Series Host: Jim Al-Khalili
Produced by: BBC
Episodes: 3
Originally aired: 2009
Companion Book
This documentary is accompanied by the book Science and Islam: A History by Ehsan Masood, which offers deeper insight and context for those interested in exploring further.
Overview
Science and Islam is a thought-provoking, three-part BBC documentary series that explores the rich and often overlooked contributions of Muslim scholars to science, medicine, and philosophy during the Islamic Golden Age between the 8th and 14th centuries. Presented by physicist and science broadcaster Jim Al-Khalili, the series offers a compelling journey through time, revisiting how Muslim thinkers preserved, expanded, and transformed ancient knowledge — ultimately shaping the foundations of modern science.
Whether you’re interested in the roots of astronomy, chemistry, medicine, or mathematics, this series offers a clear and accessible window into a flourishing period of intellectual history deeply intertwined with Islamic civilization.
Episode Guide
- The Language of Science
Focuses on the early transmission of Greek and Indian knowledge into the Islamic world and how Arabic became the language of science. - The Empire of Reason
Explores innovations in mathematics, astronomy, and medicine during the Abbasid Caliphate and beyond. - The Power of Doubt
Looks at the birth of the scientific method, skepticism, and how Muslim scientists questioned, tested, and refined inherited knowledge.
Why It’s Worth Watching
- Historical Insight: Understand how Muslim scholars like Al-Khwarizmi, Ibn Sina, Alhazen (Ibn al-Haytham), and others helped shape the scientific method and preserved Greek knowledge through translation and innovation.
- Correcting Misconceptions: Challenges the common narrative that science “slept” during the Middle Ages by highlighting the vital role of Islamic civilization in its development.
- Faith and Reason: Offers a thoughtful discussion on how religious belief and scientific inquiry coexisted — and even complemented each other — in classical Islamic thought.
- Visually Engaging: From ancient manuscripts to architectural marvels, the visuals bring the historical material to life without being overly dramatized.
Want More?
If you enjoyed this series, check out other documentaries, films, and books that explore Islamic history, culture, and thought in our Media category.
💬 Comments
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