Muslim Inventors of Reading and Writing Methods for the Blind: Predecessors of Braille

Abstract

Over the past few centuries, there have been numerous attempts to find suitable methods that would help blind people read and write, thus improving their quality of life. At present, Louis Braille (1809-1852 A.D.) is probably the best-known inventor creating a writing system known as “The Braille Language” that aids the blind read and write. Although several historians recorded other western inventors who developed methods for the same purpose before Braille, little is known about Muslim pioneers in this area. This is a very interesting fact, especially when Braille completed his system of writing in around 1837 A.D., almost seven centuries after the first attempt done by a Muslim scholar recorded in this paper. This study aims to present three inventions for three Muslim scholars creating methods for the blind to read and write that date back to the 5th century A.H. (1009-1106 A.D.). Like Braille, all three used the sense of touch to achieve this goal. For example, Muhammad bin Abdul-Warith (d. fifth century A.H.) created embossed figures from pitch similar to the Arabic alphabet to teach his blind son read and write. Zein-Eddine Al-Amidy, (d. 712 A.H. / 1312 A.D.) a blind Muslim scholar, fashioned paper made letters to read, write, and remember the prices of his books. Wazir Al-Sarraj (d. 1149 A.H. / 1736 A. D.), another Muslim scholar, created wax letters for his blind teacher to help him read and write.