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{{Short description|Islamic astrology of the Golden Age}}
{{Medislast}}
⚫ ]'' (Essence of History), dedicated to ] ] in 1583]]
⚫ The medieval Arabs took a keen interest in the study of heavens: partly because they considered the celestial bodies to be divine, partly because the dwellers of desert-regions often travelled at night, and relied upon knowledge of the ] for guidance in their journeys.<ref name="aktar">Wasim Aktar, ''Contributions of Ancient Arabian and Egyptian Scientists on Astronomy''; , retrieved 19 August 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Oxford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Science, and Technology in Islam |first1=Salim |last1=Ayduz |first2=Ibrahim |last2=Kalin |first3=Caner |last3=Dagli |publisher=Oxford University Press |year= 2014 |p=64 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=or-6BwAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PA515&dq=philosophy+astrology+university&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi44fOIxdbJAhWEOCYKHfV7ABA4ChDoAQhXMAg#v=onepage&q=astrology&f=false}}</ref> After the advent of ], the ] needed to determine the time of the prayers, the direction of the ], and the correct orientation of the ], all of which helped give a religious impetus to the study of ] and contributed towards the belief that the heavenly bodies were influential upon terrestrial affairs as well as the human condition.<ref name="aktar" /> The science dealing with such influences was termed ''']''' (]: علم النجوم ''Ilm an-Nujūm''), a discipline contained within the field of astronomy (more broadly known as علم الفلك ''Ilm al-Falak'' 'the science of formation ').<ref name="aktar" /> The principles of these studies were rooted in ], ], ] and ] and both were developed by the Arabs following their establishment of a magnificent observatory and library of astronomical and astrological texts at ] in the 8th century.
⚫ {{Astrology sidebar}}
Some medieval Muslims took a keen interest in the study of astrology, partly because they considered the celestial bodies to be essential, partly because the dwellers of desert-regions often travelled at night, and relied upon knowledge of the ]s for guidance in their journeys.<ref name="aktar">Wasim Aktar, ''Contributions of Ancient Arabian and Egyptian Scientists on Astronomy''; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517215941/http://www.psar.net/2011/03/contributions-of-ancient-arabian-and-egyptian-scientists-on-astronomy-2/ |date=2012-05-17 }}, retrieved 19 August 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Oxford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Science, and Technology in Islam |first1=Salim |last1=Ayduz |first2=Ibrahim |last2=Kalin |first3=Caner |last3=Dagli |publisher=Oxford University Press |year= 2014 |page=64 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=or-6BwAAQBAJ&q=astrology&pg=RA1-PA515|isbn=9780199812578 }}</ref>

⚫ After the advent of ], the ] needed to determine the time of the prayers, the direction of the ], and the correct orientation of the ], all of which helped give a religious impetus to the study of ] and contributed towards the belief that the heavenly bodies were influential upon terrestrial affairs as well as the human condition.<ref name="aktar" /> The science dealing with such influences was termed '']'' (]: علم النجوم ''Ilm an-Nujūm''), a discipline contained within the field of astronomy (more broadly known as علم الفلك ''Ilm al-Falak'' 'the science of formation ').<ref name="aktar" /> The principles of these studies were rooted in ], ], ] and ] and both were developed by the Arabs following their establishment of a magnificent observatory and library of astronomical and astrological texts at ] in the 8th century.


Throughout the medieval period the practical application of astrology was subject to deep philosophical debate by Muslim ] and scientists. Astrological prognostications nevertheless required a fair amount of exact scientific expertise and the quest for such knowledge within this era helped to provide the incentive for the study and development of astronomy. Throughout the medieval period the practical application of astrology was subject to deep philosophical debate by Muslim ] and scientists. Astrological prognostications nevertheless required a fair amount of exact scientific expertise and the quest for such knowledge within this era helped to provide the incentive for the study and development of astronomy.


==History== ==Early history==
Medieval Islamic astrology and astronomy continued Hellenistic and Roman era traditions based on ]'s '']''. Centres of learning in medicine and astronomy/astrology were set up in Baghdad and Damascus, and the Caliph ] of Baghdad established a major observatory and library in the city, making it the world's astronomical centre. During this time knowledge of astronomy was greatly increased, and the astrolabe was invented by ]. Medieval Islamic astrology and astronomy continued Hellenistic and Roman era traditions based on ]'s '']''. Centres of learning in medicine and astronomy/astrology were set up in Baghdad and Damascus, and the Caliph ] of Baghdad established a major observatory and library in the city, making it the world's astronomical centre. During this time knowledge of astronomy was greatly increased. Many modern star names are derived from their ].
Many modern star names are derived from their ]. It's important to note that even the word star is Persian word often used as first name for girls pronounced in Persian ].


] or Abu Ma'shar (805 - 885) was one of the most influential Islamic astrologers. His treatise ''Introductorium in Astronomiam'' (''Kitab al-Mudkhal al-Kabīr'') spoke of how '"only by observing the great diversity of planetary motions can we comprehend the unnumbered varieties of change in this world".<ref name="WDL">{{cite web |url = http://www.wdl.org/en/item/2998/ |title = Introduction to Astronomy, Containing the Eight Divided Books of Abu Ma'shar Abalachus |website = ] |date = 1506 |accessdate = 2013-07-15 }}</ref> The ''Introductorium'' was one of the first books to find its way in translation through Spain and into Europe in the Middle Ages, and was highly influential in the revival of astrology and astronomy there. ] or Abu Ma'shar (805 - 885) was one of the most influential Islamic astrologers. His treatise ''Introductorium in Astronomiam'' (''Kitab al-Mudkhal al-Kabīr'') spoke of how '"only by observing the great diversity of planetary motions can we comprehend the unnumbered varieties of change in this world".<ref name="WDL">{{cite web |url = http://www.wdl.org/en/item/2998/ |title = Introduction to Astronomy, Containing the Eight Divided Books of Abu Ma'shar Abalachus |website = ] |date = 1506 |access-date = 2013-07-15 }}</ref> The ''Introductorium'' was one of the first books to find its way in translation through Spain and into Europe in the Middle Ages, and was highly influential in the revival of astrology and astronomy there.


⚫ Persians also combined the disciplines of medicine and astrology by linking the curative properties of herbs with specific zodiac signs and planets.<ref name="Parker">{{cite book |last1=Parker |first1=Derek |first2=Julia |last2=Parker |title=The New Compleat Astrologer |publisher=Crescent Books |place=New York |year=1990}}</ref> Mars, for instance, was considered hot and dry and so ruled plants with a hot or pungent taste, like ], ] or ]. These beliefs were adopted by European ]s like ] right up until the development of modern medicine.
⚫ ]


⚫ The Persians also developed a system, by which the difference between the ascendant and each planet of the zodiac was calculated. This new position then became a 'part' of some kind.<ref name="Parker"/> For example, the 'part of fortune' is found by taking the difference between the Sun and the ascendant and adding it to the Moon. If the 'part' thus calculated was in the 10th House in Libra, for instance, it suggested that money could be made from some kind of partnership.
⚫ Persians also combined the disciplines of medicine and astrology by linking the curative properties of herbs with specific zodiac signs and planets.<ref>Parker & Parker, ibid, 1990</ref> Mars, for instance, was considered hot and dry and so ruled plants with a hot or pungent taste, like ], ] or ]. These beliefs were adopted by European ]s like ] right up until the development of modern medicine.


⚫ The calendar introduced by ], based on the classical zodiac, remains in effect in ] and ] as the official ].
⚫ The Persians also developed a system, by which the difference between the ascendant and each planet of the zodiac was calculated. This new position then became a 'part' of some kind.<ref>Sasha Fenton, ibid</ref> For example, the 'part of fortune' is found by taking the difference between the sun and the ascendant and adding it to the moon. If the 'part' thus calculated was in the 10th House in Libra, for instance, it suggested that money could be made from some kind of partnership.


⚫ Another notable Persian astrologer and astronomer was ] born in Iran, Shiraz (1236–1311). He wrote critiques of Ptolemy's ] and produced two prominent works on astronomy: 'The Limit of Accomplishment Concerning Knowledge of the Heavens' in 1281 and 'The Royal Present' in 1284, both of which commented upon and improved on Ptolemy's work, particularly in the field of planetary motion.
⚫ The calendar introduced by ], based on the classical zodiac, remains in effect in ] and ] as the official ].

The Almagest, together with the original contributions of 9th to 10th century Persian astronomy such as the ], was introduced to Christian Europe beginning in the 11th century, by contact with ].

⚫ Another notable Persian astrologer and astronomer was ] born in Iran, Shiraz (1236–1311). He wrote critiques of Ptolemy's ] and produced two prominent works on astronomy: 'The Limit of Accomplishment Concerning Knowledge of the Heavens' in 1281 and 'The Royal Present' in 1284, both of which commented upon and improved on Ptolemy's work, particularly in the field of planetary motion. Al-Shirazi was also the first person to give the correct scientific explanation for the formation of a ].


] was a fifteenth-century ] Sultan and also a mathematician and astronomer. He built an observatory in 1428 and produced the first original star map since Ptolemy, which corrected the position of many stars and included many new ones.{{citation needed|date=January 2011}} ] was a fifteenth-century ] Sultan and also a mathematician and astronomer. He built an observatory in 1428 and produced the first original star map since Ptolemy, which corrected the position of many stars and included many new ones.{{citation needed|date=January 2011}}


==Medieval refutations== ==Medieval understanding==
⚫ Some of the principles of astrology were refuted by several Astronomy in the ] such as ] (Alpharabius), ] (Alhazen), ], ] and ]. Their reasons for refuting astrology were often due to both scientific (the methods used by astrologers being ] rather than ]) and religious (conflicts with orthodox ]) reasons.<ref>{{Citation |last=Saliba |first=George |author-link=George Saliba |year=1994b |title=A History of Arabic Astronomy: Planetary Theories During the Golden Age of Islam |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-8147-8023-7 |pages=60 & 67–69}}</ref> However these refutations mainly concerned the ] rather than the natural principles of it. For example, Avicenna's refutation of astrology (in the treatise titled ''Resāla fī ebṭāl aḥkām al-nojūm'', Treatise against the rulings of the stars<!--best guess, please improve-->) revealed support for its overarching principles. He stated that it was true that each planet had some influence on the earth, but his argument was the difficulty of astrologers being able to determine the exact effect of it. In essence, Avicenna did not refute astrology, but denied man's limited capacity to be able to know the precise effects of the stars on the sublunar matter. With that, he did not refute the essential dogma of astrology, but only refuted our ability to fully understand it.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|first=George|last=Saliba|author-link=George Saliba|title=Avicenna: viii. Mathematics and Physical Sciences |encyclopedia=Mathematics and Physical Sciences Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition|year= 2011 |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/avicenna-viii}}</ref>


⚫ Another Damascene ] ] (1292–1350), in his ''Miftah Dar al-Sa'adah'', used ] arguments against astrology in order to refute its practice as he thought it is closely aligned to ].<ref>{{citation|title=Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah: A Fourteenth Century Defense against Astrological Divination and Alchemical Transmutation|first=John W.|last=Livingston|journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society|volume=91|issue=1|year=1971|pages=96–103|doi=10.2307/600445|jstor=600445}}</ref> He recognized that the ]s are much larger than the ]s, and thus argued:<ref name=Livingston>{{citation|title=Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah: A Fourteenth Century Defense against Astrological Divination and Alchemical Transmutation|first=John W.|last=Livingston|journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society|volume=91|issue=1|year=1971|pages=96–103 |doi=10.2307/600445|jstor=600445}}</ref>
⚫ Some of the principles of astrology were refuted by several medieval Islamic astronomers such as ] (Alpharabius), ] (Alhazen), ], ] and ]. Their reasons for refuting astrology were often due to both scientific (the methods used by astrologers being ] rather than ]) and religious (conflicts with orthodox ]) reasons.<ref>{{Citation |last=Saliba |first=George |authorlink=George Saliba |year=1994b |title=A History of Arabic Astronomy: Planetary Theories During the Golden Age of Islam |publisher=] |isbn=0-8147-8023-7 |pages=60 & 67–69}}</ref> However these refutations mainly concerned the judicial branches of astrology rather than the natural principles of it. For example, Avicenna's refutation of astrology (in the treatise titled ''Resāla fī ebṭāl aḥkām al-nojūm'', Treatise against the rulings of the stars<!--best guess, please improve-->) revealed support for its overarching principles. He stated that it was true that each planet had some influence on the earth, but his argument was the difficulty of astrologers being able to determine the exact effect of it. In essence, Avicenna did not refute astrology, but denied man’s limited capacity to be able to know the precise effects of the stars on the sublunar matter. With that, he did not refute the essential dogma of astrology, but only refuted our ability to fully understand it.<ref>{{cite web|first=George|last=Saliba|authorlink=George Saliba|title=Avicenna: viii. Mathematics and Physical Sciences |work=Mathematics and Physical Sciences Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition|year= 2011 |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/avicenna-viii}}</ref>


⚫ {{blockquote|And if you astrologers answer that it is precisely because of this distance and smallness that their influences are negligible, then why is it that you claim a great influence for the smallest heavenly body, Mercury? Why is it that you have given an influence to al-Ra's and al-Dhanab, which are two imaginary points ?}}
⚫ Another Damascene scientist ] (1292–1350), in his ''Miftah Dar al-SaCadah'', used ] arguments in astronomy in order to refute the judicial practice of astrology which is most closely aligned to ].<ref>{{citation|title=Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah: A Fourteenth Century Defense against Astrological Divination and Alchemical Transmutation|first=John W.|last=Livingston|journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society|volume=91|issue=1|year=1971|pages=96–103|doi=10.2307/600445|jstor=600445}}</ref> He recognized that the ]s are much larger than the ]s, and thus argued:<ref name=Livingston>{{citation|title=Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah: A Fourteenth Century Defense against Astrological Divination and Alchemical Transmutation|first=John W.|last=Livingston|journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society|volume=91|issue=1|year=1971|pages=96–103 |doi=10.2307/600445|jstor=600445}}</ref>


⚫ Ibn Qayyim also argued that the since the ] as "a myriad of tiny stars packed together in the sphere of the fixed stars" that "it is certainly impossible to have knowledge of their influences."<ref name=Livingston/>
⚫ {{quote|"And if you astrologers answer that it is precisely because of this distance and smallness that their influences are negligible, then why is it that you claim a great influence for the smallest heavenly body, Mercury? Why is it that you have given an influence to al-Ra's and al-Dhanab, which are two imaginary points ?"}}

⚫ Al-Jawziyya also recognized the ] ] as "a myriad of tiny stars packed together in the sphere of the fixed stars" and thus argued that "it is certainly impossible to have knowledge of their influences."<ref name=Livingston/>

==Opinions of contemporary Muslim scholars==
According to jurists, the study of astronomy (''ilm al-hay'ah'') is lawful, as it is useful in predicting the beginning of months and seasons, determining the direction of ] (prayer), and navigation. They agree that this branch of science is used in determining the beginning and end of the lunar months, e.g., that of ]. As for astrology, this is considered by many Islamic scholars as ] (unlawful), as knowledge of the Unseen is known only by Allah(God). Dr. Husam al-Din Ibn Musa `Afana, a Professor of the Principles of ] at ], ], states the following:

:"First of all, it is worth noting that the ] knew astronomy a long time ago. They would predict time through observing the movements of stars. These terms are astronomy and astrology. Astronomy is the science that deals with studying the movements of the celestial bodies and reducing observations to mathematical order. That science is useful in determining time, seasons, the direction of Prayer, etc. Astrology, on the other hand, is concerned with studying the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs. Astrologists believe that the movements of stars have an influence on people's lives. Both Muslim astronomers and scholars refuse the prophecies of astrologists."<ref>excerpted from a lecture given by Dr. Yusuf Marwah under the title ''Astronomy and the Beginning of the Lunar Months''</ref>

The Turkish government-sponsored ''Diyanet Vakfı'', which represents the official Sunni view, likewise draws a distinction between astronomy and astrology, identifying the latter with non-Islamic influences on Arab culture, specifically Sabean and Hindu astrology. Astrology is seen as unscientific and conducive of a view of humans as helpless in the face of natural forces.<ref>http://www.diyanet.gov.tr/turkish/dy/WebYayinOku.aspx?Sayfa=11&ID=36</ref> Amongst the general population, however, astrology is popular, with most major newspapers running astrology columns.<ref>http://astroloji.milliyet.com.tr/Astroloji/Default.aspx</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://astronet.hurriyet.com.tr|title=Astroloji Burç Yorumları Tüm Astroloji Haberleri için Hürriyet Kelebek|publisher=astronhet.hurriyet.com.tr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.posta.com.tr/astroloji|title=Oğlak - Posta Astroloji|publisher=posta.com.tr}}</ref>

Most scholars believe that astrology is a prohibited field of study. Imam ] said: “Astrology that is concerned with studying the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs is prohibited by the Quran, the ], and the unanimous agreement of the Muslim scholars. Furthermore, astrology was considered forbidden by all Messengers of Almighty Allah(God).”

The Saudi scholar, ], said: “Astrology is a kind of sorcery and fortune-telling. It is forbidden because it is based on illusions, not on concrete facts. There is no relation between the movements of celestial bodies and what takes place on the Earth.”<ref>Islamonline.com</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
⚫ {{div col|colwidth=30em}}
⚫ {{Portal|Astrology}}
*]
⚫ {{div col|cols=2}}
*] *]
*]
*] *]
*] *]
*]
<!-- *] -->
*] *]
*]
*]
*]
{{div col end}} {{div col end}}


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}
*{{Citation
|last=Saliba
|first=George
|authorlink=George Saliba
|year=1994
|title=A History of Arabic Astronomy: Planetary Theories During the Golden Age of Islam
|publisher=]
|isbn=0-8147-8023-7
}}
* Edward S. Kennedy. (1962). "Ramifications of the World Year Concept in Islamic Astrology". ''Ithaca'' '''26''' VIII-2 IX.
⚫ * Edward S. Kennedy. (1998), ''Astronomy and Astrology in the Medieval Islamic World''. Brookfield, VT: Ashgate.


==External links== ==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last1=Freudenthal|first1=Gad|date=2009|chapter=The Astrologization of the Aristotelian Cosmos: Celestial Influences on the Sublunar World in Aristotle, Alexander of Aphrodisias, and Averroes|editor1-last=Bowen|editor1-first=Alan|editor2-last=Wildberg|editor2-first=Christian|title=New Perspectives on Aristotle’s De caelo|location=Leiden|publisher=Brill|pages=239–281|chapter-url=https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004173767.i-326.72}}
* by James Holden
* {{cite book |last=Holden |first=James |chapter=Arabian Astrology |title=A History of Horoscopic Astrology |place=Tempe, Az. |publisher=American Federation of Astrologers |year=1996 |isbn=978-8669046386 |pages=99-129 |chapter-url=http://cura.free.fr/xxv/23hold1.html |via=cura.free.fr}}
* by Robert Hand
* {{Cite book |last=Janos |first=Damien |title=Method, Structure, and Development in al-Fārābī's Cosmology |year=2012 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-21732-4 |ref=none}}
⚫ * {{cite book |first=Edward S. |last=Kennedy |author-link=Edward Stewart Kennedy |year=1998 |title=Astronomy and Astrology in the Medieval Islamic World |place=Brookfield, VT |publisher=Ashgate |isbn=978-0860786825 |ref=none}}
*{{cite journal|last1=Saif|first1=Liana|date=2016|title=The Universe and the Womb: Generation, Conception, and the Stars in Islamic Medieval Astrological and Medical Texts|journal=Journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies|volume=16|pages=181–198|url=https://doi.org/10.5617/jais.4746}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Medieval Islamic Astrology}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Medieval Islamic Astrology}}
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 02:04, 8 September 2024

Islamic astrology of the Golden Age
Celestial map, signs of the Zodiac and lunar mansions in the Zubdat al-Tawarikh (Essence of History), dedicated to Ottoman Sultan Murad III in 1583
Astrology
Background
Traditions
Branches
Astrological signs
Symbols

Some medieval Muslims took a keen interest in the study of astrology, partly because they considered the celestial bodies to be essential, partly because the dwellers of desert-regions often travelled at night, and relied upon knowledge of the constellations for guidance in their journeys.

After the advent of Islam, the Muslims needed to determine the time of the prayers, the direction of the Kaaba, and the correct orientation of the mosque, all of which helped give a religious impetus to the study of astronomy and contributed towards the belief that the heavenly bodies were influential upon terrestrial affairs as well as the human condition. The science dealing with such influences was termed astrology (Arabic: علم النجوم Ilm an-Nujūm), a discipline contained within the field of astronomy (more broadly known as علم الفلك Ilm al-Falak 'the science of formation '). The principles of these studies were rooted in Arabian, Persian, Babylonian, Hellenistic and Indian traditions and both were developed by the Arabs following their establishment of a magnificent observatory and library of astronomical and astrological texts at Baghdad in the 8th century.

Throughout the medieval period the practical application of astrology was subject to deep philosophical debate by Muslim religious scholars and scientists. Astrological prognostications nevertheless required a fair amount of exact scientific expertise and the quest for such knowledge within this era helped to provide the incentive for the study and development of astronomy.

Early history

Medieval Islamic astrology and astronomy continued Hellenistic and Roman era traditions based on Ptolemy's Almagest. Centres of learning in medicine and astronomy/astrology were set up in Baghdad and Damascus, and the Caliph Al-Mansur of Baghdad established a major observatory and library in the city, making it the world's astronomical centre. During this time knowledge of astronomy was greatly increased. Many modern star names are derived from their Arabic names.

Albumasur or Abu Ma'shar (805 - 885) was one of the most influential Islamic astrologers. His treatise Introductorium in Astronomiam (Kitab al-Mudkhal al-Kabīr) spoke of how '"only by observing the great diversity of planetary motions can we comprehend the unnumbered varieties of change in this world". The Introductorium was one of the first books to find its way in translation through Spain and into Europe in the Middle Ages, and was highly influential in the revival of astrology and astronomy there.

Persians also combined the disciplines of medicine and astrology by linking the curative properties of herbs with specific zodiac signs and planets. Mars, for instance, was considered hot and dry and so ruled plants with a hot or pungent taste, like hellebore, tobacco or mustard. These beliefs were adopted by European herbalists like Culpeper right up until the development of modern medicine.

The Persians also developed a system, by which the difference between the ascendant and each planet of the zodiac was calculated. This new position then became a 'part' of some kind. For example, the 'part of fortune' is found by taking the difference between the Sun and the ascendant and adding it to the Moon. If the 'part' thus calculated was in the 10th House in Libra, for instance, it suggested that money could be made from some kind of partnership.

The calendar introduced by Omar Khayyam, based on the classical zodiac, remains in effect in Afghanistan and Iran as the official Solar Hijri calendar.

Another notable Persian astrologer and astronomer was Qutb al-Din al Shirazi born in Iran, Shiraz (1236–1311). He wrote critiques of Ptolemy's Almagest and produced two prominent works on astronomy: 'The Limit of Accomplishment Concerning Knowledge of the Heavens' in 1281 and 'The Royal Present' in 1284, both of which commented upon and improved on Ptolemy's work, particularly in the field of planetary motion.

Ulugh Beyg was a fifteenth-century Timurid Sultan and also a mathematician and astronomer. He built an observatory in 1428 and produced the first original star map since Ptolemy, which corrected the position of many stars and included many new ones.

Medieval understanding

Some of the principles of astrology were refuted by several Astronomy in the medieval Islamic astronomers such as Al-Farabi (Alpharabius), Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen), Avicenna, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni and Averroes. Their reasons for refuting astrology were often due to both scientific (the methods used by astrologers being conjectural rather than empirical) and religious (conflicts with orthodox Islamic scholars) reasons. However these refutations mainly concerned the judicial branches of astrology rather than the natural principles of it. For example, Avicenna's refutation of astrology (in the treatise titled Resāla fī ebṭāl aḥkām al-nojūm, Treatise against the rulings of the stars) revealed support for its overarching principles. He stated that it was true that each planet had some influence on the earth, but his argument was the difficulty of astrologers being able to determine the exact effect of it. In essence, Avicenna did not refute astrology, but denied man's limited capacity to be able to know the precise effects of the stars on the sublunar matter. With that, he did not refute the essential dogma of astrology, but only refuted our ability to fully understand it.

Another Damascene proto-Salafist Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya (1292–1350), in his Miftah Dar al-Sa'adah, used empirical arguments against astrology in order to refute its practice as he thought it is closely aligned to divination. He recognized that the stars are much larger than the planets, and thus argued:

And if you astrologers answer that it is precisely because of this distance and smallness that their influences are negligible, then why is it that you claim a great influence for the smallest heavenly body, Mercury? Why is it that you have given an influence to al-Ra's and al-Dhanab, which are two imaginary points ?

Ibn Qayyim also argued that the since the Milky Way as "a myriad of tiny stars packed together in the sphere of the fixed stars" that "it is certainly impossible to have knowledge of their influences."

See also

References

  1. ^ Wasim Aktar, Contributions of Ancient Arabian and Egyptian Scientists on Astronomy; Public Science & Reference Archived 2012-05-17 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 19 August 2011.
  2. Ayduz, Salim; Kalin, Ibrahim; Dagli, Caner (2014). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Science, and Technology in Islam. Oxford University Press. p. 64. ISBN 9780199812578.
  3. "Introduction to Astronomy, Containing the Eight Divided Books of Abu Ma'shar Abalachus". World Digital Library. 1506. Retrieved 2013-07-15.
  4. ^ Parker, Derek; Parker, Julia (1990). The New Compleat Astrologer. New York: Crescent Books.
  5. Saliba, George (1994b), A History of Arabic Astronomy: Planetary Theories During the Golden Age of Islam, New York University Press, pp. 60 & 67–69, ISBN 978-0-8147-8023-7
  6. Saliba, George (2011). "Avicenna: viii. Mathematics and Physical Sciences". Mathematics and Physical Sciences Encyclopaedia Iranica, Online Edition.
  7. Livingston, John W. (1971), "Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah: A Fourteenth Century Defense against Astrological Divination and Alchemical Transmutation", Journal of the American Oriental Society, 91 (1): 96–103, doi:10.2307/600445, JSTOR 600445
  8. ^ Livingston, John W. (1971), "Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah: A Fourteenth Century Defense against Astrological Divination and Alchemical Transmutation", Journal of the American Oriental Society, 91 (1): 96–103 , doi:10.2307/600445, JSTOR 600445

Further reading

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