The Re-emergence of Islamic Enlightenment — Page 20
20 to ensure that all people, including girls and those afflicted by poverty, were educated and given the means to progress. Furthermore, the Holy Quran itself has signified the importance of education by teaching the prayer “O my Lord, increase me in knowledge” 11. Where this prayer is a source of great help to Muslims, it also inspires them towards learning and advancing the cause of human knowledge. The truth is that the Holy Quran and the teachings of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) inspired the works of generations of Muslim intellectuals, philosophers and inventors in the Middle Ages. Indeed, if we look back more than a millennium we see how Muslim scientists and inventors played a fundamental role in advancing knowledge and developing technologies, which transformed the world and remain in use today. For example, the first ever camera was developed by Ibn Haytham and his revolutionary work was recognised by UNESCO when he was declared as a “pioneer of modern optics”. It is also interesting to note that the word ‘camera’ is derived from the Arabic word qamara. In the 12 th Century, a Muslim cartographer produced what was regarded as the most extensive and accurate world map of the medieval times, which was used for centuries by travellers. Furthermore, in the field of medicine, many Muslim physicians and scientists made great discoveries and pioneered many inventions that remain in use today. Many surgical instruments were pioneered by the Muslim