6 Things You Didn't Know Muslims Invented

The Muslim civilization is one that stretches from Spain to China. From the 7th century onwards, individuals of different cultures, but a shared faith built on knowledge from ancient civilizations, and left their mark on our world. Here are 6 things you probably didn't know Muslims invented.

6. Surgical Tools

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In the last thousand years or so, very little has changed with regards to the tools of surgery. The Muslim surgeon and scholar, Al Zahrawi preserved the knowledge of more than 200 medical interments. His most prominent invention however, is the the use of catgut for stitching patients internally after surgery. Guess what, this procedure is still used today!

5. Toothbrush & Toothpaste

Via Wikipedia

The Prophet Muhammad highly encouraged the use of the "Miswak" during his lifetime. The Miswak is the twig of a tree that freshens the breath of the user. Substances similar to the Miswak are use in modern toothpaste.

4. Teaching Hospitals

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A teaching hospital is a facility that provides education and training to future and current doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals, while still providing medical assistance to patients. Under Muslim rule, the Academy of Gondishapur established the first teaching hospital, where students learnt medical procedures under the direct supervision of a doctor. This practice is still continued in the Medical profession.

3. Coffee

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The average person has at least one cup of coffee throughout their day. For some, they can't imagine their day without coffee. You can thank Yemeni Muslims for that! Around the 9th century, Tassawuf oriented Muslims used coffee to help them stay awake at night while they engaged in acts of prayer. Though its permissibility was heavily debated by scholars of the faith, that did not halt its rapid spread throughout the world.

2. University

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In the year 859, Princess Fatima Al Firhi established the first degree based university in the city of Fez, Morocco. Today, it still stands as the Qarawiyyin University. In operation for about 1200 years, it is the world's oldest university.

1. Algebra

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Perhaps one of the most important contributions of Muslims to the world was in the field of Math. The mathematician Al Khawarizmi wrote a famous treatise called "Kitab al-Jabr Wa l-Mugabala" which took Greek and Indian ideas to create a new algebraic system unifying rational numbers and irrational numbers. Al Khawarizmi also introduced raising a number to the power of another.