30. Ibn Al-Razaz Al-Jazari
(6th century H/ 12th century AD)

His full name was Badi’u Zaman Abu al-Iz Ismail Ibn ar-Razaz al-Jazari. He was named al-Jazari as he hailed from the Isle located between the Tigris and Euphrates. He lived in Diar Baker (modern Turkey) in the 6th century of Hegira, where he served its kings for 25 years, beginning from 570 H. (1174 AD)(182).

Though al-Jazari was one of the most prominent inventors in mechanics, details of his life are rare. All that we know about him is what he himself wrote about himself in “al-jamea bayna al-ilm wal amal anafe' fi sina't al-hiyal" (theory and practice in designing artifices).

Scientific Contributions

He contributed in designing a number of different mechanic engines, such as the compressor, the crane, the carrier and the conveyor. He also gave an accurate description of the exact assembly of watches that took their names following the particular design appearing on them : an elephant's watch, a monkey's watch, an archer's watch, an author's watch, or a drummer's watch (183) …

We conclude from his book that he devised a large number of mechanic models, but he limited himself to the description of only fifty models. Ibn ar-Razaz was intent on associating between theoretical mechanic sciences known at that time, and practical applied aspects(184).

Donald Hill states that al-Jazari worked out water watches using wicks of lamps, measuring instruments, fountains, musical instruments and instruments to lift water. He also devised a kettle with a cover in the form of a bird, which made a hiss for a short time whenever it is used before water settled down. Aldo Milli states also that al-Jazari devised a water watch with two arms pointing to time(185).

Major Works

- “Al-jamea bayna al-ilm wal amal anafe' fi sina't al-hiyal” (theory and practice in designing artifices) is by far the most interesting book of al-Jazari. He was charged by king Nacer ed-Din Muhammad Ibn Qura, one of Beni Artaq Sultans, in Diar Baker to compile this book. That occurred in 1181 during the reign of the Abbassid Caliph Nacer ed-Din ibn al-Abbas Ahmed. The book was completed in 1206 AD, which means that it took 25 years of studies and research in the mechanics of watches, fountains and water and heavy material lifting engines. This book was the most wonderful book ever written in the Middle Ages on mechanic and hydraulic engines(186).

Many copies of this book are conserved in a number of museums worldwide such as Tobi Kari in Istambul, and the museum of fine arts in Boston, the museum of the Louvre in France and Oxford Library(187).

The book enjoyed a wide reputation in the West. Wiedmann and Hawser translated parts of it into German in the first quarter of the 20th century. Donald Hill who is specialized in the history of Arab technology also translated it into English. The Institute of Arabic Scientific Heritage issued the Arabic version in Alepo, Syria, in 1979 after its annotation by Ahmed Yussuf(188).