The positive relationship which Islam had shared with the West nearly a millennium ago is kept buried by the Western scholars, said a UK-based specialist historian.

Speaking on “The impact of Islamic civilization on Western Europe" at Fanar auditorium on Friday, Dr Farhat A Hussain said Islam helped the West to get out of the Dark Ages and Middle Ages by providing it with higher level of scientific, medical and mechanical insights. Unfortunately, modern studies of Islam in Europe are neglecting the substantive history of Islam and the influence of Islamic civilization in the making of Europe's history and heritage, he said.

Most of the European universities teach that early civilization is limited to countries like Greece and Rome. The impact of ancient Middle Eastern civilization upon these countries is deliberately ignored.

“The scope of Greek civilization is limited and many of its facets have been disproved by modern science. Greeks took much from Mesopotamia and Egypt. Romans also did the same,” he said.

Bertrand Russel said that “Muslims preserved the civilization of the Greeks and lacked the intellectual tool to advance civilization'. Many millions of people in Europe are unaware of Muslim achievements and contribution to Europe and instead feel negatively towards Islam. Dr Farhat, who has authored several books on history and archaeology, said his forthcoming book on Islamic civilization and Europe will address these erroneous assertions.

Early spread of Islam began filtering into Spain in 711 AD and it further spread into Southern France and Southern Italy via Sicily, Crete and Anatolia in the ninth century and Russia and Baltic State witnessed the spread of Islam in 13th and 15th centuries respectively. And it is with the spread of Islam that agriculture, nutrition, coinage, finance, trade, ceramics, textiles, mathematics, science, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, knowledge, terms and concepts witnessed advancements in these regions.

Farhat said the presence of major Muslim castles visible across the landscape of modern Spain and Portugal is a testament to their history and role and quality of their construction by the Muslims of Spain (Al Andalus), including Sultanate of Granada.

Now, a thousand years after their constructions, the castles of Al Andalus continue to stand majestically across the landscape of Spain and Portugal and allude to a great heritage.

By the 10th century, Islamic ceramics, textiles, glass and metal ware were of the highest standards and qualities. Muslim luxury goods were sought after as high status prized goods by the more wealthy families in Western Europe. The technology and style developed by Muslims in ceramics, textiles, glass and metal ware impacted upon Europe.

“The modern science has confirmed the knowledge stated in the Noble Quran and the Hadeeth of Prophet Muhammad . The Quran and Sunnah have formed the basis for Islamic civilization from the time of the Prophet and into subsequent centuries involving also the role of the Caliphs who were instrumental in the spread of Islamic civilization,” Dr Farhat said.

PHOTO CAPTION

UK-based historian Dr. Farhat A Hussain speaking on “The impact of Islamic civilization on Western Europe" at Fanar auditorium in Qatar.

The Peninsula newspaper, Qatar