Qutb al-Din Shirazi (d.1311 AD), Kitab nihayat al-idrak fi diriyat al-aflak (The Limit of Comprehension in the Knowledge of Celestial Spheres), copied by Ahmad ibn Eldegüz ibn 'Abdullah, dedicated to Rashid al-Din Fadlullah al-Hamadani, Near East, dated Jumada II 697 AH/March-April 1298 AD

Ex-private collection, UK, circa 1960s-80s

This important, early manuscript of Qutb al-Din Shirazi’s Nihayat al-Idrak fi diryat al-aflak was copied during the lifetime of the author. It is dedicated to Rashid al-Din Fadlullah al-Hamadani, known as Rashid Tabib, one of the greatest Ilkhanid historians, and author of the renowned Jami al-Tawarikh.

Qutb al-Din Shirazi (1236-1311) was referred to as al-mutafannin ('experienced in many fields') owing to his accomplishments in the fields of religion, philosophy, science, medicine, and astronomy. Born into a family of physicians in Shiraz, Qutb al-Din received his medical training from his father and uncles in the hospital of Shiraz. Later, at Nasir al-Din Tusi's personal encouragement, he studied astronomy, and went on to surpass all Tusi's other students to become his most distinguished graduate. Following a pattern of seeking out the company of scholars, al-Shirazi travelled throughout the eastern and central Islamic lands furthering his education. At some point in his illustrious career the physician and astronomer became acquainted with the Ilkhanid ruler of Persia, who dispatched him on a diplomatic mission with a peace overture to the Mamluk Sultan Sayf al-Din Qalawun (r.1279-90) (Wiedenmann 1986, p.547).

Both Nasir al-Din Tusi and Qutb al-Din Shirazi were both considered key figures in the Maragha school of astronomy. The Maragha school worked to different principles from the traditionally dominant Ptolemaic approach to the subject. The school would go on to inspire the great European astronomer Copernicus, who used the Islamic models and their points of reference to develop his own models and theorems.

Studies on the Maragha school have been pivotal in re-evaluating the role of Arab astronomy. George Saliba notes that thanks to the Maragha school, Arabic astronomy can no longer considered to simply be a vessel for transmitting Greek astronomy, nor can it be held as marginal to Medieval and Renaissance astronomy. The number of original works produced, such as the present text, also reveal how the so-called period of decline was in fact a period of progress (Saliba 1991, p.87).

Qutb al-Din Shirazi’s Nihayat al-Idrak fi dirayat al-aflak was naturally influenced by his peer al-Tusi. The text itself was dedicated to Shams al-Din Juvayni, a prominent Persian statesman who was appointed as Sahib-i divan by Hulegu Khan (r. 1256-65). Shams al-Din Juvayni held great influence throughout the whole of the Ilkhanid state and was an eminent patron of scholars (Wallbridge 1992, p. 181). Nihayat al-Idrak follows closely al-Tadhkira al-nasiriyya but builds upon questions neglected by al-Tusi (Wiedenmann op.cit., p.547). It comprises four treatises: introduction, the heavens, the earth, and the “quantity” of the heavens (Nasr 1996, p.218). The present manuscript is among the earliest copies of the text, copied during the lifetime of the author (see GAL II, pp.274-5 and GAL S.II, pp.296-7, and Istanbul 2003, no.668 for further manuscripts of the text).

Notably, this manuscript bears a dedication on the opening leaf to Rashid al-Din Fadlullah al-Hamadani, known as Rashid Tabib. Rashid al-Din’s fame rests more in his reputation as the greatest historian of the Ilkhanid period, known by his important text Jami’ al-Tawarikh, than on his political career. He was born in Hamadan to a Jewish family and trained as a physician before entering the Mongol court during the reign of Abaqa Khan (r.1265-82).

It wasn’t until 1297-98, when this manuscript was copied, that he achieved a prominent political position, being appointed associate vizier to Sa’d al-Din Sawadji. In this position, he accumulated vast wealth, power, and influence. By the time Uljaytu was crowned (r.1304-16), Rashid al-Din had amassed estates including “orchards and vineyards in Azerbaijan, date-palm plantations in Southern Iraq, arable land in Western Anatolia” (Boyle 1971, p.20).

This manuscript bears numerous marginal notes and corrections throughout the text. Given the dedication to this illustrious figure, and that it was copied during the lifetime of the author, it is tempting to think that the author himself could have corrected the work.