ISLAM

Muslims - Founders of great libraries in history

The human tendency of preserving the records of their achievements in various fields of life is very primitive and dates back to the beginning of civilization. Before the invention of paper, such records were laid down on stone slabs, clay tablets, parchments, leather and pieces of wood. The temples and State archives of Assyria and Babylon contained clay tablet libraries.

The first library in Greece owes its existence to Pesistratus, who established it in Athens in 600 BC. The largest library, before the advent of Islam was founded by Ptolemy in 287 - 84 BC at Alexandria, which is alleged to contain about a quarter of million books.

The birth of Islam provided great impetus to human pursuits of knowledge. The necessity of preserving the Quran and the Traditions (Hadith) awakened the spirit of collecting such writings in various forms, paving the way for the establishment of the earliest libraries in the world of Islam. The mosques which formed the nerve centers of all political, religious and educational activities, housed valuable libraries comprising books on religion, philosophy and science.

Soon Muslims distinguished themselves as the greatest patrons of learning, established during their glorious day. The great intellectuals of their age including Avicenna the encyclopaedist, Ibn Miskawayh the historian-philosopher, Al-Fadl-Ibn Naubakht and Humayun Ibn Ishaq the renowned translator were entrusted with the responsibility for the organization and maintenance of libraries. The Caliphate Raashidah and that of the Omayyads were the periods of conquests, consolidation and organization,

Abbasids

Under Mamun, the Muslims formed the vanguard of civilization. During the time of the early Abbasid, caliph Mansur was the first who took an active interest in the pursuits and propagation of learning. He founded a translation department in which classical and scientific works were translated from various languages into Arabic.

The philosophical, mathematical and scientific works of Greek masters, which otherwise would have remained buried in the dark recess of the Greek Imperial Palaces, were brought within reach of the common man by translating them into Arabic.

According to the celebrated Urdu historian Maulana Shibli Nomani, the Darul Hukama (House of Wisdom) founded by Harun-ar-Rashid which was divided into two sections-one was concerned with the translation work and the other related to the collection of books and housed a big library. Yahya Barmeki, the famous grand vazier of Harun had summoned scholars from distant lands, who adorned the literary gatherings of the great Caliph.

Harun-ar-Rashid who had founded a big library at Baghdad had appointed Al-Fadl Ibn Naubakht, a renowned scholar and translator, as head of his library - containing a large number of books efficiently arranged and catalogued. Harun had a good taste for books and even carried large number of books on his military and other expeditions. Once, when he had gone to Riqqah, he took eight boxes of books with him. His pleasure resort built on the bank of the Qatul canal, had a library containing about 1,060 books.

The reign of Mamun-ar-Rashid (Augustus of the Arabs), formed the most glorious period in the field of intellectual achievements of the Muslims. He was the moving spirit behind the House of Wisdom employing the best brains of the age and acquired astounding success in a short span of 20 years. The library attached to the House of Wisdom was enlarged and managed by Sahl bin Harun and Saeed bin Harun, the Persians. A large collection of books of the pre-Islamic-era were added to the library.

The well-known book binder Ibn Abi-ul-Huraish was employed in the library for binding work. Chief of the translation department Humayun Ibn Ishaq was also made the librarian of this famous library. Among the rare manuscripts preserved in the library were a document written on parchment by Abdul Mutallib bin Hashim (grand-father of the Prophet) and a few writings of Hazrat Ali and Imam Hasan.

The interest taken by the Caliph in the accumulation of literary treasures created a taste for books not only in his associates but also among the common man. A number of ministers, officials and wealthy people established big libraries by spending large sums. Yahya Barmeki, grand vazier of Harun, owned a big library which contained a large collection of Persian and Greek manuscripts.

Three copies of each book were kept in his library, which after the downfall of Barmekids were added to the Imperial library of Mamun. Fateh bin Khakan, the vazier of Mutawakkil Billah founded a grand library which contained rare books on astronomy.

Muhammad bin Abdul Malik Ziyat Prime Minister of Caliph Wasiq Billah established a private library on which he spent ten thousand rupees. A library was owned by Allama al-Waqidi, which was alleged to have contained 600 camel loads of books mainly on historical subjects. The libraries gained so much popularity that by the close of the 11 Century AD there existed a network of libraries throughout the vast Abbasid Empire and before the Mongol invasion, Baghdad alone had 36 big libraries.

Public library

The first public library in Baghdad was opened by the Prime Minister of the Buwayhid monarch Bahal al-Daulah Sabur bin Ardeshair. This was attached to the academy built by him in Baghdad in 991 AD. Before the establishment of this library, all libraries were privately owned, and not open to the common man. This library of Sabur contained more than ten thousand books. This led to the opening of private libraries in the big cities of the Muslim countries including Baghdad, Cairo, Merv, Mosul and Tripolis.

The big colleges and universities of Baghdad, Neshapur, Merv, Cairo, Damascus, Isfahan and Ghazni including the world famous Nizamiyah and Mustansariya of Baghdad housed’ splendid libraries. The principal mosques of the big cities-of the world of Islam, which served as teaching institutions, also had sections of libraries attached to them.

Egypt

The Rise of Cairo under al-Muiz-li-dinillah added a spirit of rivalry in the patronage of learning between the caliphs of the Houses of Abbas and Fatimah. Al-Muiz has been acclaimed as the Mamun of the west and the Maecenas of Muslim Africa. The Fatimid caliphs Aziz and Hakim Billah were also great patrons of learning.

Aziz has the distinction of adding an academy of higher education to the famous Al-Azhar mosque which housed a big library containing valuable books on Muslim theology, jurisprudence and philosophy. Caliph Aziz is also credited with founding one of the biggest libraries ever opened in the world of Islam. Allama Maqrizi has given its details in his well-known work Kitab Al-Khatat-wal-Aasar.

This library was housed in a part of the Imperial palace and comprised forty chambers. There has been difference of opinion among writers about the total number of books possessed by this library. According to the estimate of Ibn al-Tanvir it had 200,000 volumes, according to Ibn Ali Wasli it had 160,000 and according to Ibn Abi Tai it contained 600,000 volumes.

This famous library contained 18,000 books on ancient philosophy and 24,000 copies of the Holy Quran. Once there was a reference of Kitabul Ain in the durbar of the Caliph Aziz, sent for from the library and the librarian presented 30 different copies of the required book. One of these copies was written in the hand of Khalil bin Ahmad Basri (author of the book), this library possessed a globe made by Ptolemy which was 2,250 years old and another globe made by Abul Hasan Sufi for Azud-al-Daulah which was purchased for 15 thousand rupees.

Among the rare manuscripts were specimens of the artistic writings of the renowned calligraphist Ibn Muqlah and an autographed copy of the history of Tabari. The Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim laid the foundation of Darul Ilum on the lines of Darul Hukama (House of Wisdom) of Mamun. It was rather a rival institution and was equipped with a splendid library on whose upkeep large sums were spent by its patron. Great scholars and scientists were attached to the library, which was open to the public. Students were encouraged in research work and special apartments were reserved for the purpose. They were supplied with stationery free of cost.

To be continued

Universality of the message of Islam

Is it true that Islam is a religion only for Arabs?:

This idea can be easily be disproved, as only about 15 to 20 percent of Muslims in the world are Arabs. There are more Indian Muslims than Arab Muslims and more Indonesian Muslims than Indian Muslims. This assumption is possibly based on the fact that most of the first generation of Muslims were Arabs, that the Qur’an is in Arabic and that the Prophet Muhammad was an Arab.

However, history testifies that the Prophet, his followers and the early Muslims made every effort to spread the message of Islam to all nations, races and peoples. From the very beginning of the mission of Prophet Muhammad, his followers came from a wide spectrum of countries and races. Among them was Bilal - the African slave, Suhaib - the Byzantine Roman, Abdullah bin Salam - the Jewish Rabbi and Salman - the Persian.

Furthermore, it should be clarified that not all Muslims are Arabs and not all Arabs are Muslims. An Arab might be a Muslim, Christian, Jew, atheist or follower of any other religion or ideology. Additionally, some countries - such as Turkey and Iran (Persia) - that uninformed people consider to be ‘Arab’ are not Arab at all. The people who live in those countries speak languages other than Arabic and are of a different ethnic heritage.

Since religious truth is eternal and unchanging, and humanity is considered one universal brotherhood, Islam teaches that God’s revelations to humanity have always been consistent, clear and universal. The truth of Islam is meant for all people regardless of race, nationality, cultural or linguistic background.

A brief look at the Muslim World - from Nigeria to Bosnia and from Malaysia to Afghanistan is sufficient proof that Islam offers a universal appeal, a message for all of mankind - not to mention the fact that significant numbers of Europeans and Americans of all races and ethnic backgrounds are finding and coming into Islam. The Qur’an clearly says:

And we have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most men know not. ([34:28] 27

All religions basically teach their followers to do good deeds, so why should a person follow Islam?

In the Qur’an, Allah says: This day, I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.[5:3]

Moon split

A miracle spoke about Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) more than 14 centuries ago is proved by today’s scientists.

What the unlettered Prophet Muhammad ( PBUH) spoke about split of the Moon more than 14 centuries ago is being proved by modern scientists today.

In the early days of Islam the unbelievers of Makkah challenged Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to split the moon for them to accept His message. It was a full moon night.

So the Prophet (PBUH) prayed to Allah to show him this miracle. Answering this prayer the moon split-half was seen over Mount Saffa and the other half was seen over Mount Kaikaan.

The people said that the prophet has placed a spell and Abu Jahl said, “let us wait until the people of Albadiah (a tribe ) come, to find out whether they saw the moon split. If they said yes we accept as true and, if not , it was a trick of magic.

When the people of Albadiah came and confirmed that they saw the moon split the disbelievers said, “Oh, how powerful Mohammad’s magic is! Then Allah revealed the following verse in the Quran in Sura al Qamar:

The hour has come near and the moon has split, and when they see a sign, they turn and say ‘this is a continuous magic’ and they disbelieved and followed their desires…”

However centuries later today modern geologists conclude that the moon was once split and resealed. The rocks on the belt are a result of the impact during the time that the two halves of the moon recombined.

Dawood Musa, once the Chairman of the British Muslims Party and deeply concerned about learning Islam said, “While he was searching for a religion, a friend gave him a copy of the English translation of the Holy Quran where he came across Surat Al-Qamar and read - The hour has come and the moon has split”.

Looking at this he asked ‘the moon has split?!’ He was confused and stopped reading the Quran. He did not open the Holy Quran since then.

One day watching a BBC program he noticed the broadcaster talking with three American scientists blaming for spending billions of dollars on space projects when millions of people suffer from poverty.

Later in one of Dr. Zaghlool Al-Najaar’s seminars in London a paper presented by a British university pointed out that while scientists discussed the most expensive trip to the moon, at a cost of about 100 billion dollars, a broadcaster said ‘so to put the American flag on the moon you spent this much money?”

Answering this question the scientists involved explained that this large sum of money was spent to study the internal structure of the moon to see what similarities it has with the Earth. They said that they were surprised to find a ‘Belt of Rocks ’ that goes from the surface of the moon right to the inner depths. Being quite surprised, they gave this information to their geologists, who concluded that this couldn’t be unless the moon was once split and resealed. The rocks on the belt are a result of the impact during the time that the two halves of the moon recombined.

Watching this Dawood Mussa jumped off his seat screaming, “This is Muhammad’s miracle which occurred more than 1400 years ago, and now the Americans are spending billions of dollars to prove it.” He then said, once Surat Al-Qamar was a cause for him for disbelieving Islam. However this very same Surah in the Holy Quran has become the reason for his embracing Islam.

Whilst the moon brightens the earth with its celestial light, it affects the tides of the oceans, the taste of vegetation and the orbit of the earth. The moon has another purpose as well - a much loftier purpose - It is a means of determining time. The Holy Quran states: “They ask you about the new moons. Tell them that these are a means for people to determine the time and The Hajj.” (C2. V 189). He (Allah) has made the moon a celestial light... (c71. V16)

Amongst the signs of Allah’s existence is the moon.