Inventors in the Islamic Civilisation (Part-2)
`Ammar al-Mawsilli (d. 400 H = 1009)
- The first to innovate a method for treating visual impairment
Muhammad al-Karji (d. 419 H. = 1028)
The first to:
- Invent “triangular array of the binomial coefficients”
- Invent in his research works the mathematical “Surds”, sum of natural four squares and their cubes.
- Formulate in the natural sequences
Al-Zahrawi (d. 427 H = 1035)
• The first to:
– Establish surgery in the world
– Write a book on surgery as independent science
– Conduct surgery of gallstone
– Succeed in the surgery of opening the throat
– Devise binding the artery to stop bleeding
– Develop pharmaceutical tablets in special molds (in 420 H)
– Use coal to clarify syrup of simple honey
• The printing pioneer
Ibn Sina’ (d. 428 H = 1036)
• The first to:
– Say that water transfers germs, which results in diseases
– Classify and describe diseases
– Diagnose paraplegia
– Distinguish organic paralysis of the paralysis resulting from a central cause in the brain
– Describe symptoms of elephantiasis
– Describe Anthrax
– Detect Ancylostoma
– Anatomize the heart of the fetus
– Clearly and thoroughly describe Jaundice
– Distinguish diaphragm inflammation of pleurisy
– Correctly describe meningitis
– Perform hypodermic injection
– Use Surgical anaesthesia
– Accurately diagnose Costochondritis
– Diagnose Liver Abscess
– Discover that Localized Cancer gives the symptoms of General Cancer
– Confirm the infection possibility of tuberculosis
– Discover that sinking down of the earth is due to volcanic lava
– Discover that the earthquake opens springs
Ibn al-Haytham/Alhazen (d. 430 H = 1038)
• The first to:
– Devise experimentation and controlled testing in his scientific inquiries.
– Explain and clearly draw the structure of the eye
– Use the darkened chamber to monitor the eclipse
– Say that vision is possible because of light rays emitting from the objects. Contrary to what Greek believed before that it is because of light rays emitting from the eyes.
– Explain phenomenon of rainbow
– Explain phenomena of solar and lunar eclipses
– Propose building dam on the Nile River in order to store water.
Al-Biruni (d. 440 H = 1048)
• The first to:
– Say that the sun is at the centre of the universe, which refuted the early dominant theorem saying that the earth was at the centre of the universe
– Invent a device to measure the density of the air
– Clearly explain some phenomena related to the balance and compression of the liquid
Jabir b. al-Aflah (d. 450 H = 1058)
• The first to invent equation used in solving spherical trigonometry base.
Sa`id al-Andalusi (d. 462 H =1069)
• The first to write on the history of the science in the world
Ibn Sa`id (d. 475 H = 1082)
• The first to:
– Develop machine for lifting heavy rocks
– Invents mechanical air pump
Abu `Ubayd al-Bakri (d. 487 H = 1094)
• The first Andalusian Geographer whose books survived till today.
• The author of the first alphabetical gazetteer
Ibn al-Zurqalah (d. 493 H = 1099)
• The first to:
– Demonstrate the rotation of the stars in elliptical orbits
– Prove that the change in the distance between the earth and sun suits the advance of the balance points between day and night
– Develop a method showing the use of the astrolabe with the monitoring guide.
– Prove that the motion of the solar apogee relative to the fixed background of the stars is mostly 12.40 seconds per year.
Al-Ghazali (d. 505 H = 1111)
• The first to introduce the method of doubt and scepticism and explain the concept of the time.
Al-Khazin (d. 550 H = 1155)
• The first to:
– Conduct experiments to find out the relationship between the weight of the air and the density.
– Invent the qualitative weight
Ibn Zuhr (d. 557 H = 1161)
• The first to:
– Diagnose Pericarditis
– Accurately describe abscess of mediastinum
– Describe Acute Mediastinitis
– Thoroughly describe stomach cancer
– Invent nutrient enema
– Describe Lice scabies
Al-Idrisi/ Dreses (d. 560 H = 1164)
• The first to:
– Show by illustration that there is a dry ground beyond the Atlantic
– Make a ball and draw on it maps of the earth
– Write a book which deals with geography of the whole earth
– Devise projection in mapping
– Author a specialized encyclopedia of botany
Ibn al-`Awwam (d. 580 H = 1184)
• The first to invent drip irrigation method
Muhammad b. Rushd (d. 595 H = 1198)
• The first to:
– Monitor, see and write about the Sunspot
– Know by astronomical calculations the time of the passage of Mercury (planet) in front of the disk of the sun
Al-Jazri (d. 602 H = 1205)
• The first to devise water pump for pulling water.
`Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi (d. 629 H = 1231)
• The first to:
– Adopt rigorous scientific approach and sensory experiment
– Correct errors of Galen by sound scientific outlook
– Discover diabetes
Ibn al-Rumiya (d. 637 H =1239)
• The first botanist to scientifically describe and study the outer of plants
Al-Suri (d. 739H = 1241)
• The first to study herbs and plants in their natural surroundings in the company of a professional painter.
Ibn Yunus al-Mawsili (d. 639 H = 1241)
• The first to solve the problem relating to the establishment of a square equivalent to a piece of circle
Al-Hassan al-Marrakushi (d. 660 H = 1261)
• The first to use the meridians (longitudes)
Nasir al-Dine al-Tusi (d. 672 = 1273)
• The first to:
– Set trigonometry as an independent discipline of astronomy
– List the six distinct cases of a right triangle in spherical trigonometry
– Prove that the sum of two numbers, each is odd, cannot be a square number; which prompted mathematicians to further analysis of numerical and geometrical progressions.
Hassan al-Rammah (d. 674 H = 1275)
• The first to produce torpedo equipped with the missile engines
Ahmad al-Qarafi (d. 684 H = 1285)
• The first to invent the clock alarming the time of dawn prayer with moving sculptures.
Ibn al-Nafis (d. 687 = 1288)
• The first to:
– Discover pulmonary circulation and indicate alveoli and coronary arteries
– Call to moderation in salt consumption
Qutb al-Din al-Shirazi (d. 710 H = 1310)
• The first to give the satisfactory explanation of the rainbow
Zayn al-Din al-Amidi (d. 714 H = 1314)
• The first to invent prominent characters (reading means for the blind)
Ibn al-Durayhim (d. 762 H = 1360)
• The first to conceive the art of encryption and Cryptography
Al-Jaldak (d. 762 H = 1360)
• The first to give idea of use of mask in chemistry tests laboratories
`Ali b. al-Shatir (d. 777 H = 1375)
• The first to devise the mechanical clock
Ibn Khaldun (d. 808 H = 1405)
• The first to:
– Speak about sociology and lay down its bases
– Speak about the philosophy of the history
– Introduce historical criticism
– Introduce the labor theory of value
– Write introduction which is more important than the book itself
Al-Kashi (d. 832 H = 1428)
• The first to:
– Assume the management of Samarqand observatory
– Introduce and use fractional decimal number
[Courtesy: Illuminating Portraits on the Arab-Islamic Civilization, by Dr.Shawqi Abu Khalil & Dr. Nizar Abazah]
