Histories and Stories

A History of Arabic Astronomy is a comprehensive survey of Arabic planetary theories from the eleventh century to the fifteenth century based on recent manuscript discoveries. George Saliba argues that the medieval period, often called a period of decline in Islamic intellectual history, was scientifically speaking, a very productive period in which astronomical theories of the highest order were produced. Based on the most recent manuscript discoveries, this book broadly surveys developments in Arabic planetary theories from the eleventh century to the fifteenth. Taken together, the primary texts and essays assembled in this book reverse traditional beliefs about the rise and fall of Arabic science, demonstrating how the traditional “age of decline” in Arabic science was indeed a “Golden Age” as far as astronomy was concerned.

Even since the time that Islam rose to spread its light across the middle East, North Africa, Spain and parts of Europe, the Christian church and the European rules have felt threatened, religiously and politically. Both the Christian missionaries and orientialist began studying Islam in order to spread lies and slander its teachings, and to let the people develop hatred and fear of Islam. They have even invented name-calling to slander the religion of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w). Accordingly, any open-minded person embarking on a study of Islam and its history, especially if reading books written in European languages, should be aware of the apparently inherent misconceptions and distortions that permeate almost all non-Muslim writings on Islam. In the last year of the Twentieth Century, it does not seem that much has changed, even though most Muslims would agree that material progress is being made.