There’s an extremely interesting website, started by the Foundation for Science Technology and Civilisation (based in the UK), that has quite a bit of information regarding historical/cultural/travel/anthropological/scientific/archaeological information relating to Muslim civilizations and Muslim travellers. This is the website. It’s presented really really well, got a lot of diverse information starting from the origins of coffee-making in Yemen (which today continues to produce ‘mocha coffee’), to a Muslim Chinese admiral of the 15th century, Zheng He, to an 11th century letter from King George II to the then caliph of the Muslim kingdom of Spain, king Hisham III, to seek permission to allow one of his nieces to study at the University of Cordoba.
All the information is referenced, and it seems to be a regularly updated website. It’s good for anyone interested in studying up on this area of history.
What’s quite instructive, i thought, is to learn from a period of history when Muslims weren’t busy in creating sectarian divisions amongst themselves and were more consumed with the tasks of setting up orphanages, libraries, hospitals, educational institutions. It’s amazing how advanced a culture can get when it refuses to give validity to intolerance and hatred.
One of the father & son architects from Egypt, who are working on the Al-Aqsa mosque pulpit said something which holds true. For me at least.
The pulpit was made in Aleppo and commissioned by Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi. David Rohan, a Zionist, in his hatred tried to set fire to the Al-Aqsa mosque. In doing so he only managed to burn the priceless pulpit. It is now being restored ata cost of about 9 million dollars.
According to engineers working on the pulpit with the latest equipment, cannot figure out how the pulpit was put together without nails or glue. Every piece of wood supported the other and the longevity of its craftsmanship is self evident.
So the father says that this pulpit was made by Muslims of a different kind. Not like the Muslims of today.
Lajawab, hm that's rather interesting. Sorry if this is a stupid question but where did you read that - on that website?
You know there's this really interesting book, "Atlas of the Muslim world since 1500" (or something like that), by Francis Robinson. It's got so much interesting stuff about Muslim civilizations, inventions, scholars, poets.... it's sooooo fascinating. If you ever get a chance, do check out that book. Regarding the longevity of craftsmanship of some of the previous items, it's really fascinating how some physical structures - like mosques in Senegal created during the 1500s - are still around today and still being used by Muslims.
Anyways if you get a chance, i'd recommend the book.
Thanks Sadzzz :) Yeah, it's an interesting book...but a bit old (1996, i think), so some of the pictures are not that updated. But it has sooo many other interesting pictures of the diverse civilizations.
:) yeah im trying to find a good book on Islam.. so far the ones ive looked at are too scientific.. i mean the words are just outrageous and i get distracted... newayys.. im hopeing to go back to pakistan and pick up some good books... u know of any?
yeah im good thanx alhamdulillah... i feel a bit wrecked today... dont like mondays :( how u doing??