(Syed Mohd. Saleh Uddin, Assistant Professor (retd)Rampura Ekramunnessa Degree College, Ex airman PAF & BAF, SWO (retd)AEC, Ex CI CATECH & NIET, Ex Vice Principal (acting) Heritage International College of Aviation and Management etc. The author has various flying/aviation and history related publications both in Book and online forms. Now doing translation works in a literary project).
Thought: Is this Earth is only the Human abode? Is human being is the only Intellectual being in this great universe? From the beginning of human civilisation human thinkers accepted other powerful beings more powerful than them. Their abodes are not the earth but somewhere in the outer space. Those powerful beings they named Dev-Davis who control human beings from there. Gradually that thought evaluated to Animism, Henotheism, Polytheism, Ditheism and finally to Monotheism. In all most all cases those supernatural powers live in some unspecified and unknown heavenly abodes. Major religions of the world have their interesting conceptions of each what human being can not experience in their life time. Their belief is that this body is not worthy to travel such long way. On death soul will able to travel. That supernatural world is so great that all the human brain together cannot imagine. Being a Muslim what I studied from our scriptures i.e. Al – Quran and Hadiths that this great universe is created by Allah. The world of stars is the first sky. It means only in this space there are stars. Beyond this unimaginably large space there are six other spaces each so large like the first one. From the Hadiths about Miraj we came to know all mighty Allah took his last prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to Arsha Moalla what is situated beyond the seven skies. By Burak he was taken to Sidratul Muntaha a place crossing the seven stars. From there other special conveyance named Raf-raf he visited to Arsha Moalla with whom archangel Gabriel failed to accompany by flying in his instinct power what he could do till Sidratul Muntaha. From there Arsha Moalla’s distance is much greater. From many reports it is known there starts black space where no heavenly bodies exist. The numbers of such spaces are seven. Each of them is spacious like first and second space. My goal of writing this is to express about Islamic thought about the distance of the universe. Present science not yet clear about the world of stars what in Islamic thought is the First sky what to talk about other spaces what is mentioned in the events of Miraj.
Other Earths for intellectual beings: In the above Miraj tours the prophet of Islam was shown many moving model earths what Gabriel expressed to be earths where human beings are living. They have language, songs, faiths, first man, and prophets to guide them from the creator Allah. These are abodes i.e. Earth for the mortal beings including mankind. There he was also shown Jannat and Jahannam ( Heaven and hell). In the holy Quran these are mentioned as eternal abodes where death persons will be sent to enjoy the rewards of their deeds in the earth. From the holy Quran we come to know the first man and woman were created there. There were trees. In many Verses and commentaries we come to know there are other creations like birds, beasts etc what will be the food. Even in a report there was mention about big Boa snakes what was living there during the creation Adam and Eve. There are flowers, fruit, water, milk, honey etc. In the holy Quran about similar fruits of the earth are told. There are rivers and hills. It means these are having similarity with this earth. As first man and woman was created there and they were alive there till they were launched for the Earth, the weather, climate and environment are worthy for the living being. It is told there are innumerable heavens of eight groups each. Though for eternal livings yet these are worthy for living like this earth. Though none can prove above by our existing technology yet ideas of other earths is deep rooted in the mind of human being what they got from their own philosophy, faith, religion, legend, story etc. From the last few hundred years in many archaeological discoveries many past secrets were unearthed. Those discoveries highlighted about various ancient civilizations. Among them Assyrian, Egyptian, Greek, Chinese, Indian, Maya, Aztec etc civilisations are very famous. In British period archaeological digging was started in various spots of the regime. In Bangladesh also including Wari-Bateswar many places had such digging. Above in everywhere diggings revealed beliefs of those civilizations. Everywhere antics of supernatural faiths were seen.
About ancient civilizations like Assyria and Egypt there are few commentaries in the old Testaments and also in the Quran. About Greek civilization Greek historians of the contemporary times mentioned many important events. Antics from the Indus valley civilization and adjacent areas including present areas of Bangladesh archaeologists obtained very valuable information. From the unearthed Assyrian terracotta from 2400 BC to 746 BC many important things of that area we can guess now. In China also there were many archaeological inventions. Gist is that almost in all civilizations there were faiths on supernatural beings that control the people in the Earth and after death. They did not live here but they often visited this earth somewhere from their abodes in the outer space. As for example Egyptian mythological Deity Isis may be mentioned. It is said, “Isis is said in ancient mythology to have taken the form of a kite in various situations in order to resurrect the dead.” Supernatural beings of mythologies of various corners of the world are not human beings. Most of them live in other earths. Islamic supernatural beings angels are created by the light and Jinns are created by fire. Both of them are intellectual beings but beyond the perception of human brains. Angels travel galaxy to galaxy to do their imposed duties by Allah the creator of the universe. To Iblis the leader of the bad Jinns heaven (Jannat) is his flying distance from the earth.
Idea about flying: Idea of flying is as old as human civilization. It is believed by the followers of major religions of the world, particularly followers of the Devine books that first intelligent human being is created by the creator in an unknown planet in the universe that is away from our earth. In the holy Quran of the Muslim that place is named heaven. First man and woman were Adam and Eve (Hawa). They were created for this earth to rule over it. So, this earth was made worthy for his intellectual beings the human beings. History says how! Bigger animals like Dinosaurs were destroyed in this process. The earth was decorated in a new way in absence of those big creatures. That process continued for the billions and billions of the years.
Muslim religious book Al- Quran taught us, once the creator Allah expressed his idea to create human beings. So, he did. We were taught the above couple were sent to earth. But it was not told, how! In ancient works it is said Adam was landed in a mountain peak of present Sri Lanka. That place later geographers named Adam’s peak. Hawa was landed to a place of Arabian Peninsula. Later it was named Jeddah. They were certainly carried here by supernatural crafts.
In ancient religious faiths in India, Greece, Egypt, Syria, Scandinavia, Maya civilization of America etc and among the aborigines of Africa, Asia and even Bangladesh idea of Dev-Davis are present. All the followers of them believe in their control over them. So, they make flight to monitor their followers. They come and back flying. Miraj is favourite Islamic believe. In the holy Quran by Buraq last Prophet of Islam (PBUH) visited Masjidul Haram of Mecca to Masjidul Aksa of Jerusalem. By Hadiths, various narrations and other works Muslims faith of prophet visit to Arsha Mualla by supernatural convoy is too firm. From there he made return flight by the same conveyances (Buraq & Rafraf) where angel Gabriel was his guide. Islamic other favourite belief is lifting of Jesus in the first sky (some where in the outer space), instead of the Christian beliefs on his crucifixion. However such flight requires supernatural crafts. I made above discussion to show existing idea of flight from the beginning of human civilization. Human being has faith in flight of supernatural bodies. I did not discuss here the logics of possibility. During the last prophet (PBUH) in various traditions (hadith of sahaba) we see certain sahaba expressed his idea, Alas! If would be bird. It proves birds inspiration during that time.
In many Arab and Indian works about magical flying men were mentioned. Without any devices they just flew. Even famous African traveller Ibn Batuta written in his ‘Safr name’, while he was travelling in India an Indian Yogi flew in a room without any device. So, he was frightened and lost his sense for some time. In Alif Laila man flight on ghost and big bird (named Rok) are also favourite to children till today. So, the idea of Flying is our idea what naturally developed on us. In Bangladesh from ancient time mothers, grandmas ( Dadi, Nani), aunt ( Khala, Fufu) are good story tellers for the babies of own family. Even In remote villages’ children grow up listening about flying King Nimrod (Nomrud) on the back of a vulture to fight against creator, King Solomon’s ‘Takht-e-Solamani’ the flying throne and its travel , Queen of Sheba Bisques’ (Bilkis) visit to King Solomon court and HudHud bird matter, all of these create idea of flying in our child brain.
About forgotten aviators: From the Greek legendary Aviators Daedlus & Icarus to Wright brothers and later days aviation scientists there are mentions in the Aviation History. But there were few very important aviators about whom in the history very less is written. I have mentioned the names of Armen Firman and Ibne Firnas in the Introduction of the article, though few expressed their views that they might be the same man because about the former they came to know only in a primary source al Maqqari. But many other mention him as the inspirer of Ibne Firnas and even Eilmer of Malseburi a Christian monk aviator. But in many works about Firnas works are written. So, there is no doubt about him. In Spain Firnas was known as a scientist who had few inventions in his credit. He is specially remembered for his flying efforts. It is said he had a sky simulation room in his base ment. There was a machine in that room showing how the planet moves. People who entered the room were astonished to see the stars, clouds, thunders and lighting are produced by the hidden mechanism in the room.
Ibn Firnas made the history as the first man to make the controlled flight. It is believed that in China, monks were flown up by kites which were controlled in the ground as the control of present days kite. Idea of such flight might reach to Muslim empires through the Silk Road by the traders. It might be one of the inspirations by potential Muslim flyers. It is said Ibn Firnas had a parachute jump from a minaret of the Grand Mosque at Cordova in 852 AD as mentioned by John H. Lienhard in 2004 (in a radio programme in USA) as being a huge wing like cloak (some also mentioned it was the effort of Armen Firman what Ibn Firnas witnessed, few also mentioned the name is Latinized form of Ibn Firnas name). Whatever the case may be there was a tower jump in the 852 AD what was also a part of aviation history. The attempt was not successful. The aviator sustained minor injury as the wing like dress slowed the fall (in present days by more developed such dress amateur aviators are seen flying and successful landing).
If that was the Firnas first jump, he had to wait for another 23 years for the second jump. But during that jump if he only was an observer what inspired him then by next 23 years he took preparation for his solo flight. He devoted himself in studying birds. He developed a device to fly. His design appears to be that of a hang glider. It had two sets of wings to adjust altitudes and directions. At the age of 65 in 875 AD in front of a large crowd from a mountain height he tried fly. It was not also that successful. Firnas had to make crash landing that injured his back. So, he further investigated, later he came to conclusion that he had failed to provide stability mechanism like a bird which could slow down his landing. Due to injury from the crash landing and old age he failed to attempt again. About after two years at the age of 77 he died in 877/78.
Lynn White speculates that “a successful glider flight was made in the year 875AD by a Moorish inventor named Abbas Ibn Firnas living in Cordova, Spain. It’s entirely possible that word of Ibn Firnas flight was brought to Elmer of Malmesbury……by returning crusaders”.
But it is unknown, if Elmer design were able to replicate Ibn Firnas success though some writers mentioned Firnas to be his inspiration. Elmer was also not so mentioned in the history of Aviation. He was a monk of Malmesbury Abbey also known as Oliver. He attempted a flight using mechanical wings. He lived in the middle ages England. He was an 11thcentury Benedictine monk who lived in Malmesbury. The thought to be the story of Daedalus was real. He made a winged glider in 1005 AD. He climbed in a tower in the Abbey. Then put his wings on and jumped himself into the air. He was able to glide about 200 meters, then he lost his control and fallen into the earth. Luckily he was able to survive. But both of his legs broke for what he was lame for the rest of his life. The cause of his failure was he failed to accommodate with a tail for stability in his glider.
History ignored another Muslim aviator named Hezarfen Ahmed celebi. He was a legendary ottoman aviator of the 17th century Constantinople (present day Istanbul). Traveller and writer Evliya Celebi purported that he had achieved sustain unpowered flight. In his 17th century writing he relate this story of Hezarfen Ahmed Celebi, Circa 1630-32.
Report says, first he practised by flying over the pulpit of Okmeidani eight or nine times with eagle wings using the force of the winds. Then, as the Sultan Murad khan (Murad iv) was watching from the Sinan Pasha mansion at Sarayburnu, he flew from the very top of the Galata Tower ( in Karakoy of present day) and land in Dogancilar square in the Uskodar, with help of the south west wind. Then Murad khan granted him a sack of Gold coins, and said, “this is a scary man. He is capable doing he wishes. It is not right to keep such people”. Sultan sent him to Algeria in exile. He died there.
In a report of 1648, John Wilkins cites Busbeck , the Austrian Ambassador to Constantinople (1544-62) as recorded that ‘a Turk in Constantinople’ attempted to fly (his name is quite impossible to find now a days). However, if accurate this citation refers to an event nearly a century prior to exploits reported by Evliya Celebi. (It is worth mentioning here that Hezarfen’s glide path from the Galata district in Europe to the Uskudar district of Istanbul (Asian Side) was 3.358Km (about 2 miles).
Lagari Hasan Celebi was Hezarfen’s brother. He earned fame for rocketry. Evliya Celebi (also known as Mehmed Zilli was an ottoman Turk who travelled the empire for about 4o years and who wrote “Seyahatname” means travelogue) reported that in 1633, Lagari Hasan Celebi launched in a 7 winged rocket used 50 okka (140 lbs) of gunpowder to launch from Sarayburnu the point below the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. The flight was said to be undertaken at the time of birth of Sultan Murad iv’s daughter. After ascending in the rocket he landed in the sea then he swam ashore. This citation is from the work of Evliya Celebi. According to him Hasan made a successful rocket flight. He also reported that his brother Hezarfen Ahmed made a flight by glider a year earlier i.e. in 1632 AD.
Chinese Stories: Few stories are told what are related about ancient Chinese aviators about whom the History of Aviation we have now is very silent. Its main causes are probably written history of that time is lost and also may be written is not saved properly. Question is why Chinese were interested to fly high. It is probably their religious inspiration. In this respect I like to mention about Muslim religious beliefs though then Chinese were not Muslim.
It is Muslim religious faith that after death each soul will fly to his earned abode ‘Illin or sijjin’ where he will stay till the day of judgement and then he will again fly to his final abode ‘HELL OR HEAVEN’. The soul will be awarded the Heaven i.e. Jannat, for the good doers. He will live there in peace and honour because it is his own abode what he earned when he was alive in the earth. In the other hand hell will be the abode of wrong doers in the earth.
The Idea of the heaven is as old as the human civilization. It was among the ancient Chinese also. It might not like the Muslim beliefs yet the Chinese Monks were very concerned about it. So, we see after the invention of kites in the 5th century BC by Chinese philosophers Mozi ( Mo Di) and Lu Ban ( Gongshu Ban) that rapidly developed to be used for different purposes. The first man lifting type of kite recorded to be by Yuan Huangton in 550 CE. Such kites were so big that when a person is bound with that, that could lift him. Monks took it to be the media to reach nearer to the heaven by ground control big kites. It is worth mentioning here that at that time China had paper, silk and abundant of bamboo for kite frame work. Then we see gradually man lifting kites were developed. Indeed there is no story now that they finally wanted to reach heaven by only kites. But later cruel rulers of China used killed prisoners by man lifting kites. The first record of such is also from china. The (636) Book of Sui records that tyrant Geo Yang, emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (550-559) executed prisoners by making them fly with shaped kite’s wings. An example of using such kite by Japanese thief Ishikawa Goeman (1558-1594) may be given who used man lifting kite to steal. Japanese architect Kawamura in the 17th century used manlifting kites to lift his workmen during his construction works. Later days man ornithopters are also inspiration of above kites.
Later we came to know about military use of big kites. In earlier times these were used in the battle fields for signalling and for delivery of munitions. Observers were also lifted to take the aerial photography of the vulnerable enemy positions or advancing troops. Few such examples are as follows: According to Samguk Sagi, in 637 Kim Yu-sin a Korean General defeated rebels by flying kites with straw men that looked like burning fireballs. Rebels were frightened by seeing those. Russian Prince Oleg of Novgorod in 906 used flying kites with lifting paper made men what frighten the enemy warriors while his forces sieged Constantinople. Korean Admiral Yi (1392 to 1410) of the Joseon Dynasty used flying kites against troops in battles. Recent military uses of kites are also important. During the Second World War British forces used barrage kites over the war fields. Big flying kites were useful to destroy night attacker fighters. There were examples of lifting observers by certain types of flying kites. For anti aircraft gun firing targets kites were ideal. Now a day’s also such big kite type targets are used for such practice. In such case big flag like kite is used as target that is tied with some other aircraft. That kite follows the aircraft from the far behind and fighters make the kite target for practice firing.
Now we know Chinese were also the inventors of primary rockets. In 228 AD the Wei state used torches attached to arrow. In the 9th century AD Chinese Taoist Alchemists invented ‘Black powder’ (Gun powder). Then war scientists put gunpowder directly inside the arrows. To develop quality of gunpowder Chinese had to sacrifice a lot. In the way of research for elixir for immorality they discovered this destructive device by mixing Sulphur, Charcoal, and saltpetre (potassium nitrate). This finally led to invent gunpowder. At that time about six formulas were developed of this invention. In one formula they held level of nitrate 27%to 50% whereas in other formula nitrate range was 12% to91% and so on. These they tried to get powerful explosive power. When this was invented none now can say exactly! Some say, they got recipe of this powder by 300 to 650 AD. By few its invention date was 850 AD. However, its military application was increased in Tang, Song and Yuan dynasty (960 to 1368). Gradually fire cannon, rocket, missile, fire ball were developed. So, once rocket technology started its journey. The first recorded use of rocket in a battle was by the Chinese in 1232 against Mongol hordes. By Silk Road this technology carried to Islamic empires and then to Europe where it developed tremendously. However, those Chinese inventors and primary Muslims and Europeans who dealt to develop it, most of them are ignored in history.
Now, I shall conclude this article with the story of first recorded manned rocket developer Wan ho. He had a long lasting dream to reach his Heaven by rockets. He was a Ming Dynasty official around 1500 AD. To reach the space (heaven) he made special types of chair. He made 47 small rockets that were attached beneath the chair. 47 attendants were ready to lit (one each) fire on the rocket. Wan ho dressed on his finest clothing. He sat down in the chair holding the strings of two kites, so that he is helped to guide his flight by the flying kites while he is in the space. In due time on his order, the rockets were lighted. Sounds of explosions were heard far and near. There were thick black smokes around the chair. Gentle breeze came to clear smoke. But no trace of Wan ho left (modern science can explain easily, what happened after the explosions with Wan ho, his 47 attendants and some of the spectators). May the creator keep his soul there where he wanted to reach with his body by his rocket craft! May he be the king of his abode in the heaven!
From the Chinese during Yuan dynasty (1279-1368) this technology was handed over to the Arabs where also it was used in the battle fields. Then entered to Europe via Italy and by 1350 it became powerful agent in the battlefield. Rocket technology developed to the present Space technology. Day by day it is conquering new horizons in the space with manned and unmanned flight. In the Defence Forces in Bangladesh our soldiers operating this technology successfully. Bangladeshi researchers are also doing research in the world famous universities of the word. Even few got chance to work in NASA. We are proud for all these. Popular history of flight is not discussed here because you already know it.
References: Banglapedia, Wikipedia, navigationtalk.wordpress.com and publications of the writer.
AVIATION BANGLADESH 