Did Muslims Visit America Before Columbus?

Question

I was debating an issue in R&S about Muslims.
I got an answer that says "Muslims were in the Americas before Columbus "
i, first ,did ridiculed it,but then ,i searched Google and i found results all over the internet that backs up his claims,
like:

http://www.themodernreligion.com/ht/before-columbus.html
http://www.textbookleague.org/spwic...
http://www.sunnah.org/history/preco...
http://hnn.us/articles/23662.html...

So,,is it accurate?
Are there any secular independent studies concerning this matter?
Is this -even possibly- can be true?

Sorry .i apparently did not paste the full links
any way...go from here
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Did+Muslims+Visit+America+Before+Columbus&btnG=Google+Search

Answer 1

The sources are not particularly credible. In fact the first link thanks the internet for being such a valuable resource. The internet is loaded with personal opinion, gossip, rumor and otherwise unsubstantiated claims. It is not a reliable source in and of itself. And one site says they set out from Africa, another says Spain. So until I see more convincing evidence I'd rather doubt it happened.

However, even if they did cross the Atlantic this does not change the fact that Columbus discovered America. Because Columbus and his society did not know it was there. And also because his discovery was a lasting one. The Vikings found the new world before columbus, but that knowledge was lost instead of spread. Same for any possible muslim exploration. If it did happen, they did not spread the news and that information was lost. I wouldn't be surprised if it was true, but at this point it just can't be confirmed, so it is not a fact yet, just speculation.

Answer 2

I'm not sure what your question is. Is it possible that there were contacts between the Old World and/or Asia and the Americas prior to Columbus? Sure. We know about the vikings etc. It is not that there was no contact but that nothing came of it. Say a ship or two from Ghana landed in the Yucatan. The local indians may have had a story about it for a while, something like "many years ago some strange looking people came across the eastern ocean, then they went away and didn't come back." Interesting but not important and the tribe in the next vally over probley wouldn't even have found it that interesting.

Answer 3

Looking at the sources you cite, I doubt it. There doesn't seem to be any firm archeological evidence. And while it might be possible, so what? It's clear that they did not leave any lasting presence--nothing on the same level as Colombus and those who came after.

Answer 4

The second and third links have not come up...

Answer 5

It is possible ,but no solid evidence so far

Answer 6

yes they respect dead people who are careing not sloppy

the end