HOW DID THE SPREAD OF ISLAM AFFECT THE WORLD?
Among the reasons
for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its doctrine –
Islam calls for faith in only One God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly
instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation. Within a few
years, great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to
the Prophet, ‘seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and
woman’. The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old,
brought about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy,
geography, architecture, art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems
such as algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital
to the advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from
Islam. Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European
voyages of discovery were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and
good navigational maps.
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