Civilization The Muslim community expanded rapidly after the Prophet's death. Within a few decades, Islam had spread as far as Spain in the West and China in the East. Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its doctrine. As Muslim civilization developed, most of the important philosophical and scientific works of ancient times were all rendered into Arabic, including works of astronomy, mathematics and medicine. As a result, Arabic became the most important scientific language of the world for many centuries and the depository of much of the wisdom and the sciences of antiquity. Besides translation and preservation of ancient learning, these scholars built upon and developed the ancient heritage before passing it on to the West. Muslims excelled in art, architecture, astronomy, geography, history, language, literature, medicine, mathematics, and physics. Many crucial systems such as algebra, the Arabic numerals, and the very concept of the zero (vital to the advancement of mathematics), were formulated by Muslim scholars and shared with medieval Europe. Sophisticated instruments that would make possible the later European voyages of discovery were invented or developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and navigational charts and maps. The Muslims of the early period of the Islamic era were pioneers in medicine, chemistry, physics, geography, navigation, arts, poetry, mathematics, algebra, logarithms, calculus, etc. They contributed to the Renaissance of Europe and world civilization. Christians and Jews lived peacefully with Muslims throughout centuries in the Middle East and other Asian and African countries. Jews fled from Spain during the Inquisition, and they were welcomed by the Muslims. They settled in the heart of the Islamic Caliphate and enjoyed positions of power and authority. Throughout the Muslim world, churches, synagogues and missionary schools were built within the Muslim neighborhoods. These places were protected by Muslims even during the contemporary crises in the Middle East. In modern times, Muslims have become established as minorities in places like North America. Muslims have established academic institutions, community centers and organizations, schools and places of worship. The Sears Tower and the John Hancock buildings in Chicago were designed by a Muslim chief architect. Muslims live in peace and harmony among themselves and among other groups of people in the society. The rate of crime among Muslims is very minimal. Muslims in North America are highly educated and they have added to the success of American scientific and technological fields.