Islam Guidance

DID JA’FAR AS-SADIQ (a.s.) START THE RENAISSANCE MOVEMENT?

The theories enunciated by Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.), after his study and research in the movement of the Earth and other heavenly bodies make him the father of the Renaissance movement at least in the field of astronomy, if not in other branches of science. By the Renaissance movement we mean the revival of knowledge in Europe, which started with the occupation of Constantinople by Sultan Muhammad, the conqueror.
It must be acknowledged that the Muslim world, from its very beginning, was more amenable to new scientific ideas than the people of Europe. Until 17th century, Europeans could not tolerate any new scientific idea. Nothing was more repugnant to them than a new theory in the field of astronomy. There was no risk if someone said something about the earth, air or water, but if he said anything about heavenly bodies, which was against the traditional belief of the people, he was in danger of being declared a heretic and was sure to be imprisoned and killed.
Greeks and Romans in ancient times were also very sensitive to new ideas in astronomy, which were contrary to what they believed. When Anaxagoras, the teacher of Socrates, wanted to introduce Iranian astronomy in Greece, he was declared a traitor and deported from the country.
Anaxagoras actually wanted to introduce the Persian calendar. In that calendar a year had 365 days plus a fraction of a day. Before Iranians had made their calendar, it was known that there were 365 days and a fraction of a day in each year. We have historical evidence to show that it was known to Egyptians about 2,000 years before the birth of Christ. It is not known whether the Babylonians had this information or not. Some knowledgeable persons are of the opinion that ancient people learnt astronomy and other sciences from a very advanced and learned people, who according to Plato, were destroyed in a natural calamity.
Most people were against new ideas in astronomy because they saw the movements of the sun, moon and the stars with their own eyes. They did not believe what was against their own observation. However, they tolerated new ideas about the things which they did not see themselves. Different views were expressed in ancient times whether the world came before the movement or the movement before the world. It was also disputed whether the soul was born before the body or the body before the soul, but no one was accused of heresy for holding an opinion on such matters.
In the 2nd century of the Hijra it was only in the Muslim countries that people had the freedom to say and write anything about heavenly bodies. That is why Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) could propound new theories about the sun, moon and planetary bodies. Because he was in a Muslim country, no one accused him of heresy when he said that the earth rotates on its own axis which causes interchange of day and night.

Imam Reza (AS) Network

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