36. Qutb Al-Din Al-Shirazi
(634-710H/1236-1311AD)

Qutb Al-Din Al-Shirazi Muhammd Ibn Massud Ibn Muslih al-Farissi(218) was born in Shiraz (Iran). He studied medicine under his father and uncle; then became a student of “Nasir Al-Din Tussi”. He made several journeys that led him to Khurasan, Iraq, Persia and Egypt. Besides his scientific activity, he practiced justice and diplomacy, as he was appointed judge in one of Persia’s cities and served its kings. He was sent by one of them in a mission to al-Mansur (Syff Al-Din Kalawun), the Sultan of the Mamluk state in Cairo, to conclude a peace treaty between the two parties. He prolonged his stay in Egypt for a certain time before he returned back to Tabriz (Persia) where he died in (710 H/1311AD)(219).

Scientific Contributions

Georges Sarton considers Qutb Al-Din ash-Shirazi to be one of the prominent scientists in mathematics, astronomy, physics and philosophy(220). His main contributions in physics was his “unprecedented comprehensive explanation of the rainbow, as he demonstrated that the rainbow phenomenon occurs when sun rays fall on the small water drops that prevail in the air when it’s raining. The sun rays then undergo an internal reflection and become apparent to the eye”(221).

In the domain of astronomy, he continued the researches of his teacher Nasir Al-Din Tussi, and developed an astronomical model of Mercury that this latter had already begun. He also provided simplified explanation for his teacher’s hermetic ideas on astronomy and geometry. His methodology was based on observation, experimentation and deduction, stressing on mathematical evidence in physic and astronomical issues(222).

Major Works

Qutb ed-Din compiled many books, among which :

-“Nihayat al Idrak fi Dirayat al-Aflak”. It is a book - as says Sarton - that includes different subjects about astronomy, the earth, seas, seasons, atmospheric phenomena, mechanics and optics.

-“ Kitab at-Tuhfa as-Shahia fi al-Haya”.

-“ Kitab at -Tabsira fi al-Haya”.

-“Kitab Nuzhat al-Hukama wa rawdat al-Atiba” (Scholars and Physician's Guide). It is an explanation of and a commentary on ibn Sina’s Canon.

- “Kitab Rissala fi Bayan al-Haja ila Tib wa arab al-Atiba wa Wassayahum”.

- “Rissala fil Burss” (A treatise on Leper).

Ash-Shirazi wrote many other books in astronomy and in other fields of science. He devoted the rest of his life to Sufism, and the compilation of books on the Qur’an and Hadith sciences.