Muhammad al-Fazari

Abu abdallah Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Fazari (d. 796 or 806) was a Muslim philosopher, mathematician and astronomer. [* H. Suter: "Die Mathematiker und Astronomen der Araber" (p. 4, 1900).] [* Introduction to the History of Science by George Sarton - Page 524] He is not to be confused with his father Ibrahim al-Fazari, also an astronomer and mathematician.

While some sources refer to him as an Arab [Scott L. Montgomery. "Science in Translation: movements of knowledge through cultures and time". p. 81. ] [Abramovich, Boris et al. "History of Civilizations of Central Asia". pp. 177-178.] [Pingree, David (1970). The Fragments of the Works of Al-Fazari. "Journal of Near Eastern Studies". Vol. 29, No. 2. pp. 103-123.] [Yaqut al-Hamawi. "Irshad al-Arib Fi Ma'rifat al-Adib". Ed. D. S. Margoliouth. "E. J. W. Gibb Mem. Ser.," 6. Vol. 6. 2d ed. London, 1931.] , other sources state that he was a Persian. [* The Root of Europe: studies in the diffusion of Greek culture by Ralph Westwood Moore, Michael Huxley - 1952 - Page 48] [* Richard N. Frye, "The Golden Age of Persia", p. 163.] [* From Freedom to Freedom: African roots in American soils : selected readings - by Ervin Lewis, Mildred Bain]

Al-Fazari translated many scientific books into Arabic and Persian. [* Glimpses of Islamic History and Culture by M. D. Zafar - 1987 - Page 331] He is credited to have built the first astrolabe in the Islamic world. [* Richard N. Frye, "The Golden Age of Persia", p. 163.]

Along with Yaqub ibn Tariq and his father he helped translate the Indian astronomical text by Brahmagupta (fl. 7th century), the "Brahmasphutasiddhanta", into Arabic as "Az-Zīj ‛alā Sinī al-‛Arab". [E. S. Kennedy, "A Survey of Islamic Astronomical Tables," (Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, New Series, 46, 2), Philadelphia, 1956, pp. 2, 7, 12 (zijes no. 2, 28, 71).] , or the "Sindhind". This translation was possibly the vehicle by means of which the Hindu numerals were transmitted from India to Islam. [* D. E. Smith and L. C. Karpinski: "The Hindu-Arabic Numerals" (Boston, 1911), p.92.).]

References

* Cantor: "Geschichte der Mathematik" (I, 3rd ed., 698, 1907).

ee also

*List of Arab scientists
*List of Iranian scientists
*zij