Blake Damen

3/6/18

Letter From Baghdad

Dear Brian,

I am writing to you from Baghdad! Me, Ben, in Baghdad! I’m sure that’s gonna

lead to some crazy shenanigans. I’m here on my Hajj and this place is a bit daring to me.

It’s often considered to be the “jewel” of the Islamic Empire, which means it’s the most

prized location in the whole country! Baghdad has this place called “The House of

Wisdom” in which loads of scholars from all over the world come to visit and talk about

science, math, and medicine. I don’t understand most of it but it’s nice to see all these

cultures coming together. ​These scholars really made Baghdad the “jewel” of the Islamic

world.

Two prime examples of these incredible scholars were Al-Khawarizmi and Umar

Khayyam, both whom greatly advanced mathematics around the world​. When I was

watching a group of scholars discussing math, they were both the ones who stood out to

me. While I didn’t understand their advanced theorems, I did understand the fact that

Al-Khawarizmi was “Translat[ing] scientific and mathematical documents from Greek,

Sanskrit, and Hebrew into Arabic” (Mvuyekure 344). That’s three languages, all

translated into our most common language. That is insanely helpful towards anyone who

can only speak Arabic, which are many of us. Al-Khawarizmi was also “Provid[ing]

other countries with the tools to use Hindu-Arabic numerals including zero and place
values” (Mvuyekure 344). Again, this is incredibly helpful for countries that aren't ours

because now they can properly interpret math. Before, they had no idea how to even use

zero, now thanks to Al-Khawarizmi, they can be math pros. But Al-Khawarizmi isn't the

only great on the math team, Umar Khayyam is also an amazing resource. Umar was the

“first scholar to develop the binomial theorem and determine binomial coefficients”

(Douglass 415). He didn’t just contribute to the theorem, he was the inventor of the basic

principles. That’s not all he did, he also “work[ed] on the multiplication of ratios and the

mathematical theory of parallel lines” (Douglass 415). Umar was incredibly important

when it came to advancing math itself. He worked on the equations side while

Khawarizmi worked on providing his discoveries to different nations and their own.

Together, they both advanced mathematics greatly.

Mathematics wasn’t the only thing scholars improved, both Al-Razi and Ibn Sina

advanced the world of medicine.​ When I was done watching scholars discuss math, I

went over to another group of scholars discussing medicine. They were writing books and

they all let me read a bit of each explaining what their book was about, and what I read

from Al-Razi and Ibn Sina blew me away. To start off, Al-Razi was writing a book of

“medical texts [which] put forth new ideas on how to further medicine” (Douglass 423).

Within this book he was writing were so many different types of medicine and how they

can help every person on Earth. It’s amazing to see that he cares so much for the advance

of medicine he’s willing to put all his ideas into a book for all to read in case they would

ever want to contribute. Though that’s not the only book he wrote, he also “[wrote a

book] (Book of Mansur) which described how to treat diseases in a scientific way”
(Douglass 423). This means that doctors all over the world would have a sufficient way

to treat their patients just by reading his book. That is extraordinarily helpful for all

hospitals and scientific communities that want to learn about medicine and how to

properly use it. While I was there, Ibn Sina also showed me his books. One of his books

was the “(Canon Of Medicine) which listed every disease known at the time and their

cures” (Douglass 423). Every disease known to man was in that book, and not only did it

list the symptoms and how they would affect someone, it also listed the exact cures. This

is insanely helpful, again, to doctors who need to know exactly what they're treating and

how to treat it. But doctors aren't the only people who could benefit from the book,

regular people could as well. If someone had a deadly illness they can quickly look for

their symptoms in Sina’s book and they’d find both the disease they have and the cure.

Sina “[had another book] (Book of Healing) which explains how Science and Theology

could be used together” (Douglass 423). Most people think that science and religion are

total opposites, but Sina believes that they can be equally used for the best. I haven't seen

this opinion presented before, but when I read his book he presented many good points.

People have to take these initial steps to change the world, so hopefully Sina’s belief can

be used for good. Both of these scholars have written amazing books that are going to

change medicine, and it can only happen here in Baghdad.

The last scholars I talked to were studying various topics of science, and I found

two scholars, Al-Jazari, and Al Haytham, who were contributing to different topics but

for the same cause.​ Al-Jazari and Al Haytham were very different, but they both cared

about the same fundamental things. Al-Jazari "[Created] A text [which] described new
technological advantages such as water clocks, fountains, military machinery, and

agricultural" (Douglass 436). Al-Jazari’s book will be a great recourse for cities. Think

about all the renovations that could be done to make places look nicer with these

inventions. The book also has lots of military potential which is helpful towards our

country and our way of life. Also, “While previous books had described such machinery,

al-Jazari also gave directions on how to construct them" (Douglass 436). Al-Jazari is

going to greatly improve the world because of this. No longer will people have to go

based off the picture, they now know exactly how to make an amazing addition to their

city. While Al-Jazari was improving the world of construction, Al-Haytham was doing

something completely different. Most people call him the “Father of Optics” (Douglass

436), which means he’s one of the greatest attributors towards the study of sight. I didn’t

believe he would be the true “father” of it at first, but then he told me about how “...sight

results from rays of light entering the eyes and being translated into vision” (Douglass

436) and then I believed his title fully. He’s the main man behind most visionary sciences

and he’s really trying to find an alternative for those who have bad vision. Al-Jazari and

Al-Haytham don't have a whole lot in common. One studies machines, one studies sight.

But in terms of their goal, improving the world, they’re exactly the same. And that’s

where it counts.

Scholars made Baghdad the “jewel” of the Islamic world. I know I said this

earlier but it really applies. All these scholars that I’ve watched, read, and talked to have

really changed my view on Baghdad. I think the world needs more of these guys and a

little less shenanigans. If these scholars were like I was, they wouldn't have gone through
on any of their great inventions. Think about where the world is going now, so much

information all coming from Baghdad. Imagine where Umar Khayyam’s math

innovations are going to go, I’m sure it’s going to get more and more complicated but for

the best reasons. Or where Al-Razi is going to go with his books of diseases and their

cures, and how that might advance to an even greater book series with even more

diseases. And now imagine if that never happened, all because Baghdad never existed.

This Hajj has been a real eye opener for me, and it was all thanks to Baghdad. Everyone

can learn from these great scholars, and I hope you do as well. This has been a long letter,

but I just had a lot of thoughts. It was good writing to you Brian, and I think I’ll be

visiting Baghdad a lot after my Hajj is over.

Sincerely,

Ben.