Islamic Scientific Schools

In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. The Kingdom of Ghassan in Arabia: History and Archaeological Heritage Introduction The Kingdom of Ghassan (Arabic: الغساسنة, al-Ghasāsinah ) was one of the most influential Arab kingdoms of Late Antiquity. Flourishing between the 3rd and 7th centuries CE , it served as a powerful Arab Christian kingdom that protected the southeastern frontier of the Byzantine Empire against the Sasanian Persians and their Arab allies, the Lakhmids. Although often remembered as a Levantine kingdom, the Ghassanids were Arabian in origin . According to both Arab historical traditions and growing archaeological evidence, they originated in South Arabia (Yemen) before migrating northwards into the Levant, where they established their political center while retaining strong tribal links with northern Arabia. Their sphere of influence extended across southern Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and the northern Ḥijāz , reaching as far south as Yathrib (Ma...

In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. The Kingdom of Saba: Arabia's Greatest Ancient Civilization Introduction The Kingdom of Saba (biblical Sheba ; Arabic: سبأ ) was one of the most prosperous and influential civilizations of the ancient Near East. Centered in present-day Yemen , with its capital at Ma'rib , Saba flourished through its mastery of irrigation, international commerce, monumental architecture, and centralized administration. For centuries, it controlled the lucrative trade in frankincense and myrrh, linking southern Arabia with the Mediterranean, Mesopotamia, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean. While the Kingdom of Saba is well known through the Biblical account of the Queen of Sheba and the Qur'anic narratives in Surahs Saba' and Al-Naml , archaeology has firmly established that Saba was a historical kingdom whose achievements rivaled those of many contemporary civilizations. Thousands of inscriptions, magnificent temples, extens...

In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. The Kingdom of Lihyan: An Ancient Arabian Civilization Between Archaeology and Islamic Historical Tradition Introduction Among the civilizations that flourished in the Arabian Peninsula before the advent of Islam, the Kingdom of Lihyan (مملكة لحيان) occupies a distinguished place. Centered at Dadan (modern AlUla) in northwestern Arabia, it emerged as one of the most prosperous kingdoms controlling the caravan routes that linked southern Arabia with the Levant, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. Unlike many ancient Arabian civilizations known only through classical Greek and Roman accounts, the existence of Lihyan is firmly established by indigenous inscriptions discovered at AlUla. Thousands of Dadanitic inscriptions, royal monuments, temples, and tombs have revealed that Lihyan was a politically organized kingdom with its own rulers, religious institutions, and administrative system. Interestingly, although the kingdom itself had ...

In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. The universe is often perceived as a vast collection of independent objects governed by physical laws. However, a closer examination of nature reveals a far more profound reality: every component of creation exists within an intricate network of relationships and mutual dependence. The stars forge the elements that form planets and living organisms; the atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere sustain one another through continuous cycles; and every living species contributes, directly or indirectly, to the balance of its ecosystem. This pervasive interconnectedness suggests that the cosmos is not merely an assembly of separate entities but a unified and coherent system whose stability depends upon the harmonious interaction of its diverse parts. This study advances the concept of the Symbiotic Universe as a Qur'anic theory of universal interdependence. It argues that the Qur'an presents creation as an integrated whole in...

In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Shafaq Ahmar: A Modern Understanding Introduction The disappearance of Shafaq Ahmar (the red twilight) marks the beginning of the time for the Isha prayer according to the overwhelming majority of Islamic jurists. For centuries, Muslims have relied upon direct observation of the western horizon to determine the disappearance of this red glow. However, atmospheric conditions, geographical location, seasonal changes, and modern light pollution often make such observations difficult or unreliable. Modern atmospheric science now provides valuable insights into the physical nature of twilight. Rather than replacing the juristic definition, these scientific findings help us understand what Shafaq Ahmar actually is and how it behaves in Earth's atmosphere. One of the most significant recent contributions is the 2024 study published in Scientific Reports ( Nature Portfolio ), which investigated the evolution of twilight bri...