Nat Geo Museum celebrates Scientific Achievements of Muslim Civilization

The award-winning interactive exhibition, 1001 Inventions, arrived in the US capital on August 3 introducing brand new audiences to the Golden Age of Muslim Civilization.

The ground-breaking scientific and cultural achievements of this era, from the 7th to the 17th centuries, will be introduced to visitors to the National Geographic Museum for six months, starting this summer.

1001 Inventions: Discover the Golden Age of Muslim Civilization is a blockbuster traveling exhibition that highlights the enormous contribution to science and technology made by men and women of many different faiths in Muslim Civilization. The exhibition opened on August 3 and runs through February 3, 2013.

“Muslim civilization stretched from southern Spain as far as China,” explains Producer and Director of 1001 Inventions Ahmed Salim.

“For a thousand years, scholars of many faiths built on the ancient knowledge of the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, making breakthroughs that helped pave the way for the Renaissance. The discoveries made by men and women in Muslim civilization - from automatic machines and medical marvels to astronomical observations and inspiring architecture - have left their mark on the way we live today.”

1001 Inventions is a global educational initiative that promotes awareness of scientific and cultural achievements from the ‘Golden Age’ of Muslim Civilization and how those contributions helped build the foundations of our modern world. The 1001 Inventions exhibition was named the Best Touring Exhibition of the Year at the Museums and Heritage Excellence Awards in 2011. This highly interactive exhibition showcases the historic advancements in navigation, medicine, hydraulics, optics, mathematics and more. 1001 Inventions has drawn millions of visitors at blockbuster residencies in London, Istanbul, New York and Abu Dhabi. A further 500,000 people saw the exhibition at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, where it closed in late April. The ‘Global Strategic Partner’ for 1001 Inventions is Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives, which has sponsored the exhibition and its international tour.

Spreading knowledge

Centerpiece of the exhibition is a model of celebrated Ottoman engineer Al-Jazari’s sophisticated Elephant Clock, created more than 800 years ago. The clock was a masterpiece celebrating the diversity of humankind and incorporating features from Indian, Egyptian, Greek, Chinese and Arabian cultures. The clock cleverly reflected cultural and technological influences from across Muslim Civilisation, from Spain to China. “The mission of National Geographic is to spread knowledge of the world and its cultures - past and present,” said Kathryn Keane, Vice President of Exhibitions at the National Geographic Society. “This exhibition is an opportunity to share the fascinating history of Muslim civilization with our audiences and to celebrate great scientific achievement and innovation.” The exhibition also features energy-efficient houses constructed more than 1,500 years ago. The houses incorporated natural cooling elements in their design, such as double-glazed windows, thick external walls and air-scoops for natural cross ventilation. Illustrations of the various houses are highlighted throughout the exhibition to show how our current energy-efficient houses use this same technology today.

The work of influential scientists, such as physicist Ibn al-Haytham, is featured in the exhibition. Al-Haytham’s ideas about optics overturned the ancient theory that our eyes send out invisible rays in order to see. He proved his theory of light rays being reflected from visible objects to build the first camera obscura. The exhibition includes camera obscura examples and other advancements in optics, showing how early people came to understand the complex concepts behind vision.

In addition to these larger-scale inventions, 1001 Inventions features many everyday objects that many do not know were invented by the men and women of the medieval Muslim Civilization. Items such as perfume, fabrics, chess games and more are featured to show visitors the importance of past inventions on our daily lives today.

In conjunction with the museum exhibition, the National Geographic Museum will host the 1001 Inventions Family Festival on 8th Sept. 2012 from 10am to 4pm. This outdoor festival will include performances, music and dance workshops, hands-on art activities, tastings, demonstrations and a craft bazaar. In addition, admission to the museum will be free all day. The festival is supported by a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

Enduring legacy

National Geographic Books recently published the companion book to the exhibition, “1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization”, that delves into some of the most important inventions from the period.

1001 Inventions

1001 Inventions is a leading and award-winning international science and cultural heritage brand reaching over 50 million people. The Muslim civilisation stretched from Spain to China. From the 7th century onwards, men and women of different faiths and cultures built on knowledge from ancient civilisations, making breakthroughs that have left their mark on our world.

1001 Inventions is supported by the UK-based Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation, an international network of academic experts, as its Global Knowledge Partner. Additional support comes from the Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives, philanthropic arm of the ALJ Group of companies, which serves as the Global Strategic Partner of 1001 Inventions.

1001 Inventions is based on two decades of research by more than a hundred leading academics and educationalists from around the world. The content of the 1001 Inventions exhibition was reviewed and approved by an independent panel of academics from the London Science Museum and was also reviewed by academic experts retained by California Science Center. Islam 6” National Geographic releases the third edition of 1001 Inventions book

Glimpse at the foundations of Human Rights laid by Islam

Islam provides many Human Rights for the individual. The following are some of these Human Rights that Islam protects.

The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred, whether a person is Muslim or not. Islam also protects honor. So, in Islam, insulting others or making fun of them is not allowed. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Truly your blood, your property, and your honor are inviolable.”

Racism is not allowed in Islam, for the Quran speaks of human equality in the following terms: “O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and have made you into nations and tribes for you to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you with God is the most pious. Truly, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Quran 49:13)

Islam rejects certain individuals or nations being favored because of their wealth, power, or race. God created human beings as equals who are to be distinguished from each other only on the basis of their faith and piety. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “O people! Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non-Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (ie. white tinged with red) person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person, except in piety.” One of the major problems facing mankind today is racism. The developed world can send a man to the moon but cannot stop man from hating and fighting his fellow man. Ever since the days of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Islam has provided a vivid example of how racism can be ended. The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah shows the real Islamic brotherhood of all races and nations, when about two million Muslims from all over the world come to Makkah to perform the pilgrimage.

Islam is a religion of justice. God has said: “Truly God commands you to give back trusts to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, to judge with justice....” (Quran 4:58)

And He has said: “...And act justly. Truly, God loves those who are just.” (Quran 49:9)

The Prince of Wales supports 1001 inventions

The Prince of Wales has written the foreword for the latest edition of the best-selling 1001 Inventions book, published by National Geographic, which demonstrates the enduring legacy of Muslim Civilization. The previous two editions of the flagship 1001 Inventions publication sold more than 250,000 copies, with Turkish and Arabic versions also proving very popular.

Praising the project, The Prince of Wales states in his foreword: “I am delighted to see the success of the initiative called 1001 Inventions, which presents and celebrates the many scientific, technological and humanitarian developments shared by the Islamic world and the West.”

The Prince of Wales also states: “It is a matter of great pride that, although global in its outreach and operation, 1001 Inventions is in fact an initiative of a British-based team supported by a network of academics around the world.”

1001 Inventions highlights how many of the most important scientific and technological discoveries and building blocks of modern civilization came out of Muslim society during the centuries after the fall of ancient Rome - a period known as the ‘Dark Ages’ in European civilization. However, while the Western World was in the doldrums, a “knowledge revolution” was occurring in the Muslim world.

The new edition of the book, titled 1001 Inventions: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Civilization, is official companion to the blockbuster 1001 Inventions exhibition, which opened at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC, last month. This third edition details hundreds outstanding achievements and the pioneering minds behind them. The book’s seven chapters are richly illustrated and provide insight into everyday life across Muslim civilization and the related and subsequent growth and progress of Western civilization. There is also an extensive reference section, a glossary of subjects and people, charts, timelines and maps illustrating the inventions and contributions, photographs, artifacts, historic documents and drawings.”

Ahmed Salim, Producer of 1001 Inventions, commented: “We are honoured that The Prince of Wales has written the foreword for the latest edition of the 1001 Inventions book. The Prince of Wales has, for many decades, actively promoted greater awareness of the enormous impact that Muslim Civilisation has had on our modern way of life, and he has publicly recognised the enormous, yet under-appreciated, positive influence that this era in history has on the world in which we live. We are grateful for The Prince of Wales’ continuing support for the important work that we are carrying out.”

1001 Inventions is an award-winning international science and cultural heritage brand.

1001 Inventions is recognised as the global leader in popularising awareness of the thousand years ‘Golden Age’ of Muslim Civilisation. From the 7th century onward, within a civilisation stretching from Spain to China, men and women of different faiths and cultures built on knowledge from ancient civilisations, making breakthroughs that have left their mark on our world.

Through its association with Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives and the UK based FSTC, 1001 Inventions has reached over 50 million people around the world using award winning productions, films, blockbuster exhibitions, books and educational resources.

Inter-cultural respect through cultural roots of science

We see much effort being expended on Inter-faith dialogues, which is important. But there is a new space for dialogue which we believe may have effective results in bringing cultures closer. Our Foundation is a non-religious and non-political institution based in the United Kingdom.

By using world class research and surveying of the traditional media, social media and school curricula, we discovered startling results. There is 1000 years amnesia in the public mind and in particular amongst the future generation. This amnesia affects the identity and behaviours of people towards themselves and towards other communities. Almost all people have perception that after the fall of the Roman Empire there was an extraordinary dull period of a 1000years called the “Dark Ages”.

This is a misnomer, as for the thousand years after 600 CE there was an extra-ordinary amount of scientific and intellectual activity that radiated from Baghdad and along a glittering crescent through North Africa and into Spain and Southern Italy.

For many years, people associate Baghdad with stories such as the 1001nights (or Arabian nights) and no information in the schools’ curricula or media about the enormous inventions and innovations from that period which still affect our lives. Science and sport are projected as entirely European with only European names of scientists, jumping a 1000 years from the Renaissance back to the Romans and the Greeks.

This gap is normally called “Dark Ages” or “Medieval Ages”. This amnesia brings a big problem, as it breeds superiority Complex amongst Europeans and Americans but it causes Inferiority Complex amongst other cultures. We believe there is a need for a new language based on cultural roots of science to discover connections between cultures to create social cohesion and inter-cultural respect. If we look at history using a religious lens we see conflict and hostility.

If we look at history using a political lens we again see wars and struggle for authority. If, however, we use the lens of science, we see cooperation and respect throughout humanity. Hence when we eliminate the 1000 years amnesia we not only have a logical continuity but also dependence of cultures upon each other in the efforts to build the civilisation of the present day. It demonstrates the famous saying by Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further than others, it was because I was standing on the shoulders of giants”.

One of our recent initiatives is the “1001 Inventions” project. It took up the challenge of using edutainment techniques to transfer historical information trapped in library archives into the popular domain, in particular the Global Digital Audience. An interactive touring exhibition, accompanied by a book, a teachers’ pack, a website www.1001inventions.com, a set of educational posters and a series of lectures were launched in March 2006.

The information is conveyed by taking the viewer/reader/visitor into a journey through zones showing such inventions, which we currently find or use, in the home, school, hospital, market, town, world and universe. The academic material is conveyed through a web portal www.MuslimHeritage.com after the usual peer reviewing and rigorous scrutiny for correctness and neutrality. This web portal has become the number one source on all aspects of Muslim civilisation in particular those relating to science, technology, art and sport.

I call upon the leaders of the countries participating in this summit to give a serious thought to using the cultural roots of science and sports to enhance respect and appreciation between their peoples.

Turmoil or transition

The stage of adolescence is often seen as a time of turmoil and distress for both the teenagers and their parents.

Parents worry about what kind of friends their teen will have, whether or not they will do well in school and decide to pursue their education further, and how much “control” they will have over their teen’s decisions. Greater fears include problems with drugs or alcohol, trouble with the legal system, premarital relationships, and suicide.

In addition to all of these issues, Muslim parents would be concerned about whether or not their adolescent will wear the hijab, perform Salaah correctly and on time, fast during the month of Ramadhan, avoid contact with members of the opposite gender, respect his/her parents and other adults. Dealing with all of these worries can be less stressful if a parent knows what to expect as their child enters this phase of development.

Adolescence is generally considered to begin around the age of 12 or 13 and end at 18 or 19. It is a period of transition between childhood and adulthood that is not at all universal. In many cultures and societies there is no such phase of development since marriage and the associated responsibilities occur at an early age. Adolescence is present in other societies due to social, economic, and cultural factors that produce a gap between the ability to reproduce biologically and the societal expectations for reproduction.

As Muslims, we need to contemplate the validity of this stage since we understand that accountability for our thoughts and actions begins at puberty (Buloogh). This means that even though we may not be an “adult” socially, we are considered to be one spiritually. Obviously this should bring up all kinds of red flags and warnings for parents as they realize that the task of parenting is mostly complete by the age of 12 or 13, depending on when a child reaches puberty.

At that time, the youth will be completely responsible to Allah for all that he/she does. This does not mean that being a parent ends at that time, but it does highlight the significance of those early years and the crucial role that parents play. We need to build a solid foundation so that our children will make appropriate choices when the time comes.

For those who are in a society where adolescence is regarded as a distinct developmental phase, it is beneficial to understand some of its general characteristics.

The perception that this time in life is one of turmoil and distress is related to the commonly held belief that parent-adolescent conflict is inevitable and that the difficulty will continue until the adolescent leaves home.

Although this does occur in some families, it should not be considered the norm. Disagreements will obviously arise as the adolescent begins to assert his/her need for independence and control, which is accompanied by expanding cognitive ability and an emerging self-identity.

Parents should respect their teenager’s choices and foster his/her sense of responsibility, as long as the choices are not contrary to the principles of Islam. Youth should also be taught the fundamental Islamic value of being obedient and respectful to parents at an early age so that when correction is necessary it will be readily accepted. The use of these two strategies should be effective in preventing any serious parent-adolescent conflict from occurring.

A positive note is that research has shown that although adolescents and their parents may differ about details of everyday life, they generally agree on issues related to basic values. This is another red flag to signify that we should be aware of the values that we are teaching our youth. Courtesy Council of Muslim Theologians, Durban

To be continued