Mathematics has played a significant role in Islamic civilization since the 9th century, with the development of algebra, trigonometry, and arithmetic. Many Muslim scholars and scientists contributed to the field of mathematics, including Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Kindi, and Omar Khayyam.
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Mathematics has had a long and significant relationship with Islam, dating back to the Golden Age of Islamic civilization in the 9th century.
During this period, Muslim scholars made significant contributions to various fields, including mathematics. Muslims founded some of the earliest universities in the world, such as Al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco in 859 and Al-Azhar in Egypt in 970.
Some of the most prominent Muslim mathematicians who contributed to the field during this era include Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Kindi, and Omar Khayyam. Al-Khwarizmi, considered the father of algebra, wrote the book Kitab al-Jabr wa-l-Muqabala, which introduced the concept of using letters as variables and solving equations through systematic manipulation. Al-Kindi, known for his contributions to philosophy, astronomy, and mathematics, is also credited with introducing Indian numerals to the Islamic world. Omar Khayyam was a Persian mathematician and poet who worked on problems in algebra and geometry, including constructing accurate models of the solar system.
Mathematics continued to develop in the Islamic world, and by the 13th century, the Nasir al-Din Tusi observatory in Persia was the most advanced in the world. It was here that Tusi developed the Tusi-couple, a device used for transforming rotary motion into linear motion, which influenced the development of astronomy and trigonometry.
A famous quote reflecting the importance of mathematics in Islamic civilization comes from Al-Sijzi, an Arabic astronomer and mathematician from Persia. He said, “Mathematics is the mirror of human thought, and through it, we can better understand our own thinking.”
Mathematics played a crucial role in Islamic civilization, influencing fields such as astronomy, engineering, and architecture. Here is a table outlining some of the key contributions made by Muslim mathematicians during the Golden Age of Islamic civilization:
| Mathematician | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Al-Khwarizmi | Father of algebra; introduced systematic manipulation of equations through the use of letters as variables |
| Al-Kindi | Introduced Indian numerals to the Islamic world |
| Omar Khayyam | Worked on problems in algebra and geometry; developed accurate models of the solar system |
| Ibn al-Haytham | Worked on optics and the nature of light |
| Nasir al-Din Tusi | Developed the Tusi-couple, a device for transforming rotary motion into linear motion |
| Al-Sijzi | Wrote a book on geometry, developed the first astrolabe with polar projections, and worked on astronomy |
In summary, math and Islam have been intertwined for centuries, resulting in significant contributions to the field of mathematics and other related fields. Muslim scholars and scientists played a crucial role in advancing math and promoting its importance in Islamic civilization.
Video answer to “How is math related to Islam?”
The video discusses the development of Islamic mathematics under the rule of Harun al-Rashid, who collected and translated works from various cultures, and his successor Abu Jafar al-Ma’mun, who established the House of Wisdom, a center for scholarly work. Al-Khwarizmi is credited with writing the first book of algebra and spreading the decimal system and the use of zero as a placeholder. Other important mathematicians of the Islamic Golden Age mentioned include Eben Quora and Abu al-Hassan al-Khla DC who worked on amicable numbers and decimal fractions respectively, and Al-Haytham who developed a formula for finding the volume of a particular solid of revolution obtained by rotating a parabola. The famous poet Omar Khayyam was also a skilled mathematician, interested in finding the exact value of the roots of a cubic polynomial, which would later become Europe’s first mathematical accomplishment.
Additional responses to your query
Mathematics is the study of numbers, shapes and connections. It is used to seek out patterns, formulate new conjectures and establish truth by rigorous deduction from appropriately chosen axioms and definition. Mathematics or ‘AlHisab’ has been used for 48 times in the al-Quran, illustrating that Mathematics play a big role in our life. Math is the language of the Universe, created by Allah, and is just another tool to use in your life to fulfil your ultimate purpose of submitting your will to Allah.
There is a connection between mathematics and Islam as a whole. I am not muslim, but I did however become captivated by this very topic and chose it as my project for an undergraduate class. The cover of the Quran almost always (maybe more in the past) has repeating geometrical patterns in similar manner as this picture:
You won’t find actual maths inside the Quran, but we easily recognize the connection of this mysterious (and beautiful) geometry present in Mosque architecture. Have a look at these Mosques:
If you take into account when this stuff was built, this was some new, unique geometry at the time (some of the first fractals made by man).
It turns out that these paterns all radiate outwards from a single reference point and shape. This is generally accepted by scholars as representing that all things in the universe originate from god.
More interesting on the topic
The Muslims developed the symbol for zero and they systematized the numbers into the decimal system – base 10.