Union of Muslim Nations is one of the Foundations of Islamic Civilization

Union of Muslim Nations is one of the Foundations of Islamic Civilization

Introduction

Islam declared clearly and explicitly the union of humankind of all nations regarding the human rights, goodness, and dignity: "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise (each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)." [Al-Hujurat 49: 13]

 

In pursuit of achieving these objectives and in the wake of the Islamic conquests, Islam absorbed various nations involving several races and different peoples. Each of them had its heritage and voluminous cultural and scientific experience. This contributed to the emergence of a unique civilization with variety of talents and natural and human powers. It was the Islamic civilization that composed the contributions of different nations.    

The various technical, cultural, and scientific experiences and talents held by some Muslim nations, such as the Persians, Turks and others, contributed to the formation of the new Islamic civilization. Under the banner of Islam, they helped the building of a great and lofty human civilization. This variety of Muslim nations was then seen as a resource of enriching the Islamic civilization and an essential component of its rise.

Persia

When Persia, for example, was conquered by Muslims and the Persian mixed with Muslims and knew so much about the merits and tolerance of Islam; it is the religion of fraternity, equality, mutual affection and kindness, love and altruism. They accepted Islam in unison and endeavored to learn Arabic, the language of the new religion, which they loved and accepted, to help them understand and reflect upon it.[1]   

Their love of the faith of Islam and its language was the cause of their care for them. No sooner had they converted to Islam than they contributed to the scientific and writing movement to the extent that they proved talented in these fields. The Islamic civilization then had many significant benefits as a result:

1.         Some terms were used to express certain aspects of civilization but had no translation in Arabic, so they were lent to Arabic and later became Arabic terms, such as Diwan (bureau, a collection of poetry) and Bimaristan (hospital).  

2.         Many Persian people showed great abilities in different Arabic and Islamic sciences. For example, al-Hasan al-Basry[2], Muhammad Ibn Sirin[3], Abu `Abdullah al-Bukhari[4] and their likes in the science of Hadith. They played a great role in the transmission of Hadith. Likewise, Abu Hanifah[5] and al-Layth Ibn Sa`d[6] led the science of Jurisprudence. They and other jurists were of prestigious status. In the literary writing emerged Abdul-Hamid al-Katib,[7] Ibn al-Muqaffa'[8] and others. In poetry, there were Bashshar ibn Burd,[9] Abu Nuwas,[10] and others of the same ilk. They all introduced new techniques, expressions, and metaphors into prose and poetry. The scientific movement and authorship became so wide during the Abbasid era in different fields of Islamic sciences and so many books were translated into Arabic. The same was the case with regard to books of knowledge that were brought and translated from India and other Eastern civilized nations. These books contributed to the Islamic civilization during the scientific renaissance.[11]

Muslim Genius

It is considerable to mention that the genius of the Muslim peoples was not confined to the fields of religion and language. They also achieved great developments in medicine, astronomy, algebra, engineering, and other sciences that amazingly enriched the Islamic civilization and directly contributed to its foundation. It is enough to mention names like al-Khawarizmy (Algoritmi)[12], Ibn Sina (Avicenna)[13], and al-Biruni. 

Al-Zuhry[14] mentioned that Hisham Ibn `Abdul-Malik[15] asked him: who is the religious master of Mecca? I said: `Ata'[16]. Hisham said: [who is the religious master of] Yemen? I said: Tawus.[17] Hisham said: what about the Levant? I said: Makhul.[18] Hisham said: what about Egypt? I said: Yazid ibn Abu Habib.[19] Hisham said: Arabia? I said: Maymun ibn Mahran[20]. Hisham said, Khurasan? I said: al-Dahhak ibn Muzahim.[21] Hisham said: Basra? I said: al-Hasan ibn Abu al-Hasan. Hisham said: Kufa? I said, Ibrahim al-Nakh`y.[22] It is related that after each one, Hisham asked whether he was an Arab or a non-Arab and Al-Zuhry would say: he is a non-Arab. At the end, Hisham said: By Allah, the non-Arab will hold the political leadership as well until supplications would be in their favor on the pulpits, i.e. they would be the kings. Al-Zuhry said: O Commander of the Believers, it is the religion of Allah; who preserves it will be raised to leadership and whoever leaves it will fall.[23]     

The Islamic civilization was then the outcome of the various Muslim peoples, including the peoples of Persia, Roman Empire, Greece, India, Turkey, and Andalusia. All these nations accepted Islam and formed the powerful source of this gigantic civilization, increasing the effective role of its heritage, civilization, and wide history all over the world of this civilization.     

Prominent figures of the Islamic civilization

Each civilization may boast of its genius people that belong to one race and nation except the Muslim civilization, because it boasts of great figures, who built its edifice of all nations and people where Islam gained land and leadership. Those of Arabia contributed to it beside those of Persia – for example, Abu Hanifah (Persian), Malik (Arab)[24], Al-Shafi`y[25], and Ahmad[26] (the founders of the Four Legal Schools of Law). Similarly, Al-Khalil[27] and Sibawayh[28] (linguists) and so many others who were of different races but all were Muslim scholars through whom the Islamic civilization set forth the most wonderful production of the sound human thought.[29]

This is the nature of the Islamic civilization that made a unique example that lit life with knowledge and tolerance and absorbed all those living under its shadows to invent, renew, add, and construct.        

 

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[1]     Abu Zayd Shalaby, Tarikh al-Hadarah al-Islamyyah wal-Fikr al-Islamy, p. 67.

[2]     Al-Hasan Al-Basri: Abu Sa`id Al-Hasan ibn Yasar Al-Basri, born in Medina and died in Basra,  (21-110 A.H./642-728 A.D.) was one of the great figures among the Tabi`un (Second Generation following the Companion of the Prophet). He was a versatile scholar who was talented in the religious knowledge, austereness, righteousness and devotion. For more information, refer to Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 2/69-72. 

[3]     Muhammad Ibn Sirin: Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Sirin Al-Basri, (33-110 A.H./653-729 A.D.) is one of the jurists who lived in Basra. He was noted for his righteousness among his people. At his early life, he was a merchant of clothes with deaf ears and was known for his interpreting of dreams. For more information, refer to Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 4/181-182. 

[4]     Al-Bukhari: Abu `Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Isma`il Al-Bukhari (194-256 A.H./810-870 A.D.), the Sheikh of Islam, Imam of Hadith scholars, and the author of the Sahih Collection of Hadith and the Book of History. He was born in Bukhara where lived as orphan and died in Bakhtink, a village of Samarkand city. For more information, refer to Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 2/104-105. 

[5]     Abu Hanifah: Abu Hanifah Al-Nu`man ibn Thabit Al-Kufy (80-150 A.H./699-767 A.D.) is the founder of the Hanafi School of Law. He is originally a Persian who was born in Kufa and died in Baghdad. For more information, refer to Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 5/405-414.

[6]     Al-Layth Ibn Sa`d: Abu Al-Harith Al-Layth Ibn Sa`d (94-175 A.H./713-791 A.D.) is the Imam of Egypt in Fiqh (Jurisprudence) and Hadith science. He was originally from Aspahan and born in Qalqashanda and died in Cairo. For more information, refer to Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 4/127-129.

[7]     `Abdul-Hamid Al-Katib: `Abdul-Hamid Ibn Yahya ibn sa`d, the famous and eloquent writer who is the proverbial figure in rhetoric. He was the writer of Marwan ibn Muhammad, the last caliph of Umayyad dynasty and was killed with him in Buseir, Egypt 132 A.H./750 A.D. For more information, refer to Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 3/228-229.    

[8]     Ibn Al-Muqaffa`: `Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa` (106-142 A.H./724-759 A.D.) is a famous writer known for his eloquence. He was a fire worshipper Persian who born in Iraq but later he accepted Islam at the hand of `Isa Ibn `Ali, the uncle of the caliph. He was killed upon the command of the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur. For more information, refer to Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 2/151-154.    

[9]     Bashshar Ibn Burd: Abu Mu`adh Bashshar Ibn Burd Al-`Aqili (95-167 A.H./714-784 A.D.) is a widely known poet who lived during the Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates. He was blind and accused of hypocrisy so he was flogged to death. For more information, refer to Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 1/271-273.   

[10]   Abu Nuwas: Al-Hasan Ibn Hani` Ibn `Abdul-Awwal (146-198 A.H./763-814 A.D.) is the Poet of Iraq of the time. He was lewd and most of his poetry in describing wine sessions and love. For more information, refer to Al-Baghdadi, Khazanat al-Adab, 1/168.  

[11]   Abu Zayd Shalaby, Tarikh al-Hadarah al-Islamyyah wal-Fikr al-Islamy, p. 67-68.

[12]   Al-Khawarizmy: Abu `Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Musa Al-Khawarizmy (died. 232 A.H./847 A.D.) is a mathematician, astronomer, and historian. He was a native of Khawarizm. The Abbasid Caliph Al-Ma'mun appointed him as a secretary in the royal library and entrusted him with collecting and translating the Greek books. See: Ibn Al-Nadim Al-Fihrist, p. 383; Al-Zirikly, Al-A`lam, 7/116.   

[13]   Ibn Sina: Abu `Ali: Al-Husayn Ibn `Abdullah Ibn Sina` (370-428 A.H./980-1037 A.D.) is the president philosopher and the great writer in medicine, logic, biologics, and theology. He was born in a village in Bukhara and died in Hamdan. For more information, refer to Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 2/157-161.

[14]   Al-Zuhry: Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Muslim Ibn `Abdullah Ibn Shihab Al-Zuhry Al-Qurashi (58-124 A.H./678-742 A.D.) is a jurist, Hadith scholar, and an eminent figure among the Tabi`un in Medina. For more information, refer to Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 4/177-178.  

[15]   Hisham Ibn `Abdul-Malik: Hisham Ibn `Abdul-Malik Ibn Marwan (71-125 A.H./690-743 A.D.) is an Umayyad caliph who was ascended to throne after the death of his brother Yazid in 105 A.H. He was a good politician and careful and practical leader. Al-Zirikly, Al-A`lam, 8/86. 

[16]   `Ata' Ibn Abu Rabah: A Muslim jurist who was born in Yemen and grew in Mecca. Al-Awza`y said, I never saw any one more humble and sincere to Allah than `Ata'. He died in Mecca 115 A.H. For more information, see Ibn Sa`d, Al-Tabaqat Al-kubra, 5/467; Ibn Al-Jawzy, Safwat Al-Safwah, 2/212-214.

[17]   Tawus Ibn Kizan Al-Yamani, abu `Abdur-Rahman Al-Himyay, the ally of Buhayr Ibn Risan Al-Himyary. He was originally from Persia. Ibn Khillikan mentioned him saying, he was one of the righteous people of Yemen and of the senior masters of Tabi`un (second generation of Islam after the companions of the Prophet). He died in 106 A.H. Refer to: Al-Mizzy, Tahdhib Al-Kamal, 13/357; Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib Al-Tahdhib 5/9. 

[18]   Makhul Al-Dimashqi: Abu `Abdullah (died. 118 A.H.) is a jurist of Damascus. He was originally from Kabul. Ibn Sa`d, Al-Tabaqat Al-kubra, 7/453.

[19]   Yazid Ibn Abu Habib, Abu Raja`' Al-Misri (died. 138 A.H.) is the Mufti of Egypt of the time. He was noted for his wisdom and forbearance. Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib Al-Tahdhib, 11: 278.

[20]   Maymun Ibn Mahran: Abu Ayyub (died. 116). For more information, see: Ibn Khayyat, Al-Tabaqat, p. 319; Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib Al-Tahdhib, 10/349.

[21]   Al-Dahhak Ibn Muzahim, Abu Al-Qasim Al-Balkhi Al-Khurasany (died. 105 A.H./723 A.D.), is an exegete, Hadith scholar, and linguistic who was also a teacher of children. See: Al-Hamawy, Mu`jam Al-Udaba' 4/1452-1453; Ibn Hajar, Tahdhib Al-Tahdhib, 4/397-398.  

[22]    Ibrahim Al-Nakh`y: Abu `Imran Ibrahim Ibn Yazid ibn Qays Al-Nakh`I Al-Kufi (46-96 A.H./666-715 A.D.) is one of the masters of Tabi`un who was noted for his righteousness and erudite in memorizing Hadith. He died while keeping hidden from Al-Hajjaj. Ibn Sa`d, Al-Tabaqat Al-kubra, 6/270-284.  

 

[23]   Ibn Kathir, Al-Ba`ith Al-Hathith sharh Ikhtisar `Ulum Al-Hadith, p. 42.

[24]   Malik Ibn Anas Al-Asbahy (93-179 A.H.) is the Imam of Al-Madinah, and one of the four Sunni Imams and the eponym of the Maliki School of Jurisprudence. He was perseveringly a religious scholar who lived away from emirs and kings. His most famous work is Al-Muwatta' [a collection of Hadith and legal opinions]. Refer to Al-Dhahabi, Siyar A`lam Al-Nubala', 8/48; Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 4/135; Al-Zirikly, Al-A`lam, 5/257.

[25]   Al-Shafi`y: Abu `Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Idris Al-Qurashi (150-206 A.H.) is one of the Four Imams and the founder of the Science of Usul Al-Fiqh (the Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence). He was born in Gaza and died in Egypt. Refer to Al-Dhahaby, Siyar A`lam Al-Nubala', 10/5.

[26]   Ahmad Ibn Hanbal: abu `Abdullah Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Hanbal Al-Shaybany (164-241 A.H.) is the leader of Hadith scholars who collected Al-Musnad collection of Hadith where he recorded reports that none but him collected. It is said that he was keeping by heart a billion Hadith. He was of the companions and close followers of Al-Shafi`y until Al-Shafi`y left to Egypt. He was born and died in Baghdad. Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 1/64.

[27]  Al-Khalil: Abu `Abdur-Rahman Al-Khalil Ibn ahmad Ibn `Amr Al-Farahidy (100-170 A.H./718-786 A.D.) is the senior scholar of syntax and the founder of the prosody science in Arabic. He was the teacher of Sibawayh. He was born and died in Basra. Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 2/244-248.

[28] Sibawayh: Abu Bishr `Amr ibn `Uthman ibn Qunbur (148-180 A.H./765-796 A.D.) is the most outstanding linguist who was the first to explain the Arabic grammar in detail. He was born in a village in Shiraz and came to Basra where he accompanied Al-Khalil and excelled him. Ibn Khillikan, Wafayat Al-A`yan, 3/463-464.

[29]  Mustafa Al-Siba`y: Min Rawai` Hadaratina, p. 26-27, adapted.

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