Islamic Civilization as a Prolegomenon to Occidental Enlightenment and Civilization

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15266407

Abstract

By using an inductive historical methodological approach, this research article portrays Islamic civilization as a prolegomenon to the Occidental enlightenment and civilization. It highlights the nature of those forces and contents of the Spanish enlightenment, which were contributed by Muslims centuries ago in Spain, preserved in Spanish literature, and later rediscovered as well as owned by the proponents of Spanish enlightenment. It introduces the enlightening contributions of the galaxy of star Muslim philosophers and scientists of Spain-Muslim vanguards of Enlightenment in Spain and Occident. It explains strategic origins, dynamics and advances of progressive open Islamic universal civilization in Spain. It portrays the transmission mechanism of Islamic forces of enlightenment in Spain and Occident as well as highlights numerous aspects of the Spanish and Occidental cultural indebtedness to the Islamic civilization. It sheds light on the strategic end of the Islamic civilization in Spain in light of Ibn Khaldun’s theory of rise and fall of dynasties as well as illustrates the historical dynamics as well as the transmission mechanism of the Islamic civilizational forces of enlightenment in Spain and Occident. Finally, it recommends policies for the governments of the contemporary Muslim countries to develop and empower the contemporary Muslim Ummah by reviving original progressive Islamic universal civilization through operationalization of transmission mechanism of the Islamic civilizational forces of enlightenment, development, and empowerment once again.