Muslims: I'm just planning out topics for a project in social anthropology?

[Qwhitehonestly]

I haven't done much reading for this yet so please tell me if I'm wrong, and I'd especially appreciate a viewpoint from a Muslim or someone who's studied Islam?

I'm not good at explaining myself lol but here goes:
Throughout history Muslims have contributed and studied alot about sciences.. for example producing physicians, and astronomers. I am just wondering if this might be anything to do with the way they view interacting and understanding the world?

I don't know if this makes sense but from a Catholic or Christian even point of view for example, especially hundreds of years ago would being involved with theories and astrology such as active as the Muslims were be thought of as something "against" christianity/catholicism? as if to disprove it?

Was it the culture of the muslim people, or more to do with their beliefs and religion that encouraged them to lead in these fields?
Good point and thanks Offshore, In my project I'm also referring to the Moslem-iberian period in Spain... so I think that's where I got confused...so it was just the fact that it was their arabic heritage that the moslems bought with them to spain right?...or that the arabs who brought with them their religion too even.
ah wow I've just read the other comments, thanks so much everyone this is all a great help!!

[lost4words]

the reason for the Muslim advancement in this field is due to Islamic beliefs. U can see that by looking at the history of those people before they were Muslims and how different their way of life was.
Islam cannot be separated from the lives and actions of the Muslims because Islam is the Muslim's way of life and so has a say in every aspect of it including the ruling and governing etc
Islam is a rational creed and shuns blind faith so the Muslims are encouraged to think and examine things around them.

Islam never had a clash with science in fact Islam encouraged it. theres many verses in the Quran and many sayings of the prophet that encouraged Muslims to persue science.

one of the sayings of the prophet Muhammed'

'there's a cure for everything except death, so find a cure'

'a night of contemplation is better than spending the whole night in prayer' and many more if u look. hope this helps

[PimpnRift]

dont worry ur not confusing arab with muslim , the great Muslim doctor ave sinna , the chemist jaber bin hayan , al ghazali the philospher many said it was there belief that drove them about this i am sure in the cases of ave sinna and jaber bin hayan.

[Twist]

good question

but the critical question, one that would be very nice to understand, is what made them stop their inquires and knowledge and turn backwards

[OffShore]

You're confusing Muslim with Arab...
Those who ''lead in those fields'' as u mention it were ARABS! We talk about the Arab civilization and culture, not the muslim one.
It would be like confusing ''christianity'' with ''western'' civilization.

EDIT: My dad is from Southern Spain... The Maures were Arabs indeed and Im positive when I say it was about Arabic civilization and not a religious matter.

[Cincuentas]

In the Qur'an we are told to explore all of Allah's creation and to use our reason. We are given proofs of God that are reasonable, and we are told to look into his creation to see what he tells us is true. Allah says to use your brain you were given. Also learning is a value in the religion. The prophet taught that "He who goes forth in search of knowledge is in the way of Allah until he returns"