Author
Naṣīr al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ṭūsī
Publication Date
11 Shawwal 688 AH)
Publication Place
Ḥamāh -
Subject
1
Type
Book
Language
Arabic
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
Yes
Pages Count
1
Physical Dimensions
191 x 123 mm
Library
Qatar Digital Library
Library Asset ID
Or 11209
Record ID
vdc_100022583159.0x000001
Library Location
British Library: Oriental Manuscripts
Date
11 Shawwal 688 AH)
Notes
A treatise on astronomy which summarises, rationalises and improves upon the system presented in the Almagest of Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolemaeus; c 90-c 168). The text was composed after 1256 by Naṣīr al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad al-Ṭūsī (Nasir al-Din Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Tusi; d. 1274).
The text is divided into four chapters (sections):
Chapter One (Part One, ff.1v-4v);
Chapter Two (Part Two, ff. 4v-45v);
Chapter Three (Part Three, ff. 45v-65r);
Chapter Four (Chapter Four, ff. 65r-74r).
The manuscript contains twenty-six diagrams. The eleventh diagram (f. 32v) depicts the so-called 'Tusi couple', which demonstrates how linear motion can result from circular motion.
The copy was completed in Ḥamāh, on 11 Shawwāl 688/28 October 1289 by ‘Alī ibn Aḥmad ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Mashraf (Ali ibn Ahmad ibn Ibrahim ibn Musharraf, see
colophon
Section at the end of a manuscript text.
, f. 74r, lines 6-8, transcribed below).
Begins (f. 1v, lines 2-4):
Praise be to God, who bestows goodness and inspires what is right, and may His blessings be upon Muhammad the subject
Because of the corruption of Al-Khattab, and to his family, the best family, and his companions, the best companions.
We want to provide some sentences from the body’s knowledge as a reminder to some loved ones...
Ends (f. 74r, lines 1-5):
The center of the earth was twenty-five thousand four hundred
And twelve thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine farsakhs
Let us conclude the book here, praising God Almighty and praying for me
His Prophet, the Chosen One, and praise be to the Giver of reason and the Creator of all things and upon Him
The two completions (?) He is the King, the Judge, and God is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs
Colophon
Section at the end of a manuscript text.
(f. 74r, lines 6-9):
It was completed on Thursday the eleventh
Shawwal of the year six hundred and eighty-eight AH
In Hama Al-Mahrousa, written by Ali bin Ahmed bin Ibrahim bin Musharraf
Blessings and peace be upon Muhammad and his family
Erişim Koşulları
Unrestricted
Edinme Kaynağı
Purchased from Dr O. Rescher, 10 May 1930
Seçilmiş kaynakça
Edition and translation:
Ragep, F. Jamil,
Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī's Memoir on Astronomy (al-Tadhkira fī ʿilm al-
hayʾa)
, 2 Vols., (New York: Springer-Verlag, 1993)
