Discuss five contributions made by Muslim scholars to science.

KCSE IRE Paper 2 2012 Question 6(a) with Answers.

(a) Discuss five contributions made by Muslim scholars to science. (10 marks)

Contributions of Muslim Scholars to Science.

1. The Prophet (p.b.u.h) laid down the foundation to the development of science by encouraging Muslims to learn e.g. he taught Muslims on facts about science e.g. he said “the abdomen is the source of all ailments”.
2. Muslim scholars excelled in chemistry and laid foundations e.g. Jabir Ibn Hayyan (803 CE) is regarded as the father of chemistry.
3. Ibn Sina wrote 246 books in different sciences e.g. canons of medicine which was a chief guide for medical colleges in the west from the  12th to 17th century, he discovered TB, meningitis and close to 760 drugs.
4. In ophthalmology, Hunain Ibn Ishaq, the head of the famous school of translators founded by Khalifa Maamun wrote the first systematic book on ophthalmology.
5. In the field of medicine Al-Razi wrote over 200 books on medicine. He was a physician and a scientist.
6. Al-Zahrawi was a famous surgeon who treated patients and taught students from the Muslim world and Europe. His book ‘medical encyclopedia’ contained 30 sections of surgical knowledge and illustrations of 200 surgical instruments; the encyclopaedia was used as a standard textbook on surgery in Europe, he was the first to use silk thread in stitching wounds.
7. In pharmacy al-Idrisi collected plants and data not reported before him from which a large number of drugs became available to medical practitioners.
8. Ibn Al-Baitar was one of the greatest scientists. and botanist, he went on many expeditions to Africa and Asia to collect plants, and his book is one of the greatest botanical compilations dealing with medical plants.
9. A1-Khuwarizmi was the first great Muslim mathematician who invented algebra which was further developed by other Muslim scholars like Umar-al-Hayyam.
10. Al-Batani is considered one of the greatest astronomer of Islam, he discovered the accurate determination of the solar year as 365 days, 5 hours, 46 minutes and 24 seconds which is very close to modern estimates.
11. In the field of philosophy al-Kindi is considered as the first philosopher in Islam.
12. In geography Ibn Majid invented the compass to determine directions which is in use up to now.
13. In geology Al-Bairuni was the first known writer to identify the formation of sedimentary rocks and the great geological changes that happened in the past. 

(5x2=10 marks)

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