What is The Earth and its Sciences in Islamic Manuscripts about?
This book contains a number of papers presented during the fifth conference of the Centre for the Study of Islamic Manuscripts – Al-Furqan Foundation, which contributed considerably to illuminating the paths to search for and unearth rare seminal texts that attest to the knowledge contribution of Muslims. Moreover, demonstrating how this represented a central pivot for direct knowledge transfer, and the synthesis of modern science as we know it. The conference focused on the efforts by Muslim scholars to publish such texts in the form of fine critical editions, and offered in such a way as to embody a genuine addition to human knowledge.
The conference papers addressed the domain of mathematical sciences in relation to planet Earth, with six papers in the field of geographical heritage, accurately illustrating Earth’s representation. The papers highlighted the efforts of Muslim scholars in this domain, which were treated with fairness and given due credit by orientalists; moreover, showcasing the rare gems that were published, which stand as eloquent testimony to the powers of exploration and analysis in the description of Earth and all it holds.
Furthermore, the conference papers highlighted the science of botany, which developed at the hands of Muslim scholars, after they had assimilated Greek heritage, and authored on it, along linguistic, horticultural, or medicinal lines of inquiry. Through their efforts, it evolved even further, to become a full-fledged science in its own right, focused on purely scientific descriptions of flora, without engaging in agricultural benefits or advantages.
While Islamic chemistry recorded no progress over more than half a century, yet the conference did not neglect this field. Similarly, geology, with Islamic manuscript heritage containing an extensive list of important works executed in this domain, delving into properties, benefits, colours, strength, and crystal structure, as well as markets and prices.
The contents of these proceedings represent a serious addition to the history of Islamic sciences, and a revealing exposition of the Islamic nation’s genius, in its brilliant creativity, and thorough grounding of knowledge with respect to origins, as well as tackling science’s enigmas.