Forum celebrates golden age of Islamic civilisation

Dubai: During the Dark Ages of European history, medieval Islamic scientists lived in what is termed "a world of great discovery and invention," those were the golden ages of Islamic civilisation, a speaker said yesterday in a press conference.

Ludo Verheyen, Director of MTE Studios, consultants on architecture and edutainment, noted a recent initiative titled 1,000 Years of Knowledge Rediscovered offered a unique educational, historical, and cultural interactive exhibition on Islamic inventions.

Professor Mohammad Al Qurashi, Director of the Research House for Islamic Studies and Heritage Revival, and Verheyen signed an agreement that includes the academic supervision and contribution of the research house to the global iconic exhibition at Dubai's Ibn Battuta Mall and a global travelling exhibition.

Verheyen said the initiative was aimed at "communicating a powerful and positive message about the Arabic and Islamic civilisation," adding that in the 8th to 15th centuries, Islamic scholars contributed many inventions to humanity.

Professor Mohammad said that Dubai is a milestone in finance and economy but "it has overlooked a significant amount of research and knowledge about Islamic inventions.

"If it was not for Islamic civilisation, personal computers would not have existed," he said.

Verheyen added that living in a polarised world requires a bridging of cultural values and knowledge, saying, "We are all part of one world and we all need to learn from each other."

He said that the six grand courts of Ibn Battuta Mall feature a unique contribution by a Muslim scientist, inventor or adventurer.