/438):
With regard to Salat al-Tasbeeh, Ahmad said: I do not like it. It was said to him: Why? He said: There is nothing saheeh (authentic) about it, and he waved his hand as if dismissing it. End quote.
2. Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Majmoo‘ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab (3/547-548):
Al-Qadi Husayn, and the authors of al-Tahdheeb and al-Tatimmah said: Salat al-Tasbeeh is mustahabb (desirable), because of the hadeeth narrated concerning it. But this view of it as mustahabb is subject to further discussion, because the hadeeth in question is da‘eef (weak), and it involves changing the regular format of the prayer, so it should not be done without a hadeeth (to support it). Al-Tirmidhi said: More than one hadeeth was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) concerning Salat al-Tasbeeh, but not many of them are saheeh. And al-‘Aqeeli said: There is no proven hadeeth about Salat al-Tasbeeh. End quote.
3. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Majmoo‘ al-Fatawa (11/579):
The best of the reports narrated about these prayers is the hadeeth about Salat al-Tasbeeh, which was narrated by Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhi, but nevertheless none of the four imams spoke of it; in fact, Ahmad regarded the hadeeth as da‘eef, and these prayers are not mustahabb.
4. Al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Majmoo‘ Fatawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (14/327):
What seems more likely to be correct in my opinion is that Salat al-Tasbeeh is not sunnah (from the prophetic teachings), and that the hadeeth about it is da‘eef. This is for several reasons:
(i) The basic principle concerning acts of worship is that they are disallowed unless there is proven evidence that they are prescribed.
(ii) The hadeeth is mudtarib (weak); there is a difference of opinion concerning it for several reasons.
(iii) None of the imams regarded it as mustahabb.
(iv) If this prayer was prescribed, the ummah would have narrated a report concerning which there was no doubt and it would have been well known among them because of its great benefit. Moreover, it is not like any other act of worship, because there is no act of worship in which so much choice is given that it may be done once every day, or once in a week, or once in a month, or once in a year, or once in a lifetime. Because the weak hadeeth states that it is of great benefit and because it is not like any other act of worship, yet it is not well known and was not transmitted, we know that there is no basis for it, because if an act of worship is different from other acts of worship, and if it were of great benefit, people would pay attention to it and transmit it, and it would be popular and well known. Because that is not the case with regard to this prayer, we know that it is not prescribed. Hence none of the imams regarded it as mustahabb, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said. Among the nafl (voluntary) acts which are proven to be prescribed in Islam there is a great deal of goodness and barakah (blessing) for the one who wants more, so he should be content with that which is proven, and he has no need of that which is the subject of differences of opinion and doubts.
And Allah knows best.

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