Kaveh Niazi Knihy

As a leading scientist of the 13th century C.E. Qutb al-Din Shirazi wrote three substantial works on hay'a (or the configuration of the celestial orbs): Nihayat al-idrak fi dirayat al-aflak ("The Limits of Attainment in the Understanding of the Heavens"), al-Tuhfa al-shahiya fi 'ilm al-hay'a("The Royal Offering Regarding the Knowledge of the Configuration of the Heavens"), and Ikhtiyarat-i Mu?affari ("The Muzaffari Elections"). Completed in less than four years and written in two of the classical languages of the Islamic world, Arabic and Persian, these works provide a fascinating window to the astronomical research carried out in Ilkhanid Persia. Shirazi and his colleagues were driven by their desire to rid Ptolemaic astronomy from its perceived shortcomings

The Muiniya Epistle, authored by the renowned 13th-century scholar Nasir al-Din Tusi, is significant for being one of his earliest works and is uniquely presented in Persian. This text is structured into four parts, establishing a template that influenced future Islamic astronomers. Its translation into English offers insights into Tusi’s intellectual contributions and the development of astronomical thought in the Islamic Golden Age.

The biography delves into the life and contributions of Qub al-Din Shirazi, a prominent 13th-century scientist. It explores the connections between his three significant yet underappreciated works on astronomy, shedding light on their impact and relevance in the field. This examination not only highlights Shirazi's achievements but also enriches the understanding of medieval scientific thought.