The books series at a bookstall in Peshawar. — Dawn

PESHAWAR: An interesting book series profiling brief life history and contribution of major Muslim scientists towards various branches of science hit the local bookstands.

Students, teachers and book lovers are equally fascinated by arrival of the first-ever mini-biographies of the great Muslim scientists.

Hina Azeem, a senior science teacher in a local private school, in her comments pointed out they were born and bred during the middle ages. She said that their contribution to different branches of science was matchless.

“Great Muslim scientists and inventors mostly Arabs, Turks and Persians made tremendous contributions to science, poetry, art, music, history, and philosophy and wrote hundreds of books on variety of topics,” Ms Azeem said.

Faisal Jadoon, another teacher, said that they were inspired by scientific ideas of Romans and Greeks and also translated their books into Arabic besides writing their own books. “Muslim scientists laid foundation of modern science in Western and European world,” he said.

Rizwan Hameed, a book lover, said that Muslim scientists in the middle ages had pioneered mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine and astronomy.

Students, teachers and book lovers fascinated by the new series

He said that interestingly a scholar was supposed to be expert on more than one particular aspect of science and art at the same time. He said that Omar Khayyam for instance was widely known for composing his beautiful Rubiyat but he was also a great mathematician.

Prof Hussain Farooq Khattak, senior teacher at department of Islamiyat, Islamia College University, told this scribe that unfortunately their youngsters did not know much about scientific achievements of Muslim scientists. He said that they were quite known in the entire world especially in the West and European countries and books had also been written on their achievements.

“Our young generation must know about great ideals, theories and scientific vision of the great Muslim scientists of the yore days. I have not read the new book series profiling Muslim scientists but think any such an attempt may benefit young students in more than one way,” Mr Khattak said.

It was the time when Erupted was passing through its ‘dark age’ but it was the glorious period of the Muslim world.

Muslim rulers patronised creative minds in every field. Muslim scientists were ahead one hundred years of their counterparts in West and Europe.

“Each book tells the remarkable story of an extraordinary mathematician from the past whose discoveries have contributed significantly to modern mathematics. Its influence on the Renaissance West has since 18th century triggered numerous studies in European languages to be devoted to the various facets of Islamic Mathematics,” a note on the back page of the books says.

All the books are beautifully illustrated and each book has ‘word search’ and ‘word game’ and glossary at its end. Easy, fluent and simple language is used so it could be easily comprehended by young students. The book series has featured all important inventions and brief life sketch of the Muslim scientists.

The new book series covers 12 prominent Muslims scientists including Al-Kashi, Al-Razi, Ibne Sina, Omar Khayyam, Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Haytham, Al-Biruni, Jabir, Ulugh Beg, Al-Karaji, Al-Kindi and Az-Zahrawai.

Nuzhat Rehman, a senior teacher at a private school, said at the start of academic session, they purchased new set of books for their school library. “This new book series on Muslim scientists is first priority,” she added.

She said that books on contributions of Muslim scientists and scholars were available in the market but that brief account suited the taste of young students. Owais Khan, a mathematics teacher at a government school, said that unfortunately, most schools and colleges did not allocate sufficient funds for purchasing new titles for their libraries.

“I would strongly recommend this set for every school library. I think it would serve as mini-encyclopedia for young students,” he said.

Published by the Karachi-based Paramount Private Publications, compiled by Teh Sharifuddin and M Razak Al-Aidrus , the entire set of biographies is available for Rs1620, and each title spreads over 34 illustrated pages costing Rs135.

Reviewing the book series under discussion, Sehba Khan, who conducts book fairs in Peshawar, said that she had included recently published biographies on great Muslim scientists in her priority list.

“It is a wonderful publication. It will attract readers and will arouse their interest,” she said.

Faizullah Qureshi, manager of Peshawar chapter of Paramount Private Publications, told this scribe that his company had planned to bring out Urdu version of the book series on great Muslim scientists next year.

“We want to make it available to all kinds of readers. The director of Peshawar Public Archives Library has purchased a set while librarians of local schools and colleges are thronging us,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play