Sofia from Greece

Salam alaikum (Peace be upon you) Sofia,

You are a writer on scientific matters. Great then you can enlighten us on some of the great Greek scientists (and philosophers). We know that around 4000 - 2000BC this was where great strides were made on knowledge we possess today. The work of these outstanding intellects (such as Ptolemy) was not continued and furthered until much later from around 600 AD. This happened to be the time of the muslim scientists such as Al-Zahrawi and Jabir Ibn Hayyan,  (see www.muslimheritage.com/)

I find it fascinating that the words alchemy, alcali, chemistry and even alcohol are derived from Arab terms (even we muslims are largely ignorant of the fact that alcohol was invented by a muslim for sterilisation - not to drink!).

I am intrigued by the links between the Greek and Islamic scientific thinkers, and what triggered the huge leap in man's knowledge in just a period of 300 years. Why did the Arabs suddenly have the answers to scientific problems when up till then they hadn't contributed much.

I would greatly appreciate any information you may have come across (or would you be able to dig this history out?).

Best wishes

Farooqui  (BTW Eid Mubarak everyone) 

Am extremely sorry for being late to respond, sofia.

Thankyou for the info u shared with us. Butttttt the answer regarding islam in Greece and your views of it, seemed to be concised Sofia. I mean we do not expect such brief one from journalists

But yes, i thank you for spending your time with IC, Hope u continue at other sections too

Salam, friends, 

sorry for not having written before; as you know, I am trying very hard to convince the archeological service of my country to act in order to preserve and restore the Ancient Diolkos. Although they were SAYING they wanted to have the monument restored, they were leaving it without care: a perfect way for the monument to be destroyed while they would still be pretending they cared for it.

Anyhow, in these past few days I prepared an article for the most popular greek portal and now it has appeared and the problem of this poor monument has thus been known to many more people…

I am repeating the link for the petition if anyone cares to sign, www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/870477005

I “owe” you some thoughts about my views of Islam. If we are talking about the muslim faith, it has many things in common with the cristian one. It speaks of one God and it also states that this is a God of kindness and peace. But I think that often these sacred “guiding principles” are set aside by people who profess to be fervent believers. I am not speaking only of Islam, to be sure. Although I am no expert in religion or history, and I realize that I am not in a position to make detailed analyses of historical facts, I know that cristian rulers have often moved to conquer and destroy – seemingly in the name of faith. The Crusades were (supposedly) made to redeem the “Holy Land” but I don�t think there were very “cristian” motives behind them. Around 1204 the Crusaders put Costantinople (modern day Istanbul) under siege or something and so the capital of the Byzantine Empire actually lost her might and never recovered. And I think that many more wars, made by “cristians” or “muslims” or whatever have all brought much disaster and destruction, and – of course – don�t have to do with the religious faith.

I think that present day expressions of a will to expand or fight against the west that characterize some movements within Islam (I am putting my own description here – I don�t know if it fits other people�s way of seeing things) manage to create a threat but, as I said, don�t have to do with religion. I don�t know much about geopolitical matters; I respect the wish, especially of poor people, to rise against injustice and I have often admired the courage of people that don�t care for their own lifes and are ready to sacrifice themselves. I am too small to say if, for anyone that give up his or her life, this can be called “right” or “wrong”. However, I would not like to become a victim of violence, as people in Iraq, for example, don�t want to become a target either…

Well, these were some thoughts…

Hi Sofia,

Thanks a lot for your views. They were  out of heart. We wish you to be active  at Islamicity. And also, do read Qur'an and let us then know your views of Islam.

I thank u once again .