Academic powerhouse Bayt al-Hikmah (House of Wisdom) carried the global light of learning in Baghdad for centuries as a centrepiece of the Islamic Golden Age and a hub of knowledge that fostered intellectual pursuits across fields and profoundly influenced Islamic and Western science
Mustansiriya University, one of the world’s oldest universities, founded in 1233, symbolizes Iraq’s rich intellectual heritage as one of its significant educational institutions during the Islamic Golden Age, which survived neglect, the Mongol onslaught, floods, manmade and natural calamities that claimed much of Baghdad’s heritage over centuries
The inclusive ethos of Qadiriyya Sufi Order’s mother shrine in Baghdad, housing the tomb of 12th-century saint Sheikh Abdul Qadir Gilani, endures transcending cultural, religious, and bridging sectarian divides as a symbol of coexistence and tranquillity
Baghdad, which was founded as Madīnat as-Salām in 762, quickly emerged as the epitome of Islamic civilization, scholarship, and scientific progress under the Abbasids and contributed to Western enlightenment and global progress
Muslim rulers supported scientists, philosophers, and artists regardless of their backgrounds, built observatories, libraries, academies, and hospitals during the Islamic Golden Age as they oversaw pivotal advancements in mathematics, astronomy, medicine, and philosophy, creating a legacy in science and culture with lasting impact before Europeans wrote Islamic civilization out of history
