Arabic translators did far more than just preserve Greek philosophy

https://aeon.co/ideas/arabic-translators-did-far-more-than-just-preserve-greek-philosophy

Anas Khatun, the wife of the great fifteenth century scholar of Ḥadīth, Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī, was a scholar in her own right. She regularly gave public lectures on the Islamic sciences that were attended by both male and female students.

In the 13th century, Ghazan Khan, the first Mongol ruler to convert to Islam, established various waqfs in Tabriz that provided for the distribution of food among the population. Specifically, sweet dishes were given out on Thursday evenings and holidays and even birds were provided with grain during the winter months.

Among the most notable and lasting contributions of Ottoman women were their waqfs (charitable endowments).

The Yeni Camii (New Mosque) in Istanbul was initiated as a waqf by Valide Sultan Safiye, the mother of Sultan Mehmed III in 1597 and was completed Valide Sultan Turhan Hatice in 1665.

Kösem Sultan, the mother of Sultans Murad IV and Ibrahim I, established a waqf in the early 17th century that provided dowries for poor women.

Islamic learning in Arabic-Afrikaans between Malay model and Ottoman reform (2015)

https://www.academia.edu/12822991/Islamic_learning_in_Arabic-Afrikaans_between_Malay_model_and_Ottoman_reform_2015_

Religious Sentiment and Political Liberties in Colonial South Asia

In a new episode, Julie Stephens challenges the binary juxtaposition of secular reason and religious sentiment through an exploration of debates over the meaning of religious and political liberties, secularism, and legal transformation during British colonial rule in South Asia.

http://www.ottomanhistorypodcast.com/2016/09/stephens.html?m=1

An Ottoman inscription on the north facade of the Dome of the Rock commemorating a renovation of the mosque by Sultan Süleyman in the 16th century. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather (Yavuz Sultan Selim, Sultan Bayezid II, and Fatih Sultan Mehmet II, respectively) are also mentioned.

In the late 11th century, Imam al-Ghazali lived near this spot in the Haram al-Sharif complex in Jerusalem. It was here that he wrote his magnum opus, Iḥya’ ʿUlūm al-Dīn.

The mihrab of Masjid Al-Aqsa

The mihrab of Masjid Al-Aqsa

An inscription above the mihrab commemorating the renovation of the masjid by Salah aI-Din. 

The beginning of Surat al-lsra' in Kufic script beginning to the left of the mihrab. 

The Dome of the Prophet with the Dome of the Rock in the background. The Dome of the Prophet marks the spot where some believe the Prophet Muhammad led the rest of the prophets in prayer on the night of Isra' wal-Mi'raj.

"Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once stated that “Seeking knowledge is mandatory for all Muslims.” With such a direct command to go out and seek knowledge, Muslims have placed huge emphasis on the educational system in order to fulfill this obligation placed on them by the Prophet ﷺ.

Throughout Islamic history, education was a point of pride and a field Muslims have always excelled in. Muslims built great libraries and learning centers in places such as Baghdad, Cordoba, and Cairo."

http://lostislamichistory.com/education/

A picture of an old copy of Quran with ancient script

The Madrasa Yusufiyya in Granada, Spain. Founded in 1349 by the Nasrid emir of Granada Yusuf I, it served as the city's main theological school until after the city's conquest in 1492. In 1499, the Catholic policy of harassment of Muslims in Granada culminated in the closure of the school and the burning of its books.

Today the prayer area (musalla) of the madrasa remains almost entirely intact, and various verses from the Qur'an, supplications, and the Granadan motto "There is no victor besides Allah" adorn its walls.

(See the 14 pictures in this link: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1051272921647087&id=294891850618535)

On this day (20 August, 636) a Muslim army under the command of Khalid ibn al-Walid defeated the Byzantines at the Battle of Yarmouk. The victory added Greater Syria to the nascent Muslim empire led by Umar ibn al-Khattab.

Why North is up

When you blame Eurocentricism for the biases in our maps, you unconsciously assume that Europeans invented map-making. Find out why in a new post from the Afternoon Map blog.

http://www.midafternoonmap.com/2016/08/why-north-is-up.html?m=1

Medieval Muslim scientists commonly wrote on a diverse range of subjects. Many dabbled in traditional Islamic theology and jurisprudence as well. Ibn al-Haytham (d. 1040) pioneered the scientific method but also wrote on scholastic theology.

Regarding the intersection of the two, he stated: "Finding the truth is difficult, and the road to it is rough. For the truths are plunged in obscurity...God, however, has not preserved the scientist from error and has not safeguarded science from shortcomings and faults. If this had been the case, scientists would not have disagreed upon any point of science."

Sultan Mehmed II's Firman on the freedom and protection of the Christians after the conquest of Bosnia, May 28, 1463

 

Fatih Sultan Mehmed II's Ferman on the freedom and protection of Christians after the conquest of Bosnia, May 28, 1463.

27 Prominent Medieval Andalusi Women

https://ballandalus.wordpress.com/2016/08/06/27-prominent-medieval-andalusi-women/

On this day (27 July, 1302) a tiny Turkish beylik led by Osman Ghazi defeated the Byzantines at the Battle of Bapheus. It was the first victory over the Byzantines for what would later become the Ottoman Empire.