A Brief Reflection on Islamic Astronomy in 13th Century, The Case of Qu?b Ad-Din Al-Shirazi

Abstract

This paper focuses on the life and scholarship of Qu?b ad-D?n al-Sh?r?z? (d. 1311 CE), a Muslim Persian
polymath, who has contributed in many fields such as philosophy, astronomy and medicine. A talented
and precocious student, and was tutored by his own father, the young man of Qu?b ad-D?n al-Sh?r?z? was
already appointed as a physician even during his teenage years. Eventually the quest for knowledge led
him to leave his hometown of Sh?r?z and visit several scholars before he eventually settled in Mar?ghah.
Here he learned and collaborated with many other great scholars such as Na??r al-D?n ??s? (d. 1274 CE)
and Mu’ayyad al-D?n al-‘Ur?? (d. 1266 CE) in the field of observational astronomy. They set up and
worked in the famous Mar?ghah observatory, and Qu?b ad-D?n al-Sh?r?z? collaborated in the production
of Z?j-l Ilkh?n? or the Ilkh?n? Tables, which was one of the most important astronomical tables being
produced from the Mar?ghah observatory. Other than his contribution in astronomy, we would also
briefly mention his contribution in other fields such as philosophy and medicine. The methodology is a
literature review, which we used both the secondary sources and the primary source. The primary source
is the astronomical text of Qu?b ad-D?n al-Sh?r?z? which is called Nih?yat al-Idr?k, and it is in the form
of a manuscript, which had been acquired from the British Library.
Keywords: Qu?b ad-D?n al-Sh?r?z?, Mar?ghah observatory, Islamic astronomy, Islamic philosophy,
Islamic medicine