On a brighter note than the previous post, Al-Jazeera reports on an exhibit in France called The Golden Age of Arab Science.
Presenting a view of the world far removed from the everyday cliches of obscurantism and violence, an exhibition titled The Golden Age of Arab Science is proving an unexpected hit at the Arab World Institute in Paris. The exhibition is built around three themes - the sky, the living world and art - and has drawn in more than 100,000 visitors at a rate of about 1200 a day, "which is an exceptional result for a difficult subject", according to the Arab World Institute (IMA) head of communications Philippe Lemoine. The exhibition explores the Arab world's scientific achievement from the 8th to 15th centuries and is made up of about 200 pieces, from maps to manuscripts, astrolabes and globes... ...Alexandra, a 44-year-old French midwife visiting the show, agreed. "When you look at these marvels, you leave behind the cliches of fundamentalism and violence. You start rearranging things in your mind," she said. The exhibition makes use of verses from the Quran and Hadith - narrations from the Prophet Muhammad - that suggest the pursuit of knowledge should be at the heart of Islam. "God will place on higher levels those of you who believe and those who have received learning," according to a quotation for the Quran. "A little learning is worth more than much devotion," reads a Hadith. "It is good to recall that all this once existed," said Gabrielle, an Italian teacher who said she has never visited the Arab world.A reminder in these troubled times that Islam can inspire much that is beautiful and good. I pray that we will all work together to return to such a golden age again.