--- Begin Message ---
--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Islamic Civilization and Human Progress
PART 2 - Jabir Ibn Haiyan (The Father of Chemistry)
JABIR IBN HAIYAN
(Died 803 A.D.)
Jabir Ibn Haiyan, the alchemist Geber of the Middle Ages, is generally
known as the father of chemistry. Abu Musa Jabir Ibn Hayyan, sometimes
called al-Harrani and al-Sufi, was the son of the druggist (Attar).
The precise date of his birth is the subject of some discussion, but
it is established that he practiced medicine and alchemy in Kufa (in
Iraq) around 776 A.D. He is reported to have studied under Imam Ja'far
Sadiq (AS). In his early days, he practiced medicine and was under the
patronage of the Barmaki Vizir during the Abbssid Caliphate of Haroon
al-Rashid. He was placed under house arrest in Kufa by the
Abbassees, where he died in 803 A.D. due to his attachment to the
Ahl-lul Bayt (AS).
Jabir's major contribution was in the field of chemistry. He
introduced experimental investigation into alchemy, which rapidly
changed its character into modern chemistry. On the ruins of his
well-known laboratory remained after centuries, but his fame
rests on over 100 monumental treatises, of which 22 relate to
chemistry and alchemy. His contribution of fundamental importance to
chemistry includes perfection of scientific techniques such as
crystallization, distillation, calcinations, sublimation and
evaporation and development of several instruments for the same. The
fact of early development of chemistry as a distinct branch of science
by the Arabs, instead of the earlier vague ideas, is well-established
and the very name chemistry is derived from the Arabic word al-Kimya,
which was studied and developed extensively by the Muslim scientists.
Perhaps Jabir's major practical achievement was the discovery of
mineral and others acids, which he prepared for the first time
in his alembic (Anbique). Apart from several contributions of basic
nature to alchemy, involving largely the preparation of new
compounds and development of chemical methods, he also developed a
number of applied chemical processes, thus becoming a pioneer in the
field of applied science. His achievements in this field include
preparation of various metals, development of steel, dyeing of cloth
and tanning of leather, varnishing of water-proof cloth, use of
manganese dioxide in glass-making, prevention of rusting, lettering in
gold, identification of paints, greases, etc. During the course of
these practical endeavors, he also developed aqua regia to dissolve
gold. The alembic is his great invention, which made easy and
systematic the process of distillation. Jabir laid great stress on
experimentation and accuracy in his work.
Based on their properties, he has described three distinct types of
substances. First, spirits i.e. those which vaporize on heating,
like camphor, arsenic and ammonium chloride; secondly, metals, for
example, gold, silver, lead, copper, iron, and thirdly, the
category of compounds which can be converted into powders. He thus
paved the way for such later classification as metals,
non-metals and volatile substances.
Although known as an alchemist, he did not seem to have seriously
pursued the preparation of noble metals as an alchemist;
instead he devoted his effort to the development of basic chemical
methods and study of mechanisms of chemical reactions in
themselves and thus helped evolve chemistry as a science from the
legends of alchemy. He emphasized that, in chemical reactions,
definite quantities of various substances are involved and thus can be
said to have paved the way for the law of constant proportions.
A large number of books are included in his corpus. Apart from
chemistry, he also contributed to other sciences such as medicine and
astronomy. His books on chemistry, including his Kitab-al-Kimya, and
Kitab al-Sab'een were translated into Latin and various European
languages. These translations were popular in Europe for several
centuries and have influenced the evolution of modern chemistry.
Several technical terms devised by Jabir, such as alkali, are today
found in various European languages and have become part of scientific
vocabulary. Only a few of his books have been edited and published,
while several others preserved in Arabic have yet to be annotated and
published.
Doubts have been expressed as to whether all the voluminous work
included in the corpus is his own contribution or it contains
later commentaries/additions by his followers. According to Sarton,
the true worth of his work would only be known when all his
books have been edited and published. Jabir also offered numerous
writtings on religious topics which led to his Criticism as a
shia-of ahlul-Bayt, and perhaps to his eventual death. His various
breakthroughs e.g., preparation of acids for the first time,
notably nitric, hydrochloric, citric and tartaric acids, and emphasis
on systematic experimentation are outstanding and it is on
the basis of such work that he can justly be regarded as the father of
modern chemistry. In the words of Max Mayerhaff, the development of
chemistry in Europe can be traced directly to Jabir Ibn Haiyan.
END
--- End forwarded message ---
--- End Message ---
