Dua Prayer: For good in the life and away from the torment of fire

"Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the life to come and keep us safe from the torment of the Fire (2:201)"

Setting the Record Straight: The Miracle of Islamic Science

Excerpted from: Appendix B of 'The Miracle of Islamic Science' by Dr. K. Ajram, Copyright © 1992

The concept that the sciences are exclusively the products of Western minds remains unquestioned by most individuals. A review of any of the standard texts or encyclopaedias regarding the history of science would support this view. As these books are perused, it becomes evident that the only contributors given significant mention are Europeans and/or Americans. It is hardly necessary to repeat the oft-mentioned names: Galileo, Copernicus, Kepler, Bacon, Newton, Da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, etc. The unavoidable conclusion is that major contributions to the development of the modern sciences by other cultures is minimal. Most texts give little or no mention of the advancements made by ancient Indian, Chinese or, particularly, Muslim scholars.

Western civilization has made invaluable contributions to the development of the sciences. However, so have numerous other cultures. Unfortunately, Westerners have long been credited with discoveries made many centuries before by Islamic scholars. Thus, many of the basic sciences were invented by non-Europeans. For instance, George Sarton states that modern Western medicine did not originate from Europe and that it actually arose from the (Islamic) orient.

The data in this section concerning dates, names and topics of Western advances has been derived from three main sources: World Book Encyclopedia, Encyclopaedia Britannica and Isaac Asimov's 700 page book, Chronology of Science and Discovery. Supportive data for the accomplishments of Islamic scholars is derived from the miscellaneous references listed in the bibliography of this book.

What is Taught: The first mention of man in flight was by Roger Bacon, who drew a flying apparatus. Leonardo da Vinci also conceived of airborne transport and drew several prototypes.

What Should be Taught: Ibn Firnas of Islamic Spain invented, constructed and tested a flying machine in the 800's A.D. Roger Bacon learned of flying machines from Arabic references to Ibn Firnas' machine. The latter's invention antedates Bacon by 500 years and Da Vinci by some 700 years.

What is Taught: Glass mirrors were first produced in 1291 in Venice.

What Should be Taught: Glass mirrors were in use in Islamic Spain as early as the 11th century. The Venetians learned of the art of fine glass production from Syrian artisans during the 9th and 10th centuries.

What is Taught: Until the 14th century, the only type of clock available was the water clock. In 1335, a large mechanical clock was erected in Milan, Italy. This was possibly the first weight-driven clock.

What Should be Taught: A variety of mechanical clocks were produced by Spanish Muslim engineers, both large and small, and this knowledge was transmitted to Europe through Latin translations of Islamic books on mechanics. These clocks were weight-driven. Designs and illustrations of epi-cyclic and segmental gears were provided. One such clock included a mercury escapement. The latter type was directly copied by Europeans during the 15th century. In addition, during the 9^th century,Ibn Firnas of Islamic Spain, according to Will Durant, invented a watch-like device which kept accurate time. The Muslims also constructed a variety of highly accurate astronomical clocks for use in their observatories.

What is Taught: In the 17th century, the pendulum was developed by Galileo during his teenage years. He noticed a chandelier swaying as it was being blown by the wind. As a result, he went home and invented the pendulum.

What Should be Taught: The pendulum was discovered by Ibn Yunus al-Masri during the 10th century, who was the first to study and document its oscillatory motion. Its value for use in clocks was introduced by Muslim physicists during the 15^th century.

What is Taught: Movable type and the printing press was invented in the West by Johannes Gutenberg of Germany during the 15th century.

What Should be Taught: In 1454, Gutenberg developed the most sophisticated printing press of the Middle Ages. However, movable brass type was in use in Islamic Spain 100 years prior, and that is where the West's first printing devices were made.

What is Taught: Isaac Newton's 17th century study of lenses, light and prisms forms the foundation of the modern science of optics.

What Should be Taught: In the 1lth century al-Haytham determined virtually everything that Newton advanced regarding optics centuries prior and is regarded by numerous authorities as the "founder of optics. " There is little doubt that Newton was influenced by him. Al-Haytham was the most quoted physicist of the Middle Ages. His works were utilized and quoted by a greater number of European scholars during the 16th and 17th centuries than those of Newton and Galileo combined.

What is Taught: Isaac Newton, during the 17th century, discovered that white light consists of various rays of colored light.

What Should be Taught: This discovery was made in its entirety by al-Haytham (1lth century) and Kamal ad-Din (14^th century). Newton did make original discoveries, but this was not one of them.

What is Taught: The concept of the finite nature of matter was first introduced by Antione Lavoisier during the 18th century. He discovered that, although matter may change its form or shape, its mass always remains the same. Thus, for instance, if water is heated to steam, if salt is dissolved in water or if a piece of wood is burned to ashes, the total mass remains unchanged.

What Should be Taught: The principles of this discovery were elaborated centuries before by Islamic Persia's great scholar, al-Biruni (d. 1050). Lavoisier was a disciple of the Muslim chemists and physicists and referred to their books frequently.

What is Taught: The Greeks were the developers of trigonometry.

What Should be Taught: Trigonometry remained largely a theoretical science among the Greeks. It was developed to a level of modern perfection by Muslim scholars, although the weight of the credit must be given to al-Battani. The words describing the basic functions of this science, sine, cosine and tangent, are all derived from Arabic terms. Thus, original contributions by the Greeks in trigonometry were minimal.

What is Taught: The use of decimal fractions in mathematics was first developed by a Dutchman, Simon Stevin, in 1589. He helped advance the mathematical sciences by replacing the cumbersome fractions, for instance, 1/2, with decimal fractions, for example, 0.5.

What Should be Taught: Muslim mathematicians were the first to utilize decimals instead of fractions on a large scale. Al-Kashi's book, Key to Arithmetic, was written at the beginning of the 15th century and was the stimulus for the systematic application of decimals to whole numbers and fractions thereof. It is highly probably that Stevin imported the idea to Europe from al-Kashi's work.

What is Taught: The first man to utilize algebraic symbols was the French mathematician, Francois Vieta. In 1591, he wrote an algebra book describing equations with letters such as the now familiar x and y's. Asimov says that this discovery had an impact similar to the progression from Roman numerals to Arabic numbers.

What Should be Taught: Muslim mathematicians, the inventors of algebra, introduced the concept of using letters for unknown variables in equations as early as the 9th century A.D. Through this system, they solved a variety of complex equations, including quadratic and cubic equations. They used symbols to develop and perfect the binomial theorem.

What is Taught: The difficult cubic equations (x to the third power) remained unsolved until the 16th century when Niccolo Tartaglia, an Italian mathematician, solved them.

What Should be Taught: Cubic equations as well as numerous equations of even higher degrees were solved with ease by Muslim mathematicians as early as the 10th century.

What is Taught: The concept that numbers could be less than zero, that is negative numbers, was unknown until 1545 when Geronimo Cardano introduced the idea.

What Should he Taught: Muslim mathematicians introduced negative numbers for use in a variety of arithmetic functions at least 400 years prior to Cardano.

What is Taught: In 1614, John Napier invented logarithms and logarithmic tables.

What Should be Taught: Muslim mathematicians invented logarithms and produced logarithmic tables several centuries prior. Such tables were common in the Islamic world as early as the 13th century.

What is Taught: During the 17th century Rene Descartes made the discovery that algebra could be used to solve geometrical problems. By this, he greatly advanced the science of geometry.

What Should be Taught: Mathematicians of the Islamic Empire accomplished precisely this as early as the 9th century A.D. Thabit bin Qurrah was the first to do so, and he was followed by Abu'l Wafa, whose 10th century book utilized algebra to advance geometry into an exact and simplified science.

What is Taught: Isaac Newton, during the 17th century, developed the binomial theorem, which is a crucial component for the study of algebra.

What Should be Taught: Hundreds of Muslim mathematicians utilized and perfected the binomial theorem. They initiated its use for the systematic solution of algebraic problems during the 10th century (or prior).

What is Taught: No improvement had been made in the astronomy of the ancients during the Middle Ages regarding the motion of planets until the 13th century. Then Alphonso the Wise of Castile (Middle Spain) invented the Aphonsine Tables, which were more accurate than Ptolemy's.

What Should be Taught: Muslim astronomers made numerous improvements upon Ptolemy's findings as early as the 9^th century. They were the first astronomers to dispute his archaic ideas. In their critic of the Greeks, they synthesized proof that the sun is the center of the solar system and that the orbits of the earth and other planets might be elliptical. They produced hundreds of highly accurate astronomical tables and star charts. Many of their calculations are so precise that they are regarded as contemporary. The AlphonsineTables are little more than copies of works on astronomy transmitted to Europe via Islamic Spain, i.e. the Toledo Tables.

What is Taught: The English scholar Roger Bacon (d. 1292) first mentioned glass lenses for improving vision. At nearly the same time, eyeglasses could be found in use both in China and Europe.

What Should be Taught: Ibn Firnas of Islamic Spain invented eyeglasses during the 9th century, and they were manufactured and sold throughout Spain for over two centuries. Any mention of eyeglasses by Roger Bacon was simply a regurgitation of the work of al-Haytham (d. 1039), whose research Bacon frequently referred to.

What is Taught: Gunpowder was developed in the Western world as a result of Roger Bacon's work in 1242. The first usage of gunpowder in weapons was when the Chinese fired it from bamboo shoots in attempt to frighten Mongol conquerors. They produced it by adding sulfur and charcoal to saltpeter.

What Should be Taught: The Chinese developed saltpeter for use in fireworks and knew of no tactical military use for gunpowder, nor did they invent its formula. Research by Reinuad and Fave have clearly shown that gunpowder was formulated initially by Muslim chemists. Further, these historians claim that the Muslims developed the first fire-arms. Notably, Muslim armies used grenades and other weapons in their defence of Algericus against the Franks during the 14^th century. Jean Mathes indicates that the Muslim rulers had stock-piles of grenades, rifles, crude cannons, incendiary devices, sulfur bombs and pistols decades before such devices were used in Europe. The first mention of a cannon was in an Arabic text around 1300 A.D. Roger Bacon learned of the formula for gunpowder from Latin translations of Arabic books. He brought forth nothing original in this regard.

What is Taught: The compass was invented by the Chinese who may have been the first to use it for navigational purposes sometime between 1000 and 1100 A.D. The earliest reference to its use in navigation was by the Englishman, Alexander Neckam (1157-1217).

What Should be Taught: Muslim geographers and navigators learned of the magnetic needle, possibly from the Chinese, and were the first to use magnetic needles in navigation. They invented the compass and passed the knowledge of its use in navigation to the West. European navigators relied on Muslim pilots and their instruments when exploring unknown territories. Gustav Le Bon claims that the magnetic needle and compass were entirely invented by the Muslims and that the Chinese had little to do with it. Neckam, as well as the Chinese, probably learned of it from Muslim traders. It is noteworthy that the Chinese improved their navigational expertise after they began interacting with the Muslims during the 8th century.

What is Taught: The first man to classify the races was the German Johann F. Blumenbach, who divided mankind into white, yellow, brown, black and red peoples.

What Should be Taught: Muslim scholars of the 9th through 14th centuries invented the science of ethnography. A number of Muslim geographers classified the races, writing detailed explanations of their unique cultural habits and physical appearances. They wrote thousands of pages on this subject. Blumenbach's works were insignificant in comparison.

What is Taught: The science of geography was revived during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries when the ancient works of Ptolemy were discovered. The Crusades and the Portuguese/Spanish expeditions also contributed to this reawakening. The first scientifically-based treatise on geography were produced during this period by Europe's scholars.

What Should be Taught: Muslim geographers produced untold volumes of books on the geography of Africa, Asia, India, China and the Indies during the 8th through 15th centuries. These writings included the world's first geographical encyclopedias, almanacs and road maps. Ibn Battutah's 14^th century masterpieces provide a detailed view of the geography of the ancient world. The Muslim geographers of the 10^th through 15^th centuries far exceeded the output by Europeans regarding the geography of these regions well into the 18^th century. The Crusades led to the destruction of educational institutions, their scholars and books. They brought nothing substantive regarding geography to the Western world.

What is Taught: Robert Boyle, in the 17th century, originated the science of chemistry.

What Should be Taught: A variety of Muslim chemists, including ar-Razi, al-Jabr, al-Biruni and al-Kindi, performed scientific experiments in chemistry some 700 years prior to Boyle. Durant writes that the Muslims introduced the experimental method to this science. Humboldt regards the Muslims as the founders of chemistry.

What is Taught: Leonardo da Vinci (16th century) fathered the science of geology when he noted that fossils found on mountains indicated a watery origin of the earth.

What Should be Taught: Al-Biruni (1lth century) made precisely this observation and added much to it, including a huge book on geology, hundreds of years before Da Vinci was born. Ibn Sina noted this as well (see pages 100-101). it is probable that Da Vinci first learned of this concept from Latin translations of Islamic books. He added nothing original to their findings.

What is Taught: The first mention of the geological formation of valleys was in 1756, when Nicolas Desmarest proposed that they were formed over a long periods of time by streams.

What Should be Taught: Ibn Sina and al-Biruni made precisely this discovery during the 11^th century (see pages 102 and 103), fully 700 years prior to Desmarest.

What is Taught: Galileo (17th century) was the world's first great experimenter.

What Should be Taught: Al-Biruni (d. 1050) was the world's first great experimenter. He wrote over 200 books, many of which discuss his precise experiments. His literary output in the sciences amounts to some 13,000 pages, far exceeding that written by Galileo or, for that matter, Galileo and Newton combined.

What is Taught: The Italian Giovanni Morgagni is regarded as the father of pathology because he was the first to correctly describe the nature of disease.

What Should be Taught: Islam's surgeons were the first pathologists. They fully realized the nature of disease and described a variety of diseases to modern detail. Ibn Zuhr correctly described the nature of pleurisy, tuberculosis and pericarditis. Az-Zahrawi accurately documented the pathology of hydrocephalus (water on the brain) and other congenital diseases. Ibn al-Quff and Ibn an-Nafs gave perfect descriptions of the diseases of circulation. Other Muslim surgeons gave the first accurate descriptions of certain malignancies, including cancer of the stomach, bowel and esophagus. These surgeons were the originators of pathology, not Giovanni Morgagni.

What is Taught: Paul Ehrlich (19th century) is the originator of drug chemotherapy, that is the use of specific drugs to kill microbes.

What Should be Taught: Muslim physicians used a variety of specific substances to destroy microbes. They applied sulfur topically specifically to kill the scabies mite. Ar-Razi (10^th century) used mercurial compounds as topical antiseptics.

What is Taught: Purified alcohol, made through distillation, was first produced by Arnau de Villanova, a Spanish alchemist, in 1300 A.D.

What Should be Taught: Numerous Muslim chemists produced medicinal-grade alcohol through distillation as early as the 10^th century and manufactured on a large scale the first distillation devices for use in chemistry. They used alcohol as a solvent and antiseptic.

What is Taught: The first surgery performed under inhalation anesthesia was conducted by C.W. Long, an American, in 1845.

What Should be Taught: Six hundred years prior to Long, Islamic Spain's Az-Zahrawi and Ibn Zuhr, among other Muslim surgeons, performed hundreds of surgeries under inhalation anesthesia with the use of narcotic-soaked sponges which were placed over the face.

What is Taught: During the 16th century Paracelsus invented the use of opium extracts for anesthesia.

What Should be Taught: Muslim physicians introduced the anesthetic value of opium derivatives during the Middle Ages. Opium was originally used as an anesthetic agent by the Greeks. Paracelus was a student of Ibn Sina's works from which it is almost assured that he derived this idea.

What is Taught: Modern anesthesia was invented in the 19^th century by Humphrey Davy and Horace Wells.

What Should be Taught: Modern anesthesia was discovered, mastered and perfected by Muslim anesthetists 900 years before the advent of Davy and Wells. They utilized oral as well as inhalant anesthetics.

What is Taught: The concept of quarantine was first developed in 1403. In Venice, a law was passed preventing strangers from entering the city until a certain waiting period had passed. If, by then, no sign of illness could be found, they were allowed in.

What Should be Taught: The concept of quarantine was first introduced in the 7th century A.D. by the prophet Muhammad, who wisely warned against entering or leaving a region suffering from plague. As early as the 10th century, Muslim physicians innovated the use of isolation wards for individuals suffering with communicable diseases.

What is Taught: The scientific use of antiseptics in surgery was discovered by the British surgeon Joseph Lister in 1865.

What Should be Taught: As early as the 10th century, Muslim physicians and surgeons were applying purified alcohol to wounds as an antiseptic agent. Surgeons in Islamic Spain utilized special methods for maintaining antisepsis prior to and during surgery. They also originated specific protocols for maintaining hygiene during the post-operative period. Their success rate was so high that dignitaries throughout Europe came to Cordova, Spain, to be treated at what was comparably the "Mayo Clinic" of the Middle Ages.

What is Taught: In 1545, the scientific use of surgery was advanced by the French surgeon Ambroise Pare. Prior to him, surgeons attempted to stop bleeding through the gruesome procedure of searing the wound with boiling oil. Pare stopped the use of boiling oils and began ligating arteries. He is considered the "father of rational surgery." Pare was also one of the first Europeans to condemn such grotesque "surgical" procedures as trepanning (see reference #6, pg. 110).

What Should be Taught: Islamic Spain's illustrious surgeon, az-Zahrawi (d. 1013), began ligating arteries with fine sutures over 500 years prior to Pare. He perfected the use of Catgut, that is suture made from animal intestines. Additionally, he instituted the use of cotton plus wax to plug bleeding wounds. The full details of his works were made available to Europeans through Latin translations.

Despite this, barbers and herdsmen continued be the primary individuals practicing the "art" of surgery for nearly six centuries after az-Zahrawi's death. Pare himself was a barber, albeit more skilled and conscientious than the average ones.

Included in az-Zahrawi's legacy are dozens of books. His most famous work is a 30 volume treatise on medicine and surgery. His books contain sections on preventive medicine, nutrition, cosmetics, drug therapy, surgical technique, anesthesia, pre and post-operative care as well as drawings of some 200 surgical devices, many of which he invented. The refined and scholarly az-Zahrawi must be regarded as the father and founder of rational surgery, not the uneducated Pare.

What is Taught: William Harvey, during the early 17^th century, discovered that blood circulates. He was the first to correctly describe the function of the heart, arteries and veins. Rome's Galen had presented erroneous ideas regarding the circulatory system, and Harvey was the first to determine that blood is pumped throughout the body via the action of the heart and the venous valves. Therefore, he is regarded as the founder of human physiology.

What Should be Taught: In the 10th century, Islam's ar-Razi wrote an in-depth treatise on the venous system, accurately describing the function of the veins and their valves. Ibn an-Nafs and Ibn al-Quff (13th century) provided full documentation that the blood circulates and correctly described the physiology of the heart and the function of its valves 300 years before Harvey. William Harvey was a graduate of Italy's famous Padua University at a time when the majority of its curriculum was based upon Ibn Sina's and ar-Razi's textbooks.

What is Taught: The first pharmacopeia (book of medicines) was published by a German scholar in 1542. According to World Book Encyclopedia, the science of pharmacology was begun in the 1900's as an off-shoot of chemistry due to the analysis of crude plant materials. Chemists, after isolating the active ingredients from plants, realized their medicinal value.

What Should be Taught: According to the eminent scholar of Arab history, Phillip Hitti, the Muslims, not the Greeks or Europeans, wrote the first "modern" pharmacopeia. The science of pharmacology was originated by Muslim physicians during the 9th century. They developed it into a highly refined and exact science. Muslim chemists, pharmacists and physicians produced thousands of drugs and/or crude herbal extracts one thousand years prior to the supposed birth of pharmacology. During the 14th century Ibn Baytar wrote a monumental pharmacopeia listing some 1400 different drugs. Hundreds of other pharmacopeias were published during the Islamic Era. It is likely that the German work is an offshoot of that by Ibn Baytar, which was widely circulated in Europe.

What is Taught: The discovery of the scientific use of drugs in the treatment of specific diseases was made by Paracelsus, the Swiss-born physician, during the 16th century. He is also credited with being the first to use practical experience as a determining factor in the treatment of patients rather than relying exclusively on the works of the ancients.

What Should be Taught: Ar-Razi, Ibn Sina, al-Kindi, Ibn Rushd, az-Zahrawi, Ibn Zuhr, Ibn Baytar, Ibn al-Jazzar, Ibn Juljul, Ibn al-Quff, Ibn an-Nafs, al-Biruni, Ibn Sahl and hundreds of other Muslim physicians mastered the science of drug therapy for the treatment of specific symptoms and diseases. In fact, this concept was entirely their invention. The word "drug" is derived from Arabic. Their use of practical experience and careful observation was extensive.

Muslim physicians were the first to criticize ancient medical theories and practices. Ar-Razi devoted an entire book as a critique of Galen's anatomy. The works of Paracelsus are insignificant compared to the vast volumes of medical writings and original findings accomplished by the medical giants of Islam.

What is Taught: The first sound approach to the treatment of disease was made by a German, Johann Weger, in the 1500's.

What Should be Taught: Harvard's George Sarton says that modern medicine is entirely an Islamic development and that Setting the Record Straight the Muslim physicians of the 9th through 12th centuries were precise, scientific, rational and sound in their approach. Johann Weger was among thousands of Europeans physicians during the 15th through 17th centuries who were taught the medicine of ar-Razi and Ibn Sina. He contributed nothing original.

What is Taught: Medical treatment for the insane was modernized by Philippe Pinel when in 1793 he operated France's first insane asylum.

What Should be Taught: As early as the 1lth century, Islamic hospitals maintained special wards for the insane. They treated them kindly and presumed their disease was real at a time when the insane were routinely burned alive in Europe as witches and sorcerers. A curative approach was taken for mental illness and, for the first time in history, the mentally ill were treated with supportive care, drugs and psychotherapy. Every major Islamic city maintained an insane asylum where patients were treated at no charge. In fact, the Islamic system for the treatment of the insane excels in comparison to the current model, as it was more humane and was highly effective as well.

What is Taught: Kerosine was first produced by the an Englishman, Abraham Gesner, in 1853. He distilled it from asphalt.

What Should be Taught: Muslim chemists produced kerosine as a distillate from petroleum products over 1,000 years prior to Gesner (see Encyclopaedia Britannica under the heading, Petroleum).

For biographies of Muslim Scholars mentioned in this article, visit the Web Site: Muslim Scientists and Islamic Civilization.

For authors and books mentioned in this article, refer to the author's book 'The Miracle of Islamic Science'. Also, Refer to Dr. Ajram's companion book 'Incredible Islamic Scientists: Incredible Facts About Incredible Men - 500 Multiple Choice, Short Answers and True-False Questions', 1992, p. 136. ISBN 0911119485. 

How Islamic Inventors Changed the World

​By Paul Vallely

From coffee to cheques and the three-course meal, the Muslim world has given us many innovations that we in the West take for granted. Here are 20 of their most influential innovations:

(1) The story goes that an Arab named Khalid was tending his goats in the Kaffa region of southern Ethiopia, when he noticed his animals became livelier after eating a certain berry.

He boiled the berries to make the first coffee. Certainly the first record of the drink is of beans exported from Ethiopia to Yemen where Sufis drank it to stay awake all night to pray on special occasions. By the late 15th century it had arrived in Makkah and Turkey from where it made its way to Venice in 1645.

It was brought to England in 1650 by a Turk named Pasqua Rosee who opened the first coffee house in Lombard Street in the City of London. The Arabic “qahwa” became the Turkish “kahve” then the Italian “caffé” and then English “coffee”.

(2) The ancient Greeks thought our eyes emitted rays, like a laser, which enabled us to see. The first person to realise that light enters the eye, rather than leaving it, was the 10th-century Muslim mathematician, astronomer and physicist Ibn al-Haitham.

He invented the first pin-hole camera after noticing the way light came through a hole in window shutters. The smaller the hole, the better the picture, he worked out, and set up the first Camera Obscura (from the Arab word “qamara” for a dark or private room).

He is also credited with being the first man to shift physics from a philosophical activity to an experimental one.

(3) A form of chess was played in ancient India but the game was developed into the form we know it today in Persia. From there it spread westward to Europe — where it was introduced by the Moors in Spain in the 10th century — and eastward as far as Japan. The word “rook” comes from the Persian “rukh”, which means chariot.

(4) A thousand years before the Wright brothers, a Muslim poet, astronomer, musician and engineer named Abbas ibn Firnas made several attempts to construct a flying machine. In 852 he jumped from the minaret of the Grand Mosque in Cordoba using a loose cloak stiffened with wooden struts.

He hoped to glide like a bird. He didn’t. But the cloak slowed his fall, creating what is thought to be the first parachute, and leaving him with only minor injuries.

In 875, aged 70, having perfected a machine of silk and eagles’ feathers he tried again, jumping from a mountain. He flew to a significant height and stayed aloft for ten minutes but crashed on landing — concluding, correctly, that it was because he had not given his device a tail so it would stall on landing. Baghdad international airport and a crater on the Moon are named after him.

(5) Washing and bathing are religious requirements for Muslims, which is perhaps why they perfected the recipe for soap which we still use today. The ancient Egyptians had soap of a kind, as did the Romans who used it more as a pomade.

But it was the Arabs who combined vegetable oils with sodium hydroxide and aromatics such as thyme oil. One of the Crusaders’ most striking characteristics, to Arab nostrils, was that they did not wash.

Shampoo was introduced to England by a Muslim who opened Mahomed’s Indian Vapour Baths on Brighton seafront in 1759 and was appointed Shampooing Surgeon to Kings George IV and William IV.

(6) Distillation, the means of separating liquids through differences in their boiling points, was invented around the year 800 by Islam’s foremost scientist, Jabir ibn Hayyan, who transformed alchemy into chemistry, inventing many of the basic processes and apparatus still in use today — liquefaction, crystallisation, distillation, purification, oxidisation, evaporation and filtration.

As well as discovering sulphuric and nitric acid, he invented the alembic still, giving the world intense rosewater and other perfumes and alcoholic spirits (although drinking them forbidden, in Islam). Ibn Hayyan emphasised systematic experimentation and was the founder of modern chemistry.

(7) The crank-shaft is a device which translates rotary into linear motion and is central to much of the machinery in the modern world, not least the internal combustion engine. One of the most important mechanical inventions in the history of humankind, it was created by an ingenious Muslim engineer called al-Jazari to raise water for irrigation.

His Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices (1206) shows he also invented or refined the use of valves and pistons, devised some of the first mechanical clocks driven by water and weights, and was the father of robotics. Among his 50 other inventions was the combination lock.

(8) Quilting is a method of sewing or tying two layers of cloth with a layer of insulating material in between. It is not clear whether it was invented in the Muslim world or whether it was imported there from India or China.

However, it certainly came to the West via the Crusaders. They saw it used by Saracen warriors, who wore straw-filled quilted canvas shirts instead of armour. As well as a form of protection, it proved an effective guard against the chafing of the Crusaders’ metal armour and was an effective form of insulation — so much so that it became a cottage industry back home in colder climates such as Britain and Holland.

(9) The pointed arch so characteristic of Europe’s Gothic cathedrals was an invention borrowed from Islamic architecture. It was much stronger than the rounded arch used by the Romans and Normans, thus allowing the building of bigger, higher, more complex and grander buildings.

Other borrowings from Muslim genius included ribbed vaulting, rose windows and dome-building techniques. Europe’s castles were also adapted to copy the Islamic world’s — with arrow slits, battlements, a barbican and parapets. Square towers and keeps gave way to more easily defended round ones. The architect of Henry V’s castle was a Muslim.

(10) Many modern surgical instruments are of exactly the same design as those devised in the 10th century by a Muslim surgeon called al-Zahrawi. His scalpels, bone saws, forceps, fine scissors for eye surgery and many of the 200 instruments he devised are recognisable to a modern surgeon.

It was he who discovered that catgut used for internal stitches dissolves away naturally (a discovery he made when his monkey ate his lute strings) and that it can be also used to make medicine capsules.

In the 13th century, another Muslim medic named Ibn Nafis described the circulation of the blood, 300 years before William Harvey discovered it. Muslim doctors also invented anaesthetics of opium and alcohol mixes and developed hollow needles to suck cataracts from eyes in a technique still used today.

(11) The windmill was invented in 634 for a Persian caliph and was used to grind corn and draw up water for irrigation. In the vast deserts of Arabia, when the seasonal streams ran dry, the only source of power was the wind which blew steadily from one direction for months. Mills had six or 12 sails covered in fabric or palm leaves. It was 500 years before the first windmill was seen in Europe.

(12) The technique of inoculation was not invented by Jenner and Pasteur but was devised in the Muslim world and brought to Europe from Turkey by the wife of the English ambassador to Istanbul in 1724. Children in Turkey were vaccinated with cowpox to fight the deadly smallpox at least 50 years before the West discovered it.

(13) The fountain pen was invented for the Sultan of Egypt in 953 after he demanded a pen which would not stain his hands or clothes. It held ink in a reservoir and, as with modern pens, fed ink to the nib by a combination of gravity and capillary action.

(14) The system of numbering in use all round the world is probably Indian in origin but the style of the numerals is Arabic and first appears in print in the work of the Muslim mathematicians al-Khwarizmi and al-Kindi around 825.

Algebra was named after al-Khwarizmi’s book, Al-Jabr wa-al-Muqabilah, much of whose contents are still in use. The work of Muslim maths scholars was imported into Europe 300 years later by the Italian mathematician Fibonacci.

Algorithms and much of the theory of trigonometry came from the Muslim world. And Al-Kindi’s discovery of frequency analysis rendered all the codes of the ancient world soluble and created the basis of modern cryptology.

(15) Ali ibn Nafi, known by his nickname of Ziryab (Blackbird) came from Iraq to Cordoba in the 9th century and brought with him the concept of the three-course meal — soup, followed by fish or meat, then fruit and nuts. He also introduced crystal glasses (which had been invented after experiments with rock crystal by Abbas ibn Firnas).

(16) Carpets were regarded as part of paradise by mediaeval Muslims, thanks to their advanced weaving techniques, new tinctures from Islamic chemistry and highly developed sense of pattern and arabesque which were the basis of Islam’s non-representational art.

In contrast, Europe’s floors were distinctly earthly, not to say earthy, until Arabian and Persian carpets were introduced. In England, as Erasmus recorded, floors were “covered in rushes, occasionally renewed, but so imperfectly that the bottom layer is left undisturbed, sometimes for 20 years, harbouring expectoration, vomiting, the leakage of dogs and men, ale droppings, scraps of fish, and other abominations not fit to be mentioned”. Carpets, unsurprisingly, caught on quickly.

(17) The modern cheque comes from the Arabic “saqq”, a written vow to pay for goods when they were delivered, to avoid money having to be transported across dangerous terrain. In the 9th century, a Muslim businessman could cash a cheque in China drawn on his bank in Baghdad.

(18) By the 9th century, many Muslim scholars took it for granted that the Earth was a sphere. The proof, said astronomer Ibn Hazm, “is that the Sun is always vertical to a particular spot on Earth”. It was 500 years before that realisation dawned on Galileo.

The calculations of Muslim astronomers were so accurate that in the 9th century they reckoned the Earth’s circumference to be 40, 253.4km — less than 200km out. Al-Idrisi took a globe depicting the world to the court of King Roger of Sicily in 1139.

(19) Though the Chinese invented saltpetre gunpowder, and used it in their fireworks, it was the Arabs who worked out that it could be purified using potassium nitrate for military use. Muslim incendiary devices terrified the Crusaders.

By the 15th century they had invented both a rocket, which they called a “self-moving and combusting egg”, and a torpedo — a self-propelled pear-shaped bomb with a spear at the front which impaled itself in enemy ships and then blew up.

(20) Mediaeval Europe had kitchen and herb gardens, but it was the Arabs who developed the idea of the garden as a place of beauty and meditation. The first royal pleasure gardens in Europe were opened in 11th-century Muslim Spain. Flowers which originated in Muslim gardens include the carnation and the tulip. (Courtesy: The Independent)

http://www.dawn.com/weekly/science/archive/060325/science3.htm

What Muslim needs to know about Ramadan

By: Bilal Abu Aisha

All praise belongs to Allah who said in His final revelation, the Qur’an: “O you who believe! Observing fast is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious.”1 And peace and blessings of Allah be upon the greatest of Messengers, Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions, and upon all those who pursue his path, the path of righteousness, till the Last Day. As the noble month of Ramadan draws near, it is relevant for us to look into some of the rulings associated with fasting. It is incumbent on Muslims to be aware of what Allah Most High has made permissible, and have knowledge of what He has forbidden, in order that we worship Allah with sure sightedness and clear evidence. Thus by the will of Allah be included amongst the winners of this month. By Bilal Abu Aisha

Virtues of the month of Ramadan

Allah (s.w.t) has specified the month of fasting to be the month entailing a number of specialties that signify its nobility and great virtue. From amongst the distinguishing elements is that the Qur’an was sent down in it, as Allah Most High said: “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an…”2 Also, in this month is the night of decree, which is better than a thousand months. Allah (s.w.t) said: “Verily! We have sent it down in the night of Al-Qadr (decree).”3 In this month the Shaitaans (Satans) are chained, the gates of Jahannam (Hellfire) are closed, and the gates of Jannah (Heaven) are open as per hadith Abu Hurairah in Saheeh Bukhari.

From amongst the specialties of this month also, is that Allah Most High said fasting is for Him alone: “All of the actions of the sons of Adam are multiplied…except fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it…”4

Muslims in Ramadan

In Ramadan, Muslims can be categorised into one of the following groups. Firstly, there are those who await this month patiently, with increasing happiness at its advent, so you see them working diligently in varying acts of worship, performing what is obligatory, and carrying out multiple mustahab (desired) acts of worship. They do so following in the footsteps of the best of mankind, Muhammad , as has been narrated in Saheeh Bukhari.

Then there are those people who enter this month and come out in the same state as they entered, that is, without any increase in righteous actions. Indeed, the individuals of this group have forfeited an abundant and countless deal of meritorious deeds.

The third group of people are those who don’t know Allah except in this month. These people are referred to as Ramadan Muslims. When the month of Ramadan arrives you see these people bowing and prostrating, however as soon as the month comes to a halt they return to their old self. To the individual in this category we say, if Allah (s.w.t) decreed death upon you in this month, whilst you are in obedience to Allah, do you not think that you will meet Allah pleased with you? Therefore it is incumbent on you to be in complete obedience to Allah just as you were in Ramadan, so that you meet Allah in a state that pleases Him.

The next group of people are those who fast by abstaining from food and drink and not anything else, that is, they do not forbear sinful actions. The only thing these people attain from their fasting is hunger and thirst, as Prophet Muhammad informs us. We seek refuge with Allah from all types of abominable actions both in and outside of Ramadan.

Another group of people are those who transform the days of Ramadan into times of sleep, and its nights into times of entertainment. They do not build the days or nights in remembering Allah, instead they spend their nights in unlawful acts of amusements. To these people we say, fear Allah, and do not fall short from occupying yourself with the abundance of good that has been bestowed upon you, whilst you are blessed with commendable living standards and excellent health.

The final group of people includes those who do not know Allah Most High, not in Ramadan, nor outside of it. You find these individuals heedless regarding their Salaat and fasting. They abandon these pillars despite being gifted with excellent health, and then they have the audacity to declare that they are believing Muslims – laa hawla wa laa quwata illa billaahi from such immense evil.

Definition and Pillars of fasting

Linguistically speaking, fasting means to abstain from doing something. However, when the notion of fasting is used in Islamic Shari’a, it refers to abstaining from all the things that nullify fasting from the break of dawn (Fajr) till sunset (Maghreb), coupled with the intention of doing so as an act of worship. Fasting the month of Ramadan is obligatory (Fard) according to the Qur’an, Sunnah, and consensus of the scholars on every Muslim who has reached the age of puberty, is sane, and is able to fast without it acting as a threat to his/her health due to illness.

Allah (s.w.t) made it obligatory in the second year after the Prophet’s blessed migration from Makkah. He Most High said: “O you who believe! Observing fast is prescribed for you…” that is, it has been made obligatory upon you. It is also one of the five pillars of Islam. The Messenger of Allah said: “Islam has been built on five pillars…” and one of them is fasting the month of Ramadan. Therefore, whosoever denies this obligation is a disbelieving apostate according to the consensus of the scholars.

As for the first pillar of fasting, this is the intention, and the place of the intention is the heart, hence articulating the intention is something not legislated. It is mandatory to have the intention at night, that is, before the break of dawn (Fajr). This is based on the saying of Prophet Muhammad : “Whoever does not intend fasting prior to Fajr, then there is no fasting for him.”5

It is permissible to make an intention for the whole month at the first evening of Ramadan. However, some scholars have suggested it is obligatory to make an intention every night of Ramadan. On the other hand, if a person wanted to fast outside of Ramadan, that is, supererogatory fasting, it is permissible to make the intention at any point during the day. This is based on the saheeh (sound) hadith collected by Muslim whereby Aisha (r.a) narrated: “The Prophet came to visit me one day and asked, ‘Do you have anything (to eat)?’ I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Then I am fasting.’” Even if a person intended to commence their fast moments before sunset (Maghrib), the fasting is correct. So providing none of the things that render fasting invalid are done, then the person will receive full reward, as there is nothing mentioned from the Prophet the reward commences from the time of the intention, and Allah Most High knows best.

The second pillar of fasting is abstinence; abstaining from the things that break a person’s fast from the break of dawn till sunset, along with a continued intention between these two periods. If a person made an intention to break their fast, however does not come across anything to break their fast with from food or drink until sunset, then they must make up that day after Ramadan. This is because maintaining the intention between Fajr and Maghreb is from amongst the pillars of fasting. The third and final pillar of fasting is the time. That is, one must fast during the days of Ramadan and not the nights. For whoever fasts the nights instead of the days, then their fasting is deemed defective because Allah (s.w.t) says: “…and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night), then complete your fast till the nightfall…”6

Nullifiers of Fasting

To begin with, there are those things that invalidate the fasting and require the making up of that day of fasting only which are the following:

1. Eating and drinking deliberately. This is the opinion the majority of the scholars, except that Imaam Abu Hanifa (may Allah have mercy on him) and what is also the famous opinion of Imaam Maalik (may Allah have mercy on him) say in addition to the make up day, one must also pay a kaffaarah (atonement). The correct opinion and Allah Most High knows best is that of the majority, since there is nothing mentioned by the Prophet stating otherwise.

2. Induced vomiting. There is difference of opinions among the scholars as to whether or not vomiting invalidates fasting. The soundest view is as long as the vomiting is not done on a person’s own accord then the fasting remains valid. The Messenger of Allah said: “If someone had a sudden attack of vomiting, no atonement is required of him, but if he vomits intentionally he must make atonement.”7

3. Menstruation and post-natal bleeding. A woman who bleeds due to any one os these two reasons has broken her fast, even if it occurs seconds before sunset. This is the opinion of the majority of the scholars.

4. Ejaculation. Regardless of whether this resulted due to the husband kissing his wife, caressing her, with his hand, or his wife’s hand. This is the opinion of the majority, except that ibn Hazm, Ash-shawkaani, and from amongst the later scholars Sheikh al-Albaani (may Allah shower them with His mercy) said no make up day is required. The correct opinion, and Allah knows best, is that of the majority. Sheikh Saabiq, author of the book Fiqh-us Sunnah said that if the sperm seeped out as a result of looking or thinking, then this does not nullify the fasting.

5. Supplements and nutritional injections or drips. These dietary intakes defeat one of the main objectives of fasting, namely, to undergo thirst and hunger.

6. The one who makes the intention that they have broken their fast even if they don’t eat or drink as previously mentioned.

7. Apostasy. If a Muslim who is fasting becomes a disbeliever, then their fasting becomes void, as Allah Most High says: “If you commit shirk (associate others in worship with Allah), then surely (all) your deeds will be in vain…”8

The only thing requires a person to make up the fasting day in addition to the kaffaarah is if a person has sexual intercourse, irrespective of whether ejaculation takes place or not. This is the opinion of the majority of the scholars based on hadith Abu Hurairah (r.a) collected by both Bukhari and Muslim. The kaffaarah in respect to the one who has copulated with one’s spouse is to emancipate (set free) a slave, if she or he has one. If not, then two consecutive months of fasting must be done. If fasting two consecutive months is detrimental to one’s health then he or she is required to feed sixty needy people.

Controversial Issues

The Muslim scholars have differed regarding certain issues pertaining to fasting that have not been addressed thus far.

What must a person who does one of the things that nullify fasting, such as eating or drinking do, believing the break of dawn has not commenced, or the sun has set when they have actually taken place? The Imaams of the four schools of thought (may Allah have mercy on them) are all of the opinion the day must be compensated for by fasting another day after Ramadan.

The correct opinion (and Allah knows best) is the day needs not be made up as per the verdict of Ishaaq ibn Raahawih, ‘Urwah, Al-Hasan Al- Basri, Maajid, Daawud, ibn Hazm, ibn Taymiyyah, and others, may Allah have mercy on them. Their proof is the people during the Khilaafah of ‘Umar (r.a) broke their fast, some moments later, the sun appeared. The people asked whether they should make up this day, at which ‘Umar (r.a) responded by saying: “No, by Allah, we did not have any inclination towards a wrongful action.”9 In addition there is the hadith found in Saheeh Bukhari where Asmaa’ (r.a) said: “We broke our fast on a cloudy day during Ramadan at the time of the Messenger of Allah , then the sun appeared.”

Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah shower him with his mercy) said: “This suggests two things: firstly, it suggests that it is not recommended to delay the fasting despite the clouds until one is certain about the sunset… Secondly, it is not obligatory to make up the day, for if the Prophet had ordered them to make up that day, this would have been widely known, just as the news of the breaking of their fast was widely circulated. Hence, since we do not have any mentioning they were ordered to compensate for that day, the ruling is he did not command them to do so.10

From amongst the things the scholars differed about also is the use of nose drops, ear drops, eye drops, intravenous injections, and eye liner. A group of scholars ruled these are from amongst the nullifiers of fasting, and a person who uses any one of these must make up for that day. The correct opinion (and Allah knows best) is these things do not nullify fasting, and no compensation is required. This verdict was derived at by Abu Hanifah, Shaafi, Daawud, ibn Al-Munzir, ‘Ataa, Al- Hasan Al-Basri, An-Nakha‘i, Al- Awzaa‘i, Abi Athawr, and from amongst the companions, ibn ‘Umar, and Anas ibn Maalik. Tirmidhi said, “there is nothing authentically mentioned by the Prophet about this.” Ibn Taymiyyah gave the same ruling regarding this.

Water entering into the stomach as a result of sniffing or rinsing out of the mouth has also caused controversy amongst scholars. The correct opinion is the fasting is not broken, as this has occurred as an unintentional mistake. This is the ruling adopted by Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Ishaaq, Abu Thawr, and it is also the opinion of sheikh Al-Qaradaawi and others. With regards to sniffing water, known as istinshaaq (douching), The Messenger of Allah said: “Exaggerate while performing istinshaaq, except when you are fasting.”11 This means that this action is considered as mukrooh (undesirable) when fasting.

Puffers used for asthma do not break the fast, according to a number of scholars. This is because it is considered as compressed gas that goes to the lungs – it is not food, and it is needed at all times, in Ramadan and other times.

Apart from what has been mentioned so far under the different factors nullifying fasting everything else a person does while fasting is either mubaah (allowable), or it is from the things that are pardoned, and Allah the Exalted knows best.

Commonly Quoted Weak Hadiths

In conclusion, there are many famous prophetic traditions circulating during this noble month that are da ‘if (weak), which should be pointed out so that people are made aware of them, and as a piece of advice.

“…A month, whereby the beginning of it is mercy, the middle of it is forgiveness, and the end of it a savior from the Hellfire…”12

“Whoever fasts Ramadan in Makkah, and performs what he is able to from qiyaam (night prayers), Allah records for him (the reward) of one hundred thousand months of Ramadan apart from it…”13

The hadith about the two women who’s fasting was broken due to gheebah (slander). Because backbiting in Islam is compared to eating at the flesh of people, it is mentioned that these two women forfeited their fasting as a result of their actions.14

“If you fast, then perform siwaak in the morning, and not in the afternoon…”15

“Whosoever does not fast one day in Ramadan without any excuse or illness, will not make up for it, even if he fasted all of his life.”16

“Do not say Ramadan, for Ramadan is a name from amongst the names of Allah, however, (you should) say the month of Ramadan.”17

“The fasting person is in a state of worship, even if he is sleeping on his bed.”18

“The sleep of the fasting person is ‘Ibaadah (worship), his silence is tasbeeh (glorification of Allah), his du ‘a (supplication) is accepted, and his sins are forgiven.”19

“If the slaves (of Allah) knew what was in Ramadan (in terms of virtues), my Ummah (nation) would have wished that it was for the whole year.”20

“Fast and you will become fitter.”21

We ask Allah Most High through His beautiful and greatest names and attributes to bless us with the strength that will enable us to remember Him, glorify Him, and extol Him throughout this sacred month and throughout our lives – Aameen. And Allah knows best! Al-Hamdu-lillaah, and peace and blessing be upon His Messenger Muhammad.

References:
1. Al-Baqarah, 2: 18
2. Al-Baqarah, 2: 185
3. Al-Qadr, 97: 1
4. Hadith Qudsi reported by Bukhari and Muslim
5. Ahmad, ibn Hibbaan, and verified as authentic by ibn Khuzaimah
6. Al-Baqarah, 2: 187
7. Reported by the five (books of hadith)
8. Az-Zumar, 39: 65
9. collected by Al-Bayhaqi
10. see Fiqh-us Sunnah
11. Abu Dawud, Ahmad and Tirmidhi
12. Al-Silsilah al-Da ‘ifah (The Series of weak hadith) for Sheikh Albaani
13. ibid.
14. ibid.
15. ibid.
16. ibid.
17. Fatah al-Baari for ibn Hajar
18. Al-Silsilah al-Da ‘ifah - Sheikh Albaani
19. ibid.
20. ibid.
21. Related by Tabaraani, and it is weak.

From: http://www.missionislam.com/ramadan/aboutramadan.htm

Ibn Al-Mubarak on Knowledge: A man becomes ignorant when he stops seeking knowledge

Nu’aim ibn Hammad reported: Ibn Al-Mubarak, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “A man will continue to have knowledge as long as he is seeking knowledge. If he assumes that he has knowledge, then he has become ignorant.”
Source: al-Mujālasah wa Jawāhir 312
​
In another narration, it was said, “For how long will you seek knowledge?” Ibn Al-Mubarak said, “Until death, if Allah wills. Perhaps the words that will benefit me have not yet been written.”
Source: Jāmi’ Bayān al-‘Ilm 428

عن نعيم بن حماد قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ رحمه الله لَا يَزَالُ الْمَرْءُ عَالِمًا مَا طَلَبَ الْعِلْمَ فَإِذَا ظَنَّ أَنَّهُ قَدْ عَلِمَ فَقَدْ جَهِلَ
312 المجالسة وجواهر العلم للدينوري
وفي رواية أخرى قِيلَ لابْنِ الْمُبَارَكِ إِلَى مَتَى تَطْلُبُ الْعِلْمَ قَالَ حَتَّى الْمَمَاتِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَعَلَّ الْكَلِمَةَ الَّتِي تَنْفَعُنِي لَمْ أَكْتُبْهَا بَعْدُو
428 جامع بيان العلم وفضله لابن عبد البر

Shahihul Bukhari Sharif Vol. 4 (4:531 - 4:539)

Hadith 4:531
Narrated 'Aisha:
The Prophet said, "Five kinds of animals are mischief-doers and can be killed even in the Sanctuary: They are the rat the scorpion, the kite, the crow and the rabid dog."

Hadith 4:532
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:
Allah's Apostle said, "It is not sinful of a person in the state of Ihram to kill any of these five animals: The scorpion, the rat, the rabid dog, the crow and the kite."

Hadith 4:533
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
The Prophet said, "Cover your utensils and tie your water skins, and close your doors and keep your children close to you at night, as the Jinns spread out at such time and snatch things away. When you go to bed, put out your lights, for the mischief-doer (i.e. the rat) may drag away the wick of the candle and burn the dwellers of the house." Ata said, "The devils." (instead of the Jinns).

Hadith 4:534
Narrated 'Abdullah:
Once we were in the company of Allah's Apostle in a cave. Surat-al-Mursalat (77) was revealed there, and we were learning it from Allah's Apostle . Suddenly a snake came out of its hole and we rushed towards it to kill it, but it hastened and entered its hole before we were able to catch it. Allah's Apostle said," It has been saved from your evil and you have been saved from its evil."

Hadith 4:535
Narrated Ibn 'Umar:
The Prophet said, "A woman entered the (Hell) Fire because of a cat

Hadith 4:536
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "Once while a prophet amongst the prophets was taking a rest underneath a tree, an ant bit him. He, therefore, ordered that his luggage be taken away from underneath that tree and then ordered that the dwelling place of the ants should be set on fire. Allah sent him a revelation:-- "Wouldn't it have been sufficient to burn a single ant? (that bit you): (See Page 162, chapter No. 153).

Hadith 4:537
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said "If a house fly falls in the drink of anyone of you, he should dip it (in the drink), for one of its wings has a disease and the other has the cure for the disease."

Hadith 4:538
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "A prostitute was forgiven by Allah, because, passing by a panting dog near a well and seeing that the dog was about to die of thirst, she took off her shoe, and tying it with her head-cover she drew out some water for it. So, Allah forgave her because of that."

Hadith 4:539
Narrated Abu Talha:
The Prophet said, "Angels do not enter a house witch has either a dog or a picture in it."

Islam Daily

Bismillahhirrahmanirrahim:
بِسْــــــــــــــــــمِ اﷲِالرَّحْمَنِ اارَّحِيم
Alhamdulillahirabbil ‘alamin:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh:
السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
Wa ‘alaikum salam wa rahmatullah wabarakatuh:
وَعَلَيْكُمْ لسَّلاَمُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
Wassalamu’alaikum wa rahmatullah wabarakatuh:
وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
Aamiin ya rabbal ‘alamin:
آمِيْنُ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْن
Takbir:
الله أَكْبَر
Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un:
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ
Insya Allah:
إِن شَاء اللَّهُ
Astaghfirullah:
اسْتَغْفِرِ اللهَ
Ayat Al Quran Perintah untuk berpuasa di bulan ramadhan (Al Baqarah 183)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
Marhaban ya ramadhan:
مَرْحَبًا يَا رَمَضَانَ
SAW (Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa salam):
صلى الله عليه وسلم
Halal:
حَلاَلً
Haram:
حَرَمً
Laa haula wa laa quwwata illa billah
لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّتَ اِلاَّبِاللّهِ
Masya Allah:
مَاشَآءَاللّهُ
Laa ila ha illallah:
لاَ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ الله
Asyhadu Al La Ilaha Illallah :
أَشهَدُ أَن لا اِلهَ إلا الله
Asyhadu Anna Muhammadar Rasulullah :
أَشهَدُ أنّ مُحَمّداً رَسُولُ الله
Subhanallah:
سُبْحَانَ اللّهُ
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala:
الله سبحانه و تعالى‎
Taqaballahu minna wa minkum:
تَقَبَّلَ اللّهُ مِنَّا وَ مِنْكُمْ
Taqaball ya karim:
تَقَبَّلْ يَا كَرِيْمُ
Wa iyyakum:
وَ اِيَّكُمْ
A’udzubillahi minas syaitonirrajim
أَعُوْذُ بِا للّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ
Barakallahu laka wa baraka ‘alaika wa jama’a baynakuma fi khair
بَارَكَ اللّهُ لَكَ وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْكَ وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرِ
Kayfa haluk? (Apa kabar?)
كَيْفَ حَالُكَ؟
Alhamdulillah bi khair
الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ بِخَيْر
Afwan jiddan
آفْوً جِدًّا
Jazakumullah:
جَزَاكُمُ اللّهُ
Jazakallah (untuk laki-laki):
جَزَاكَ اللّهُ
Jazakillah (untuk perempuan):
جَزَاكِ اللّهُ
Syukron Katsiron :
شكرا كثيرا
Ied Mubarak:
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, laa ila hailallahu wallahu akbar, allahu akbar walillah ilham
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ الله ُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وللهِ الْحَمْدُ
Taqabalallahu minna wa minkum shiyamana wa siyamakum, kullu amien wa antum bi khair
تَقَبَّلَ اللّهُ مِنَّا وَ مِنْكُمْ صِيَمَنَا وَ صِيَمَكُمْ كُلُّ عَامٍ وَ أَنْتُمْ بِخَيْرٍ
Taqabalallahu minna wa minkum shiyamana wa shiyamakum wa ja’alna minal ‘aidin wal faizin
تَقَبَّلَ اللّهُ مِنَّا وَ مِنْكُمْ صِيَمَنَا وَ صِيَمَكُمْ وَجْعَلْنَا مِنَ الْعَائِدِين وَالْفَائِزِين