The Golden Age of Islam would not have existed without the efforts of the great Muslim minds from that period. These Muslim scholars and inventors came from different backgrounds and persisted in their journey of seeking knowledge through various triumphs and trials. All this started with a young Muslim mind who ventured forth with his thirst for knowledge, while holding onto his eeman and Islamic values. This young student learnt from western teachings that did not divert him from his faith and Islamic knowledge but rather guided him further into becoming a master of his field, where he either invented or wrote based on his years of work simply to benefit the Ummah at large. Let us explore the journey of some of these admirable scholars who began as a student.
Al-Zahrawi: The Father of Surgery
This scholar’s journey is an inspiration to all medical students out there. This is none other than the original father of surgery, Al-Zahrawi. Abul-Qasim Khalaf Ibn Abbas Al-Zahrawi was from Al-Zahra, a suburban town in Andalusia (Spain). The westerners call him Abulcais. In his native town, he first learned as a young boy from his shaykh how complex and perfect Allah ﷻ had created the human body and its workings remained a mystery at large. In his thirst to learn more about the complex creation of Allah ﷻ, he set out from his town to the city of Cordoba, where knowledge was more vastly available through universities and libraries.
In his initial journey as a student of medicine, he read texts of great Muslim and non-Muslim scholars of the past, starting from the Greco-Roman texts of Hippocrates and Galen of Pergamon where he learned the basic foundation of surgery. He also studied the works of Theophrastus, Ar-Razi, Ibn Juljul and Ibn Sina, indirectly becoming their student by studying their texts and works. He researched almost everything in the field of medicine including dentistry and pharmacy, which would require today’s medical student more than 5 years to achieve interest in, let alone study it sincerely. He achieved a level of knowledge such that he was able to criticize the earlier Greek and Latin texts on medicine. Experts regarded him as a student of continuous practice and persistent effort.
Moreover, he had a keen passion for studying the anatomy of the human body, which led him to study the organs and become an expert in surgery. Al-Zahrawi also followed observational and experimental technique in his practice. His journey is such that every student of medicine and professional should take inspiration from, especially when they question their choice of field. He is a man who is hardly studied about, but went on to invent about 200 surgical instruments, including the syringe and forceps. He is a man who described cancer —especially in the eye and kidney— in an era with none of today’s technological advancements. With all these efforts, in the end he advised his students in his famous 30 volume book Al-Tasrif where he stated:
“Let your caution be stronger than your greed and desire for gain and do not embark on anything of this kind unless you have positive knowledge, which you judge adequate, about the way of bringing the patient a good outcome. In treating every patient be prescient and foretell the means whereby health may be restored to him. That will help you to obtain renown, glory, fame and praise. May God inspire you, my sons, with His guidance and grant that you hit the mark and succeed; for it is in His hand; there is no God but He”.
Imam Ghazali: From Student to Scholar
There were some scholars who became students unexpectedly but later became proteges in their field. For instance, Imam Ghazali was first placed into madrasa due to his desperate circumstances as he had no place for food and shelter. As time went by, he studied under various other teachers and surpassed them all. Imam Ghazali is well-known for studying under the renowned Imam Al-Juwaini and then he surpassed him as well. He learned Western philosophy and became a critic of it where he challenged its philosophical claims. He did deviate at some point of his life, but Allah ﷻ brought him back to the true path of guidance where he enthusiastically criticized his earlier deviated beliefs and works. His journey teaches us students that no matter what kind of secular or westernized knowledge, be it even philosophy, we need to keep our eeman firm and have the right intentions and Allah ﷻ will never let us go astray.
Al-Zarqali: The Artisan Astronomer
Another such example is the Al-Zarqali (also known as Arzachel), a man who was a mechanic by profession with no formal knowledge. He came from a family of artisans in Toledo (Spain) who made delicate instruments for scholars. He was known for his metal craftsmanship and mechanical work amongst the scholars and inventors at that time, who were intrigued by his work. These astronomical scholars asked him to join their circle, but he refused as he had no proper background of education. The scholars helped him learn. Within two years, he joined their circle and even surpassed them by becoming their director and began to teach his masters. He continued making instruments for them but also invented his own. He became a mathematical expert where he introduced the Toledan Tables and became a famed astronomer who criticized Greek science. He invented the astrolabe (a composite astronomical instrument used in a variety of operations) and constructed the famous water clocks of Toledo, which astonished European civilization. His student life showcases that true passion for knowledge will formulate the path to success. Although his techniques are no longer used today, his efforts will remain forever etched in the heart of every learner and inventor.
Female Scholars: Lubna and Fatima
Not to leave out inspiring female students particularly; there were many female scholars and inventors who played their role in the Golden Era of Islam. Although their contributions have not been highly noted, this era had its fair share of intellectuals who did their job without raising any feminist slogans of being better than men. One such lady was Lubna of Cordoba, a Spanish slave whose passion towards seeking knowledge eventually made her a mathematician who could solve complex problems and equations. Apart from this, she also became the secretary and scribe of the Umayyad Caliph of Islamic Spain, al-Hakam II. This role granted her access to the royal library where she translated books and also collected them from other regions.
Another such remarkable female student that deserves a mention is Fatima al-Fihriyya. She came from a well-to-do family of merchants who were educated as well, hence she was educated along with her sister, Mariam. They were especially educated in fiqh and hadith and were known to be pious Muslims. Fatima, upon receiving her part of inheritance, planned to build something for the benefit of the Ummah as a whole. Hence, she built a mosque known as the Qarawiyyin Mosque and along with it, the first university in the world, the University of Al-Qarawiyyin. It was through this university that education on Islam, astronomy, languages and sciences became easily accessible to the western students. In addition, historians have noted that it also brought to light the Arabic numerals to the western world. These women were a legacy who didn’t seek to be recognised but rather worked to benefit the society with nothing in return.
Lessons for Modern Students
These Muslim students of the past had one thing in common – their passion for seeking
knowledge. This drove them to great achievements and success, some of which were recognized and some of which weren’t. In today’s times, students have lost interest in actually seeking knowledge but rather argue over the lack of quality education. Ironically, Muslim students today appreciate and acknowledge studying at western or secular institutions as more praiseworthy, while during the Golden Age, there were no western institutions; even the western students sought education from Muslim teachers at the madrasas. Muslim students of the past never had time to criticize, rather they were busy quenching their thirst for knowledge.
While the Muslim scholars of the past not only educated themselves, they also worked in the system to make the change that is required for the Ummah. Hence, it’s of no use criticizing our brotherhood when we can’t be the ones to make an effort to uplift the Ummah. It is these lessons that Muslim students of today must take from the lives of scholars who were once upon a student.
Written by: Musmirah
Edited by: The Editorial Team
© The Islamic Reflections Blog
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