muslim intellectuals of spain
TRANSCRIPT
Year
of B
irth
Year
s of D
eath
Plac
e of
W
ork
Med
icin
ePh
arm
acol
ogy M
athe
mati
csAs
tron
omy
Bota
nyAg
ricul
ture
Philo
soph
yM
usic
Hist
ory
Geog
raph
y
Disti
nctio
ns
Ibn
Zuhr
(A
venz
oar)
1030
Seville Kitab al Taysir(An encyclopedia based on author’s personal observations and previous knowledge)
Ibn
Rush
d(A
verr
os)
1126
1198
Served Muwahhids.SevilleCordovaMorocco
Kullyat Fit Tibb(Not mere summary Greek and Arabic work rather a comparison and analysis of both)
Fasl(a decisive treatise on the agreement between religion and philosophy)
Tahafut at-Tahafutu’l Falasifah(Wrote in reply of al-Ghazali’s attack on philosophers in his book Tahafutu’l Falasifah)
Born in the family of distinguished jurists. Appointed as judge at Seville and later chief qazi at Cordova.Wrote commentaries on almost all the work of Aristotle, therefore, is known as the Commentator.Wrote commentary on Plato’s Republic.
Ibn
al-K
hatib
1313
1374
GranadaServed Nasrids of Granada
On the Plague(Defended the idea of contagion while whole of the Europe and orthodox people were theologically opposing it and even dared to contradict a Hadith)Amal man Tabba liman Habba(Discussed controversial issues as abortion, use of wine for medical purpose, advocated aphrodisiacs)
Al-Ihatah fi Tarikh Gharnatha(An extensive history of Nasrid kingdom of Granada)
50 books.Spanish History.Famous for the elegance of his style and his linguistic innovation.Secretary in the Diwan al-insha in Nasrids reign.Prime Minister during Nasrids reign.Wrote Biography of Ibn e Khatima
Al-Z
ahra
wi
(Alb
ucas
is)
936
1013
Al Hakam II Al Tasrif li-man A’jaz an al-Ta’alif(Description of Surgical knowledge of his time. Introduce ideas of cauterization of wounds, crushing a stone inside bladder and the necessity of vivisection and dissection. Was published in 1497 at Venice, in 1541 at Basel, in 1778 at Oxford. A manual of surgery in Europe for centuries)
Hasd
ay
bin
Shar
put Served Abd
ar Rahman III
Translated Materia Medica of Dioscorides into Arabic
Jewish Minister
Ibn
May
mun
1135
1204
CairoServed Salah al Din Ayubi and Al Malik al Aziz
Improved method of circumcision, ascribed hemorrhoids to constipation.Al-Fusul fi al Tibb(Aphorism of Medicine)
Dalalat al-Hairin(Tried to reconcile Jewish theology with Muslim Aristotelianism or Faith with ReasonProphetic Vision he explained as Physical experiences and aroused the anger of conservative theologians. His theory of creation was of atomistic one in comparison to the Fundamentalist theory and Philosophical theory.
Jew, Hebrew Physician and Philosophers
Al-G
hafq
i
Made detailed observation on the Flora of Andalus
Al-Adwiyah al-Mufridah
Collected Plants in Spain and Africa, gave the name of each in Arabic, Latin and Berber.
Ibn
Bayt
r
1197
1248
SevilleDamascusMorocco
Jami al-Mufradat(List of more than 3000 simples in an alphabetical order. Describes more than twice the number of species of plants mentioned in the original Arabic version of Dioscorides)
Al-Mughni fil-adwiyah al-Mufridah(On Materia Medica)Al-jami fil-Adwiyah al-Mufradah(Collection of simple remedies from the animal, vegetable and mineral world.)
A worthy successor of Dioscorides.Travelled as a herbalist in Spain and North Africa.Died in Damascus.
Ibn
al A
ww
am
Al-Falahah(Treats 585 plants and explains the cultivation of 50+ fruit trees. Contains observations on grafting, properties of soil and manure, symptoms of diseases of trees and methods of cure.)
Al Ja
bali Taksir
(Land surveying. Of practical nature.)
Mas
alm
ah a
l-Maj
ritiMu’amalat(Collectively written by al-Majriti, al-Samh and al-Zahrawi. Deals commercial Mathematics. Deals with elementary Mathematics, algebra and a long collection of practical problems.)Edited and corrected the planetary tables of al-Khwarizmi and converted the basis of these tables from the era of Yazdagird into that of Islam.
Given honorific title of al-Hasib, the mathematician.Founded an important mathematical and astronomical school consisting three members al-Majriti, al-Samh, al-Zahrawi.
Abu
Abdu
llah
Muh
amm
ad
Ikhtisar al-Jabr wa’l-Muqabala(Deals elementary algebra, indeterminate equations in the Diophantine tradition)
Al Q
alas
adi
Improved methods of successive approximations of squares and cubes. Introduced Algebraic Symbolism.
Al-M
utam
in o
f Sa
rago
saAl-Istikmal(Deals with number theory, plane geometry, concepts of ratio and proportion)
An excellent geometer.King of Saragossa
Al-Z
arqa
li
1100
Toledo Treatise on the construction of “Armillary Sphere”(This instrument was the development of Ptolemy’s astrolabon . Added 6 rings to those of Ptolemy. Armillary sphere can be used to determine the longitude and latitudes of the sun, moon, planets and stars.
AstronomistBuilt a water clock that was capable of determining the hour of the day and night and the days of the lunar months. Devised improved astrolabe called safihah
Jabe
r ibn
Afla
h(G
eber
filli
us a
fflae
)
1150
Seville Kitab al-Hay’ah(Criticized Ptolemy and asserted that Mercury and Venus have no visible parallaxes.A chapter on spherical and plane trigonometry.)
Al-B
ertu
ji
1204
Al-Hay’ah(About the configuration of Heavenly bodies. Attempted to revive in a modified form the false theory of homocentric spheres.)
Pupil of Ibn Tufyl.Al
-Raz
i
936
Served Al Hakam II
Al-Masalik wal-Mamalik(Deals with North Africa.)
Al-B
akri
1040
1094
Mujam ma Istajam(A geographical dictionary of Arabian Peninsula and Masalik wal Mamalik. Dealt with countries and their people such as Spaniards, Turks, Khazars, Lombards, the English, Russians, Bulgars, Poles and Saqabilah.)
His father and grand father were the rulers of Taifa Kingdom of Saltes.
Al-
Him
yari Al-Rawd al-Mitar
(Description of Muslim Spain.)
Al-H
ijari
1155
Mushib(A cultural geography of Muslim Spain)
Al-Id
risi
Stra
bo o
f the
Ara
bsNuzhat ul Mushtaq fi Ikhtiraq al Afaq(Book of Roger. Profusely illustrated with maps. Describes people of North Africa and west and east.)
Ibn
al-
Arab
i
1076
1148
A Jurist and left a record of his travels in East.
Abu
Ham
id a
l-Maz
ini
1080
1170
Al-Mu’rib(interested in Ajaib as 80 kilo watermelon in Cairo, a fish in Bulgaria equal to the weight of fish, a city constructed of copper by Jinns for Solomen. Travelled in Sicily, Egypt, Caspian sea, Russia and Balkan.
Ibn
Juba
yr
1145
1219
GranadaServed Al Muwahhid
Rihlah(Story of his trip to Makkah and Madinah containing dates in Gregorian and Islamic calendar, distances, atmospheric conditions etc. of the cities on his way.)
Ibn
Battu
tah
1304
1369
Ibn Batutah’s Rihlah(Stories of his visit to almost all the countries of then Islamic World as well as many Christians, Hindu and Pagan countries surrounding Islamic Countries including North Africa, Egypt, Arabia, Yemen, East Africa, Asia Minor, Crimea, Byzantium, Bulgaria, Central Asia, Persia, Indian Sub-continent, China, Maldive, Ceylon Sumatra.)
Belong to Family of Muslim Judges. Born in Tangiers. Began travels at the age of 21. Set a rule for himself, “Never to travel any road a second time”. Covered 120000 kilometers.
Ibn
Quti
yyah
977
CordovaServed Al Hakam II as Qazi
Tarikh al Iftitah al Andalus(History of Muslim Spain from the conquest up to the reign of Abd ar Rahman III
A descendant of Visigothic Princess Sara who marrid the Yemeni Arab. Ibn Qutiyyah means “The son of Gothic woman”.
Husa
yn Ib
n As
im
Al ma’athir al-Amiriyyah(A biography of Abi Ibn Amir al-Mansur. History of age of al-Mansur.)
Ibn
Hayy
an
987
Served sons of al-Mansur as Secretary
Al-Matin(A 60 volume book on a portion of History of Spain.)Al-Muqtabis(A 10 volume book on another portion of History of Spain. Book is arranged by years.)
Ibn
Hazm
994
1064
Kitab al-Fisal fil Milal wal-Ahwal wal-Nihal
Tarikh al-KhulafaJamharah(A book on the genealogy of Arabs)
400 books on various subjects.
Al-M
arak
ashi
1185
1224
Al-Mujib fi Takhlis Akhbar al-Maghrib(Deals with the conquest of Spain and with men of letters)
Al-
Mag
hrib
i
1201
1274
Al-Maghrib fi hula al-Maghrib(A 15 volume history of Maghrib)
Al-Id
hari
1295
Al-Bayan al-Maghrib(A History of the Maghrib and al-Andalus)
Ibn
Khal
dun
1332
Served Hafsids and later Nasrids.
Kitab al-Ibar wa Diwan al-Mubtada wa’l-Khabar fi Ayyam al-Arab wa’l-Ajam wa’l-Berber
Muqaddimah(Presented his philosophy of history. True purpose of history is to make us acquainted with human society. Study of growth of civilization, society and culture. Stages of growth till termination are completed with in 3 to 6 generation or 120 years. This law is operated by natural, social, political and cultural forces. Most important forces are two: Asabia(The vital energy of a state) and Religion. 3 stages of history of civilization.1.Nomadic Society2.Military Dynast3.The state and society headed by a sovereign.
Inspired by Platonic ideal of guiding rulers.Moved from court to court and city to city in the various kingdoms of North Africa and Granada.Worked with Ibn al-Khatib in Nasrids kingdom.Sent to the court of Castilian king, Pedro the cruel, on a diplomatic mission and impressed him.Teacher in the Jamia Al-Azhar
Ibn
Bajja
(Ave
mpa
ce)
1095
1138
Served Murabits.SaragossaMorocco
Tadbir al-Mutawahid(Criticize the criticism on philosophy made by Ghazali and al-Ashari. Individual soul perished with the body and that it was the intellect in man which survived.)
Appointed as wazir in the reign of Murabits.
Ibn
Tufy
l(A
bu B
acer
)
1100
1185
Risalat Hayy ibn Yaqzan(Philosophical novel.Philosophy, an esoteric knowledge which could not be communicated to the common people, for whom religion was the safest way to conduct life. Only educated few should devote themselves to the cultivation of intellect and philosophy.)
Wazir and Physician in the court of Muwahid Caliph.
Ziry
ab
789
857
Al-HakamAbd ar Rahman IIBaghdadCordova
Composed numerous songs and melodies and claimed that Jinns used to teach him these songs and melodies.Added 5th string in the lute.Founded a school of Music in Cordova and introduced three stages of Music Curriculum.
Black slave and student of Ibrahim al-Mawsili.