The Islamic Intellectual Heritage and it's Impact on the West

History books have often overlooked the impact of Muslim civilization and culture on the West. Very little is mentioned about socio-political and scientific development from the decline of the classical Greek civilization until the European Renaissance of the 16th century. While Europe struggled through the dark ages Islamic civilization was at its peak, with Muslim scholars from Baghdad in the East to Andalusia in the West making significant contributions in philosophy and science. This knowledge not only inspired the great Muslim civilization that flourished in parts of Euro-Asia and Africa, it also spread through Islamic Spain to Europe to become the foundation for the European Renaissance and Reformation. The great Muslim philosopher Ibn-Rushd s ideas influenced the transformation of thought in medieval Europe and had a significant impact upon the minds of many medieval European Jewish and Christian intellectuals for the next several centuries. The rise of Rationalism and Humanism during the Renaissance is clearly linked to Ibn Rushd s emphasis on the primacy of reason in philosophical and theological discourse. From this book which contains papers written by followers of all Abrahamic faith (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), we learn that Muslim leadership provided the inspiration and motivation which led to the scientific, artistic and philosophical progress of the Renaissance.