Knowing the Truth: Gateway to Knowledge

Baghdad only came to close attention in the 8^th century, although its roots date back to ancient Babylon in 1800 BC. Baghdad, meaning “the gift from God” became a center of learning, soon after the discovery of paper after capturing Chinese papermakers in the battle of Talas- Papermaking 751 CE. In 762CE, Baghdad, located on the west side of the Tigris River became the capital of the Abbasid dynasty, as it took control of the Muslim world. Over the next five centuries, Baghdad became the home of education and learning. Muslims thrived for knowledge, and the prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) encouraged this in his life, saying to “seek learning even as far as China“. In the area of medicine, the Prophet Muhammad said, “For every disease, Allah has given a cure,” and scientists were encouraged to find those cures. This attitude toward learning and research was a powerful reason that science developed so much under Islam. Moreover, Islam encouraged learning and to read the Qu’ran, which-in one of its chapters-begins: “Recite!” (Which is also translated: “Read?”), symbolizing read to gain knowledge. Baghdad soon became a place of museums, hospitals, libraries, roads, brilliant architecture and mosques. This age was known as the `Golden Age` of Islam. Great libraries still existed in the west of Baghdad where lay the former Greek world and to the east of Baghdad where lay the Persian speaking lands. The libraries of Constantinople (present day Istanbul) and Edessa (present day Shanli-Urfa in south east Turkey) housed valuable manuscripts written in Greek and Syriac (an ancient language spoken in Syria). Jundi-Shapur, the great Sasnanian School of learning was overflowing with valuable manuscripts. It was the Muslims who were the first people to be interested in preserving and translating these manuscripts. The second caliph of the Abbasid Dynasty Al-Mansur (712-75CE) had an ancient Indian mathematical book called the “Bramasphuta Siddhanta” translated into Arabic from the ancient sacred language of Sanskrit. This is when the serious buying and translating of these manuscripts from different subjects like anatomy, medicine and astrology etc all started. Books or manuscripts from foreign lands were quickly translated and placed in Al-Mansur’s library for reference only.Caliph Harun al-Rashid (768-809) continued collecting manuscripts and translating them. They were then placed in Harun Al-Rashid’s library “Treasure of Knowledge” (Kanz Al-Hikmah in Arabic). Pieces of manuscript of books translated exceptionally well were weighed and the translators given its weight in gold.

Bayt Al-Hikmah

Although these two caliphs contributed greatly to preserving the valuable knowledge of the various subjects, it was Al-Ma’mun, son of Harun al-Rashid who contributed and supported this the most. A larger more official institution the “House of wisdom” (Bayt al-Hikmah in Arabic) was established by Al Ma’mun. Only the best translators worked in the Bayt al-Hikmah to preserve the philosophical and scientific manuscripts from foreign lands. Most of the famous Muslim scholars from the 9th to 13th centuries had their educational roots in Baghdad. Bayt al-Hikmah attracted scholars from all over the world, from many cultures and religions. They studied the works of Aristotle, Plato, Hippocrates, Euclid, and Pythagoras. The House of Wisdom was home to, among others, the most famous mathematician of the time: Al-Khawarizmi, the “Father” of Algebra (which is named after his book “Kitab al-Jabr”). The House of Wisdom was the greatest “think tank” the medieval world had ever seen! Without the translations and research that went on here, much of the Greek, Latin and Egyptian knowledge would have been lost to the world. Much of the Muslims efforts are overlooked by the west at this present period of time, although their works are still admired by many. The historian Al-Maqrizi described the opening of the House of Wisdom in 1004:“In 1004 A.D. ‘The House of Wisdom’ was opened. The students took up their residence. The books were brought from [many other] libraries … and the public was admitted. Whosoever wanted was at liberty to copy any book he wished to copy, or whoever required to read a certain book found in the library could do so. Scholars studied the Qur’an, astronomy, grammar, lexicography and medicine. The building was, moreover, adorned by carpets and all doors and corridors had curtains, and managers, servants, porters and other menials were appointed to maintain the establishment. Out of the library of Caliph al-Hakim those books were brought which he had gathered– books in all sciences and literatures and of exquisite calligraphy such as no king had ever been able to bring together. Al-Hakim permitted admittance to everyone, without distinction of rank, who wished to read or consult any of the books”. Baghdad became a city of knowledge, “There were many libraries from which to borrow books in the Muslim civilization. Historians list thirty-six libraries in Baghdad alone around the middle of the thirteenth century, and that does not include the House of Wisdom!

The Fate of Baghdad

Since the founding of Baghdad, the city had become a city of culture and prosperity. Great caliphs, philosophers, scientists, astronomers, mathematicians, religious leaders etc lived in this truly marvelous city. This knowledge filled city where all kind of books were translated, copied and bound was one of a kind. Only Cordoba in far off Al-Andalus could be measured up to the greatness of Baghdad. Although, this city was the center of knowledge and learning in the medieval world, by the middle of the 13^th century CE Baghdad and a lot of the Muslim world had become divided and lacked unity. This was mainly because the Muslim world had become divided into different small independent dynasties. This was also because of conflicts between Sunni’s and Shia’s. Much of the Muslim world and the east had suffered from the destructive wrath of the Mongols at the hands of Genghis khan (The scourge of God), in the early 13^th century CE. The Mongols were superb horsemen and practiced shamanism, an old animistic religion. Their homeland was present day Mongolia. They raided and caused destruction where ever they went. When Genghis khan died his grandson Hulagu Khan carried on the legacy of his grandfather. The great Persian historian al-Juwayni who traveled with Hulagu Khan in the invasion of Persia wrote ; “They came, they burned, they slaughtered, they looted and then they left.”Hulagu Khans army consisted of people from all over the eastern empires. When invading Persia in 1257 he waged war with his horsemen as tent dwelling nomads living on mare’s milk and horse flesh, great siege engines and Chinese archers.

Assault on Baghdad

Before the death of Genghis Khan, he had in mind that he would attack Baghdad. As he died before he could attack, his grandson had to attack for him carrying on his vengeful and destructive legacy. The last Abbasid caliph Al-Must’asim bi Allah was arrogant and overconfident. He sent a message to Hulagu Khan telling him that an assault on Baghdad would move the entire Muslim world .However Hulagu Khan ignored the message and carried on massing forces. When Al-Must’asin bi Allah realized that the situation was very bad and serious, he could do nothing as it was too late. Negotiating wouldn’t resolve the problem, but he tried. He offered him the title of sultan and offered his name be mentioned in the Friday Khutbahs (sermons held in Friday prayer). Hulagu khan, the grandson on Genghis khan the scourge of god attacked Baghdad, a city of treasure and knowledge on February 10, 1258.Hundreds of thousand of innocent lives were lost that day. The city was set ablaze and plundered. The Caliph was forced to give up his treasures, and was killed along with members of his family. Although the caliph was killed, it stated in the religious laws of the Mongols that no royal blood could be spilled. Historians agree that he was rolled up in a carpet and trampled to death by horses.The illiterate Mongols ransacked palaces, homes and libraries. All the knowledge stored there in the past years was destroyed in a matter of days. It is said that the Tigris river an red with the blood of the dead then black from the ink run of the manuscripts thrown into the river.Although Baghdad was destroyed and ransacked to the ground, there was a positive outcome to this. The descendents of Hulagu khan became Muslims in later years. Uljaytu Khan (Died 1316 CE) the grandson of Hulagu khan became a Muslim and a patron of arts while his grandfather had shown no respect for knowledge. As a Muslim he encouraged the translating and coping of the Holy Qur’an.