Page 84 - A Call for a Turkish-Islamic Union

As well as architecture, Muslims had an advanced
quality of and taste in clothing compared with Europe.
Their textile shops produced unprecedentedly beautiful
fabrics, which made European clothing appear quite or-
dinary. For this reason, Muslim clothing and fabrics be-

came symbols of luxury and status among Europeans.
The church's most valuable holy objects were kept in
Muslim-made fabrics. Indeed, some clothes in Christian
paintings made during the Middle Age had Islamic writ-
ing on them. In fact, Muslims dictated fashion to the
world.
Europe received other practices of civilizations
from Muslims, such as bathing and using soap. Islamic
civilization also contributed greatly to the develop-

ment of European music. For example, string in-
struments widely used in the Islamic world
were later adopted by Europeans. The gui-
tar, a basic instrument of the West-
ern music, is an adaptation of
the classical ut.