War & Weaponry

Invention/Contribution:

• Muslims developed innovative weapons and military technologies during the Golden Age.

• Introduced composite bows, steel swords (like the Damascus blade), and advanced armor.

• Perfected the use of Greek fire-like incendiaries, and later adopted and spread gunpowder weapons (cannons, muskets) through the Ottoman Empire.

• Designed siege weapons such as trebuchets, mangonels, and fortified castles with advanced defenses.

• Naval warfare improved with armed dhows and fortified fleets in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.

Why it matters:

• Strengthened Muslim empires from Andalusia to the Ottomans.

• Influenced European knights, Crusaders, and later Renaissance military science.

• Proved Muslim mastery of both technology and strategy in warfar

“The best of people are those who defend their community with wisdom and courage.”

Inspired by Islamic teachings on just war

From Damascus steel swords to mighty Ottoman cannons, Muslims shaped the science of war. Their composite bows and siege weapons dominated battlefields, while their steelwork became legendary in East and West. At sea, armed fleets guarded trade and empires. Yet Islamic tradition taught that weapons must serve justice, not aggression — making war and weaponry both a science and a moral responsibility.