The impact of Islamic civilization on Western science and medicine between the 9th and 13th centuries is not well remembered by many in the West. While Europe was in the so-called Dark Ages, Muslim physicians like Avicenna, Al-Razi, Al-Zahrawi and others, were building on the work of the Greeks and Romans, making discoveries that continued to influence the medical practice for several centuries. Islam stressed the importance and respect of knowledge and cultureprohibiting the demolition and destruction of previous cultures. Islamic civilization has played an invaluable role in preserving the continuity of scientific progress of other nations, contrary to what was done by Mongols and others. For many centuries, Arabic remained the most important scientific language of the world and preserved the knowledge and culture that might otherwise have been lost forever.