The Contributions Of Muslim Scholars To The Development Of Modern Science: With Focus On Ibn Rushd
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By Nurudeen Dauda
(Reviewed, but originally written 24/2/17)
Today marks the “FOURTEENTH” in the series of my write ups on the contributions of muslims scholars to the development of modern science. It remains a challenge to the muslims the world over that despite the contributions of the early muslims scholars to the development of modern science their names are hardly mentioned.
His Biography:
Ibn Rushd (1126—1198) is a great scholar. His full name is Abu al-Walid Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rushd, better known in the western world as “Averroes”. Ibn Rushd was born in Cordoba , Al Andalus in the present day Spain. He lived during a unique period in the western intellectual history in which interest in philosophy and theology was waning in the muslim world and just beginning to flourish in the Latin western Christendom.
His Contributions:
Ibn Rusd is great scholar of Mathematics, Medicine, Physics and Astronomy. He wrote extensively on geography, mathematics, medieval sciences of medicine, astronomy, physics , and celestial mechanics .
Ibn Rushd wrote a medical encyclopedia called Kulliyat (Colliget) “Generalities”, i. e. general medicine), known in its Latin translation as Colliget . He made a compilation of the works of Galen and wrote a commentary on the Canon of Medicine (Al-Qanun fi ‘t-Tibb ) of Avicenna (Ibn Sina) (980–1037).
Ibn Rush also authored three books on physics namely: Short Commentary on the Physics, Middle Commentary on the Physics and Long Commentary on the Physics. Ibn Rushd defined and measured force as “the rate at which work is done in changing the kinetic condition of a material body” and correctly argued “that the effect and measure of force is change in the kinetic condition of a materially resistant mass”. He took a particular and keen interest in the understanding of “motor force”.
Ibn Rushd had a greater impact on Christian Europe being known by the sobriquet the Commentator for his detailed emendations to Aristotle . Latin translations of Ibn Rushd’s work led the way to the popularization of Aristotle.
He is interested in Philosophy, Psychology, political science and Andalusian classical music theory. He wrote on logic, Aristotelian and Islamic philosophy, theology and the Maliki school of Islamic jurisprudence.
May Allah guide us!
Dauda can be reached at
nurudeendauda24@yahoo.com, nurudeendauda24@gmail.com,
nurudeendauda.blogspot.com
