3. MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENCE

~ 141 ~ whole period prior to Islam was pervaded by polytheistic beliefs, which were supportive of divine kingship. “The King has often stood as mediator between his people and their god, or as the god’s representative.” 72 Some kings pretended to be incarnations of God, or even gods themselves, without feeling the need to rationalize their claims. They did so in order that by the ‘divine right of kings,’ their absolute sovereignty should never be questioned. Even where monarchs made no such claims, they were credited with divinity, because divinity was universally associated with kings. Whenever the common people came upon anything that was out of the ordinary, they regarded it as supernatural and, if it was a person, they took him to be a god, or a manifestation of a god. Naturally, this mentality was not discouraged by the kings. The ancient rulers, on the contrary, encouraged such superstitious notions so that people would continue to regard them as superior beings. In known history, the Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, was the first ruler who refuted such superstitious beliefs, showing them to be without foundation. In this way, he lead mankind along the