Muslim Idol - A Ramadhan Project

Tired of hearing complaints about how hard is it being a Muslim? Tired of having to explain yourself over and over again for crimes you didn't do?

Well, there are certainly better things to do. This ramadhan, I'd like to start on a little project I call, 'Muslim Idol'. Yes Indeed, I'm inviting all readers of the blog to participate on this thread that I have started at Rantauan.Com. Oh, you need to sign up, but if you don't, you can also add up here in your comment box and I will paste it up there. But..do sign up, it's a lot of fun in Rantauan.Com (Under Religion - General Religious Discussions)

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Salam All
Oops, I don't mean Idol as in statues! I'm talking about Muslims in the time of Islamic Civilisation who have made very significant contribution to the World today. I know many of us have been deprived of such intensive and inspiring stories of our islamic past. We were GLORIOUS! We were honourable! We were strong, and most of all, we were FAITHFUL muslims.

Over the recent years, I've struggled with myself because of the lack of knowledge that I have abt Islam and its history in general. Madrasahs were about learning Alif-Ba-Ta and Fardhu Ain. History lessons are very minimal, concentrating only on the Prophet and his Family, and Sahabah. There are a lot more. Don't you wish to know it all? I especially feel inspired by Muslim Scientist, Astronomers, Religious Teachers who have shaped the path for so many technological miracles! We (Muslims) were leading in Mathematics, Sciences, Medical, Laws and so so much more! How so many jargons used in the various fields today are actually Muslim names!

Do you know the first man to fly is a MUSLIM?
Do you know that MUSLIMS have established hospitals, whilst the West were still curing the sick with the dust of their saints?
Do you know the man who travelled more extensively than Marco Polo?
Do you know that Muslims discovered the circumference of earth, when the West were still unsure if the World was round?
Do you know that Algebra & Algorithm were works of a Muslim Mathematician & Scientist?
Do you know that the first surgery was done by a Muslim?
Do you know that the lens was a study made by a Muslim that enables us to have our very taken-for-granted cameras today?

These are just some discoveries and there are many more that we can find, because these are TRUE, DOCUMENTED history that men cannot erase (but they don't tell it to us) because of their great impact. Why were they so successful?

Here, in this thread, I invite all friends to find a muslim scholar of their choice, and put it here and share with achievements with us
Give a few links or notes you find abt that person and paste it here for all of us to read. Then give your own feedback as to Why that person is your idol or why you find him Inspiring. It can be anybody, from the Prophets, their families, sahabas or faithful followers. Inshallah, I really hope that by sharing, learning about our past, we will become better muslims for the sake of Allah, will reap rewards in this life and hereafter and one day, be as Great! Ameen, Inshallah.

Let's make it our Ramadhan Project!
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So I shall start :-

My Idol
One of my favourites is Ibn Batuta! Who is my Muslim Idol? read on!

Quote:

Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta (Arabic: أبو عبد الله محمد ابن بطوطة) (born February 24, 1304; year of death uncertain, possibly 1368 or 1377) was a Moroccan Berber Sunni Islamic scholar and jurisprudent from the Maliki Madhhab (a school of Fiqh, or Sunni Islamic law), and at times a Qadi or judge. However, he is best known as an extensive traveller or explorer, whose account documents his travels and side-excursions over a period of almost thirty years, covering some 73,000 miles (117,000 km). These journeys covered almost the entirety of the known Islamic world, extending also to present-day India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia and China, a distance readily surpassing that of his predecessor, near-contemporary and traveller Marco Polo. At the instigation of the Sultan of Morocco, Abu Inan Faris, several years after his return, Ibn Battuta dictated an account of his journeys to a scholar named Ibn Juzayy, whom he had met while in Granada. This account, recorded by Ibn Juzayy and interspersed with the latter's own comments, is the primary source of information for his adventures. The title of this initial manuscript may be translated as A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling, but is often simply referred to as the Rihla, or "Journey". Whilst apparently fictional in places, the Rihla still gives as complete an account as exists of some parts of the world in the 14th century.

Why I like him?
He began his trip with just one rule - which is, to never travel on the same road twice. To me, that can be applied in our lives, where we can make mistakes, but we don't go back to them. In his travels, Ibn Batuta was forced to make some because of dangers, and other factors. His motivation for the great feat was to simply visit the Islamic countries - he covered them and much more - he made Haj, visited the Prophet's grave, and also visited many historical places. This is a man who wanted to pursue knowledge, no matter how hard, or how impossible it may seem to be. That's why he is my Idol.


Read more about him here http://en.wikipedia.org..
http://www.islamonline.com..
http://homepage.mac.com/sandeep/batuta/batuta.html

I can't wait to to hear from the rest of you. Please join in thread and keep the posting coming! What are you waiting for, SEARCH FOR YOUR MUSLIM IDOL NOW!

Salamualaykum

p.s : To help generate participants into this thread, I encourage you to seach on these sites (and others if you can find) to learn about great Muslim scholars. It's ok if you don't know any, but you can look for one, and then share with us why you think he is worth knowing. While youre doing this little project, you can also share what you learn with your family and children. We all need a little boost

http://www.muslimheritage.com/
http://www.islamonline.com/cgi-bin/news_service/profiles.asp
http://www.1001inventions.com..