Islam Creator of the Modern Age
3. Muslim Contribution to Science
~ 105 ~
An appropriate attitude to scientific matters began
to be encouraged for the first time after the Islamic
revolution. This process then went on unhampered,
ultimately leading to the age of modern discoveries.
THE SOLAR SYSTEM
The astronomer who is said to have studied the
solar system and presented the heliocentric theory
for the first time was a Greek, known by the name
of Aristarchus of Samos. He died in 270 B.C.
However, this theory of the sun being at the centre,
and of the earth revolving around it, never gained
popularity in those early times.
Then came the age of Ptolemy, who lived in the
second century A.D. Ptolemy’s astronomical system
represented the earth as the fixed centre of the
universe, with the sun and the moon, and other
stars and planets revolving around it.
This geocentric theory of the universe appeared to
be in conformity with the beliefs the Christians had
developed after Jesus Christ. These beliefs were
given the final seal of approval at the famous
Church Council held at Nicaea, a city in Asia Minor,
