ISLAM AND THE WORLD

1. What did the Arabs contribute to the field of mathematics?
The figures 1 to 9 were given to the world by the Arabs, who copied them from India. They not only learnt it but also added 0 for zero to it.

2. Do you think the new figures passed on to the world by the Muslims made computing easier? Why?
Yes, the new figures passed on to the world by the Muslims made computing easier because earlier people used to write the numbers in the Roman script, which was quite difficult. For example: MMDLXXV could now be easily written as 2575.

3. What is the Muslim contribution to the field of medicine?
Muslim doctors discovered medicines for treating many diseases. They established finest hospitals. They worked out better ways to sew up the wounds. They wrote several books on medicine.

4. What urged the Muslims to think deeply about various illnesses and discover useful medicines? The Prophet’s saying that ‘there is no disease without a cure’ urged the Muslim doctors to think deeply about various illnesses and discover useful medicines.

5. How did the Muslim doctors discover that smallpox and the measles were two different diseases?
By observation, they learnt that smallpox and the measles were two different diseases.

6. Where was the ‘House of Wisdom’ built? Who built it?
The House of Wisdom was built in Baghdad by its ruler in 830 A.D.

7. What is calligraphy? What did the Muslims think of it?
The art of beautiful Arabic handwriting is called calligraphy. Muslims developed it as an art.

8. How did they preserve the books?
They preserved the books by binding them.