FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

and Roman. Abu Jafar Mansur (714-775 CE) established Bayt al-Hikmah (The House of Wisdom) where highly paid multilingual scholars were appointed to translate into Arabic, books on Persian literature, Greek philosophy, medicine, and other sciences available in those times in different parts of the world. This was an actualization of the Prophet’s inspiring words: “Wisdom is the believer’s property, he should try to take it wherever he finds it.” Of the Abbasid Caliphs, Harun ar-Rashid, Al-Mamun and Mutadid Billah, are reported to have invited doctors, philosophers, and scholars from various parts of the world to settle in Muslim cities and help in these activities. They even bought some books by paying for them in gold equivalent to their weight. This generous appreciation and support of the state accelerated research work, and cultural exchange through translation which reflected on the general progress and development of the entire Muslim world of the time. Spain, under Muslim rule, witnessed a similar progressive and developmental process. A number of world renowned historians of science and civilization (e.g. Hughman) have pointed out that Muslims’ contribution in the development of natural sciences and philosophy were not merely confined to translations from Greek, Persian, Indian, etc. For in view of their inquisitive and critical mind-set, it was not possible for them to accept Greek philosophy or any other sciences without an objective analysis. The fervour shown in authentication of the Prophet’s words was also in action in the field of natural science. Therefore, Muslim scientists, doctors and other experts were able to remove so many superstitious notions about nature and life that prevailed among the Greek philosophers. On the other hand they proved to be creative and innovative in the widest sense of the term. They sent missions for exploring new lands. They established observatories. They corrected many false concepts in astronomy, medicine, chemistry and physics. It was the legacy of the Islamic civilization that reached Europe via Spain after the fall of Granada in 1492 CE, which laid the foundation of the Renaissance in the West. Man’s most important activity being intellectual contemplation or reflection, he is not supposed to blindly follow any idea or notion just because it was attributed to his ancestors or some other authority.