FIMA Year Book 2009 - Federation of Islamic Medical Associations

Muslim Contributionsanother in their quest, they generallycomplemented each other’s role inbringing wealth and stability to theirmotherland; Europe. The center ofinternational trade quickly shifted fromthe Muslim dominated Mediterraneanto the European dominated Atlanticand colonial outposts of Asia .Thenew found wealth brought economicprosperity and political stability toEurope. With it came further scientificprogress.Ironically some of the Muslims policiescontributed to the rise of Europe. Forexample in Ottoman caliphate, foreignnon-Muslim trading communities weregiven privileges and immunities knownas Capitulations. The Ottomans thoughtthese policies would help in improvingthe economy of the caliphate but theseconcessions allowed the Europeansto gain control of the economic life ofthe Islamic regions (35) . Gradually withthe fall of Islamic states, more foreigncountries demanded these privilegesand these concessions were extendedto non-commercial entities. By the19th century European imperialismincreased under Britain and becauseof several unfavorable commercialtreaties, the revenue of Ottomangovernment dropped drastically (36) .The Muslim world was also deprivedof the scientific revolution engulfingEurope from the 18 th Century onwards.The cultural barrier between ChristianEurope and Muslim world isolatedthe latter from the revolutions takingplace in the science and technology inEurope. This was one of the importantfactors contributing to the decline ofthe Islamic dominant position. WhileEurope continued to develop andflourish with science and technology,the Muslims began to fragment underthe weight of colonisation. Rapiddeterioration within the Muslim worldensued. With practically no progressin any field of science, the sense ofisolation from scientific progressdeepened within the Muslim world.The gap between the Muslim worldand Europe in terms of scientificachievement continued to increase (11) .Disunity among MuslimsMost of the factors outlined abovecould have been prevented had theMuslims been more united and showeda sense of togetherness during timesof trials and tribulations. Despite theefforts of their forefathers in spreadingthe Tawhidic message from Moroccoin the West to the Philippines andIndonesia in the East, the Muslimsfailed to maintain and consolidateunity among the Ummah. The Muslimworld became fragmented into smallsultanates each wary of each other,oblivious of threats from outside.In the West, the Christians saw thiswindow of opportunity and createdmore dissension among the Muslims.One by one the desperate sultanateswere defeated until Granada wasnon defensible by 1492 C.E. Uponretreating from Granada the motherof the last sultan Boabdil saw her sonweeping while leaving the Alhambrathe Ghurnata (Granada) Palace behind.FIMA YearBook 2009113