"Arabs and Muslims and the Discovery of the Americas Before Columbus"
The lecture titled “Muslim Arabs Discover the Americas Two Centuries Before Columbus—Documentation and Knowledge” was hosted by the Council of His Excellency Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chief of Police and Public Security in Dubai. The lecture was presented by Dr. Mohammed Issa Al-Adwan, Chairman of the Oman and Gulf Center for Strategic Studies.
The lecture addressed historical and documentary evidence suggesting that Arabs and Muslims reached the Americas before Christopher Columbus’s exploratory journey in 1492. This claim is supported by multiple sources, including historical documents, ancient Islamic maps, Columbus’s own journals, and archaeological and linguistic discoveries that back this theory.
Dr. Al-Adwan emphasized the importance of knowledge documentation in reinterpreting history, strengthening cultural identity, and debunking misconceptions about the contributions of Arabs and Muslims to human civilization. He also stressed that studying the past is not for boasting or lamenting, but for looking ahead to the future with deep understanding and solid knowledge.
Dr. Al-Adwan concluded his lecture by affirming that history is not merely a series of past events, but a guide to a more conscious future. Arabs and Muslims were part of the great human civilization, and their role in discovering the world should be documented and preserved for future generations.
The evening witnessed a notable presence of prominent figures and history enthusiasts, in a Ramadan atmosphere that reflects the spirit of research and knowledge that characterizes these intellectual gatherings, which the Majlis of His Excellency Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim has hosted for many years.
