# Muslim Contributions to the US and the World **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 21, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644 "2003-05-21T20:54:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Major\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Major\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/1 "2003-05-21T20:54:41Z")
I was talking to someone today and they said Muslims had made no contributions to the US or the world. I am sure they contributed a number of things, but I don’t really know what specifically. So I would like to know what Muslims have contributed to the US and the world. I would like to keep this form a debate, so I hope we can stick to the fact. ---
**Author:** ![Major\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Major\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Major_Kong)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/2 "2003-05-21T20:56:05Z")
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**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/3 "2003-05-21T21:14:51Z")
Just off the top of my head: try a Google on Avicenna, Omar Khayyam, and Al Khorezmi. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/4 "2003-05-21T21:28:38Z")
Well, during Europe’s so-called Dark Ages (a serious misstatement of reality, but let that go for now), Arab scholars were making vital contributions to mathematicians (algebra is an Arabic word, you know) and philosophy. When Plato and Aristotle were all but forgotten in Europe, it was Arabs who kept their works alive… which in turn helped make Europe’s Renaissance possible. ---
**Author:** ![ElJeffe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/958977/32.png) [@ElJeffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElJeffe)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/5 "2003-05-21T21:36:06Z")
I think a more accurate way of putting it would be that the number of contributions from Arabs in modern history is pretty small. They made many useful contributions to society, but that was quite awhile ago. Their growth as a society seems to have stagnated, and they’re having to be dragged kicking and screaming into the modern world. Jeff ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/6 "2003-05-21T21:45:02Z")
Islam had it’s time in the sun many hundred of years ago, having contributed: Algebra (not just the word, but the math) Zero (no pun-- the idea of the number zero in writing numbers) Preservation of many of the ancient Greek texts the Compass (IIRC, but maybe transfered from China to the west thru the Islamic world) To name just a few. These are the ones you’d probably find in any school history text. Also, don’t confuse Islam with Arab. One of the greatest Islamic empires, the Ottoman Turks, were not Arabs. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/7 "2003-05-21T21:51:25Z")
A few of many examples from [here](http://www.jannah.org/articles/contrib.html): > [@](#): > > Abu Ali al-Hussain Ibn Abdallah Ibn Sina, universally known as Avicinna (980-1037), alone wrote 246 books, including Kitab-al Shifa (The Book of Healing) consisting of 20 volumes and Al-Qanun fit Tibb (The Canons of Medicine) . The Qanun was the chief guide for medical science in the West from the twelfth to the seventeenth century. Dr. William Osler, who wrote The Evolution of Modern Science, remarks “The Qanun has remained a medical Bible for a longer period than any other work”. Containing over a million words, it surveyed the entire medical knowledge available from ancient and Muslim sources, and including his own original contributions. > [@](#): > > At the same time as these advances in medicine were being made, the Muslims produced some of the most outstanding Mathematicians. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, born in 780 A.D., was the founder of modern Algebra. He developed sine, cosine and trigonometrical tables, which were later translated to the West. . . . Al-Khawarizmi also helped introduce Arabic numerals, the decimal position system, and the concept of zero. Algebra and Algorithm are in fact corruption’s of his work and name. > [@](#): > > Abu Abdullah al-Battani (862-929 A.D.) was a son of a scientist and also a famous astronomer, mathematician and astrologer. He is often considered one of the greatest astronomists of Islam. His career of 42 years included a number of important discoveries, including the accurate determination of the solar year as 365 days, 5 hours, 46 minutes, and 24 seconds, which is very close to modern estimates. He also determined with accuracy the obliquity of the ecliptic, the length of the seasons and the true and mean orbit of the sun. > [@](#): > > Muslims also made discoveries in Chemistry by discovering many new substances such as potash, nitrate of silver, corrosive sublimate and nitrate and sulfuric acid as well as improving methods for evaporation, filtration, sublimation, calcination, melting, distillation, and crystallization. Jabir, otherwise known as the father of Arab alchemy contributed in the fields of Pharmacology and Toxicology. > [@](#): > > In the field of geography, Ibn Majid invented the compass. The Muslims traversed the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Ocean as well as sailing around the African continent, in their trading with India, Iran and Greece. They wrote such books as Akhbar al-Hind (Reports on India), Akhbar al-Sin (Reports on China) and Ajib al-Hind (Curiosities of India). ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/8 "2003-05-21T22:04:21Z")
I seem to recall some Discovery/TLC program which credited the ancient Islam world with inventing electroplating, or at least bringing it into common use (ostensibly to make fake jewelry, proving that the Muslims are no less capitalistic than us greedy Christians.) However, I couldn’t find many supporting cites in a Google search, with most cites crediting early European Renaissance scientists, so the idea must not be widely accepted as fact. [This site](http://www.amaana.org/tajik/sakarchit.htm) does make mention of electroplating being used as far back as the 11th century to decorate palaces & the like, plus it gives other interesting information about the Islamic world. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/9 "2003-05-21T22:25:52Z")
I’m not sure where I learned this, but didn’t Arabs create alcohol? I think even the name has Islamic roots. I think that’s at least equal to the previous achievements listed. At least, alcohol is important to me. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/10 "2003-05-21T22:31:42Z")
Umm, alcohol goes back to at least the time of Christ (that whole water-into-wine thing, you know) and probably many centuries before. Plus, doesn’t the Koran forbid drinking alcohol? ---
**Author:** ![Gjorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c4cdca/32.png) [@Gjorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gjorp)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/11 "2003-05-21T22:33:14Z")
“Alcohol” does have Arabic roots in the word, but that has nothing to do with them inventing it. Every culture has invented their own fermented drinks. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/12 "2003-05-21T22:42:49Z")
As noted previously, the arabs invented the process of distillation. Prior to the advent to distillation, it was not possible to make alcohol with significant concentrations. Now, as to whether or not it’s a great contribution to be able to make 80 proof vodka, I leave that to you. I myself quite enjoy the higher proofs. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/13 "2003-05-21T22:46:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BrightNShiny \* > **As noted previously, the arabs invented the process of distillation. Prior to the advent to distillation, it was not possible to make alcohol with significant concentrations.** Ironically enough, for scientific purposes only, since as Muslims they would have been forbidden to drink it. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/14 "2003-05-21T22:59:17Z")
Hmm, now I’m curious. I have no information as to exactly why they invented it (since there are other applications for distillation besides concentrating alcohol). Anybody know? ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/15 "2003-05-21T23:02:55Z")
Distillation, in addition for use in making al-qohol can also be used in the art of al-qhimie… ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/16 "2003-05-21T23:35:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BrightNShiny \* > \*\*Hmm, now I’m curious. I have no information as to exactly why they invented it (since there are other applications for distillation besides concentrating alcohol). Anybody know? \*\* [Apparently, booze was not the reason.](http://www.wordexplorations.info/alcohol-story.html) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/17 "2003-05-22T00:16:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Colibri \* > \*\*Ironically enough, for scientific purposes only, since as Muslims they would have been forbidden to drink it. \*\* How can you be forbidden something that doesn’t exist yet? I don’t know for certain but it would seem to me you’d need to invent alcohol first, then allow some time to pass for people to get a sense of what it does before someone bans the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/18 "2003-05-22T00:19:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Whack-a-Mole \* > \*\*How can you be forbidden something that doesn’t exist yet? I don’t know for certain but it would seem to me you’d need to invent alcohol first, then allow some time to pass for people to get a sense of what it does before someone bans the stuff. \*\* You’ve heard of wine? Muslims are prohibited from drinking alcoholic beverages, distilled or not. Wine’s been around for a long time. Its effects were well known. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/19 "2003-05-22T00:46:45Z")
An old Scientific American article detailed how Arab engineers were some of the first to build the arch (layered, not keystone style). They are also responsible for a host of mechanical devices, especially force translating and reversing mechanisms. Actions where pushing creates a pulling force and other reciprocal devices were their specialty. Another field was where small forces were translated into much larger impetus. The article went on to say that a majority of common mechanisms can be traced to these Middle Eastern designers. One look at the Alhambra tells me all I need to know about the excellence of such ancient builders. ---
**Author:** ![slipster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@slipster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slipster)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644/20 "2003-05-22T01:00:15Z")
As noted above, during the so-called Dark Ages the Arab world made outstanding advances in the fields of mathematics and chemistry. One legacy of this is the variety of words in English with begin with “al”, that being Arabic for “the”: algebra, alcohol, aluminum, alkali, etc. There is also alchemy, which translates roughly as “the Egyptian stuff”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/muslim-contributions-to-the-us-and-the-world/176644.md?page=2)