Rediscover Islamic Science at The Tech Museum in Silicon Valley, CA

[RiazHaq]

I hate the fact that people all over the world (even here in the US) believe Islam is Arabic culture or Arabization. Just go to Irvine, California; or Dearborn, Michigan. You will see new white American converts to Islam dress & behave the Arab way, as well as Muslims from non-Arab nations such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, India etc. I just hate it that people think Islam is equivalent to Arabic culture; dressing up, talking, having your mannerisms that of an Arab etc.

American artists tracing their ethnicities from Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, China, Europe, Africa and the United States of America participated in an Art Exhibit, organized by a local non-profit, Islamic Art Exhibit.

"We have so much diversity in the Bay Area Muslim community. In order to showcase their artistic talents and display the many characteristics of Islamic Art, we invited them to participate in an Art Exhibit based on the common theme of Peace," says Nabeela Sajjad, its founder.

Providing a number of verses from the Quran for inspiration and a set of rules, 41 artists submitted 75 pieces of artwork. One hundred Muslim children from the Bay Area also participated. Their theme is based on a song called "A is for Allah" by Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens).

People view Islamic Art as mostly Calligraphy. While Calligraphy is genre of Art in its own right, Islamic Art includes a lot more. It has evolved and accepts new media through which artists can express themselves. With the prohibition of depicting human form or faces, Islamic Art has developed a unique character, utilizing a number of primary forms: geometric, arabesque, floral, and calligraphic, which are often interwoven. The result is an exhibition of paintings in oil, acrylic and watercolor, photographs, traditional calligraphies, quilting, textile, digital collage and more.

Tri-City Voice Newspaper - Whats Happening - Fremont, Union City, Newark, California

 

[muse]

Mr. Haq:

Isn't calligraphy also just arabic - after all it's not calligraphy in the languages of Muslims, but in arabic -- I think the general problem many here have pointed out, is that while arab culture and accomplishments are valuable, the overwhelming majority of Muslims seem to participate not in their culture but in one that approaches a cultural imperialism of sorts, a tragic reality.

 

[RiazHaq]

Mr. Haq:

Isn't calligraphy also just arabic - after all it's not calligraphy in the languages of Muslims, but in arabic -- I think the general problem many here have pointed out, is that while arab culture and accomplishments are valuable, the overwhelming majority of Muslims seem to participate not in their culture but in one that approaches a cultural imperialism of sorts, a tragic reality.

I am not sure why you are so hung up on the language.

Most languages of Muslim nations, including Persian and Urdu, share the same script with Arabic.

As to cultural imperialism, I think the use of the English language in former British colonies is much more a symptom than the use of Arabic among Muslim nations of the world.

 

[muse]

I am not sure why you are so hung up on the language.

Most languages of Muslim nations, including Persian and Urdu, share the same script with Arabic.

As to cultural imperialism, I think the use of the English language in former British colonies is much more a symptom than the use of Arabic among Muslim nations of the world.

Well certainly there is a case to be made for the use of English as an example of cultural imperialism, however, a more persuaive case can be made that the at use of English has more to do with it's currency (universal) and as a problem solving tool.

I expected a more persuasive response from you - after all, what you choose to call a "hang up" is something an overwhelming number of respondents have pointed to, and one would have thought that you may have cause to consider the expansion of the "Islamic" experience, not it's constriction in the idiom of a particular culture and geography

 

[RiazHaq]

Well certainly there is a case to be made for the use of English as an example of cultural imperialism, however, a more persuaive case can be made that the at use of English has more to do with it's currency (universal) and as a problem solving tool.

I expected a more persuasive response from you - after all, what you choose to call a "hang up" is something an overwhelming number of respondents have pointed to, and one would have thought that you may have cause to consider the expansion of the "Islamic" experience, not it's constriction in the idiom of a particular culture and geography

Unfortunately, you have not understood the crux of my posts in this thread.

I have tried to create awareness of the fact that arts and sciences are not the exclusive preserve of any one nation or race; each nation at different times in the history has contributed to what we see today as our common heritage.

The other unfortunate fact that I have pointed out is that the West has been less than honest in acknowledging the significant contributions of non-Europeans in the development of science and technology that we have today.

 

[kugga]

Why so angry ? If Vassnti is wrong then Madressah students would be particularly good at math and science -- and is that the reputation they have?

Do you even know who are madrassa students ?? why people let their children get admission in madrassas a nd what they are taught there??
Just by reading some articles on internet and newspapers and having no personal experience with madrassa students you cannot blame madrassas... There are madrassas who are teaching science as well .. but there emphasize is definitlely on religion they are teaching students fiqh, sharia, hadith, and many other branches of Islam... Now if I ask you to explain me why in engineering universities they are not taught sharia what would be your answer ??

Definitely you would say they are not built for that purpose similarly madrassas as of today are not built for teaching students about enigineering or medical or astronomy muslims have schools for that purose..... but still there are some madrassas who are teaching science as mandatory subject to their students.

If Science had value in Pakistani or Muslim society, would these societies be where they are ? Be honest, if not with me, then at least yourself -- yes, we have great scientists, but reality is that in our society science does not have value and the reason it does nto have value is that it is considered to be in opposition to religious DOGMA

I am honest and I don't agree that it is considered against religion. Our parents our muslim parents are dying to see us as professional doctors, engineers, scientists , teachers etc etc. but no one wants us to be an Aalim, mullah, molvi , sheikh etc etc.

 

[muse]

No doubt the West does not trumpet the heritage it owes - but for my money, that's just fine - we should live on no one's tokens -- and I assure you that I understand and appreciate your effort - I do think we are on different pages when it comes to an expansive, not necessarily Arab,Islam. For too long, particularly us, Pakistanis, have lived in doubt of ourselves, in a kind of lack of confidence about ourselves, for too long we measure ourselves in the worlds of islam by our nearness, some would say, aping, of ideas and behaviors we think of as Arab and yet anachronistic to most who speak arabic and I thought it's time for us to move beyond that, finally.

I do appreciate your effort, please do not doubt that.

 

[MadDog]

You guys have to watch this

BTW...those claiming Muslims didn't invent anything...the surgical instruments ( and the first stitches for wounds) were invented by Muslims and Majority of surgical instruments used today were invented by Muslims of Spain.

 

[forcetrip]

Its got 3 parts and it explains how islamic scholars and scientists went outside the box and made valuable contributions towards the scientific process. Some are extremely insane but were thought of as scientific breakthroughs in thought processes 600 years ago. No Muslim has ever owned science.

 

[BlueDot_in_Space]

You guys have to watch this

BTW...those claiming Muslims didn't invent anything...the surgical instruments ( and the first stitches for wounds) were invented by Muslims and Majority of surgical instruments used today were invented by Muslims of Spain.

Sushruta Samhita - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sushruta Samhita (सुश्रुतसंहित&#2366 is a Sanskrit redaction text on all of the major concepts of ayurvedic medicine with innovative chapters on surgery, attributed to Sushruta.[1][2] Cataract surgery was performed by Sushruta before 800 BC.[3]. Amongst the eight divisions of medical knowledge, surgery was considered the most important branch. The text was translated into Arabic in the 8th century.

The medical works of both Sushruta and Charaka were translated into Arabic language during the Abbasid Caliphate (750 AD).[7] These Arabic works made their way into Europe via intermediaries.[7] In Italy the Branca family of Sicily and Gasparo Tagliacozzi (Bologna) became familiar with the techniques of Sushruta.[7]

 

[MadDog]

@ Blue Dot..........This is what they also tell in documentaries...much of the greek, persian and sanskrit literature was translated into arabic by
the scholars at House of Wisdom Baghdad and was then transferred to Europeans...from where the world learnt...had the muslim scholars not translated the works of other civilizations into arabic..today all the knowledge would have been lost...the European renascence would have have never even existed...so it is a great contribution to the world.

BTW...in my previous post i said muslims invented surgical instruments...and u countered it by saying the medical knowledge was originally in sanskrit...dude atleast read what i wrote.

 

[MadDog]

@ Blue Dot..........This is what they also tell in documentaries...much of the greek, persian and sanskrit literature was translated into arabic by
the scholars at House of Wisdom Baghdad and was then transferred to Europeans...from where the world learnt...had the muslim scholars not translated the works of other civilizations into arabic..today all the knowledge would have been lost...the European renascence would have have never even existed...so it is a great contribution to the world.

BTW...in my previous post i said muslims invented surgical instruments...and u countered it by saying the medical knowledge was originally in sanskrit...dude atleast read what i wrote.

 

[MadDog]

@ Blue Dot..........This is what they also tell in documentaries...much of the greek, persian and sanskrit literature was translated into arabic by
the scholars at House of Wisdom Baghdad and was then transferred to Europeans...from where the world learnt...had the muslim scholars not translated the works of other civilizations into arabic..today all the knowledge would have been lost...the European renascence would have have never even existed...so it is a great contribution to the world.

BTW...in my previous post i said muslims invented surgical instruments...and u countered it by saying the medical knowledge was originally in sanskrit...dude atleast read what i wrote.

 

[MadDog]

@ Blue Dot..........This is what they also tell in documentaries...much of the greek, persian and sanskrit literature was translated into arabic by
the scholars at House of Wisdom Baghdad and was then transferred to Europeans...from where the world learnt...had the muslim scholars not translated the works of other civilizations into arabic..today all the knowledge would have been lost...the European renascence would have have never even existed...so it is a great contribution to the world.

This is a documentary by PBS i guess...here they tell the improtance of scholars at house of wisdom at Baghdad for today's world in collecting the knowledge from different parts of the world along with their own discoveries and using it practically

BTW...in my previous post i said muslims invented surgical instruments...and u countered it by saying the medical knowledge was originally in sanskrit...dude atleast read what i wrote.

 

[MadDog]

@ Blue Dot..........This is what they also tell in documentaries...much of the greek, persian and sanskrit literature was translated into arabic by
the scholars at House of Wisdom Baghdad and was then transferred to Europeans...from where the world learnt...had the muslim scholars not translated the works of other civilizations into arabic..today all the knowledge would have been lost...the European renascence would have have never even existed...so it is a great contribution to the world.

This is a documentary by PBS i guess...here they tell the improtance of scholars at "House of Wisdom" at Baghdad for today's world in collecting the knowledge from different parts of the world along with their own discoveries and using it practically ..look at the beauty of that time... Muslims, Jews and Christian scholars used to do their research together in that educational institution ..... i wish those times come back and hatred and violence ends

BTW...in my previous post i said muslims invented surgical instruments...and u countered it by saying the medical knowledge was originally in sanskrit...dude atleast read what i wrote.