Born 1403 (Samarkand) – Died (Istanbul) 1474
By: Ilay Ileri
Muhammad II’s personality, attitude and reign have a critical importance in terms of scientific life like many other domains. The Sultan had a great interest in religious-philosophical debates and initiated discussions among scholars concerning such subjects [11].
The Ottoman Sultan’s proposal for Ali Al-Qushji to work in Madrasas was an unexpected compliment. Ali Al-Qushji said:
I would like to go back to Tabriz if you let me. The true reason of my existence here is to be the good-will Messenger of Akkoyunlu Ruler, Sultan Hasan. It is necessary for me before I accept the gracious invitation of my Sultan to turn back and inform the person who sent me here and who trusted me that I carried my duty with a good result…’ [12]
This excuse of Ali Al-Qushji seemed reasonable to the Ottoman Ruler. Therefore, Ali Al-Qushji was permitted to return to Tabriz. The distinguished mathematics and astronomy scholar Ali Al-Qushji kept his word. He left Tabriz two years later and was welcomed by the Ottoman ruler in 1472 in Istanbul. It was assumed that some 200 people accompanied Ali Al-Qushji on his way to Istanbul [13].
Ali Al-Qushji came and settled down in Istanbul. Upon his coming, he presented Muhammad II with a book on astronomy written by him in Arabic and entitled al-Fathiyya so named on account of his having completed it on the day on which Muhammad II won the war against Akkoyunlu Sultan, Uzun Hasan. In Istanbul, Ali Al-Qushji established his own school and educated brilliant scholars such as Molla Sari Lutfi, Kiwam al-Din Qasim, Sinan al-Din Yusuf, Hafiz Muhammad ibn Ali. Ali Al-Qushji opened a new era of science and scientific development in the history of the Ottoman State in the 15th century. His works were regarded as invaluable sources of information. Even after his death, his works were studied for a long time. Unfortunately, Ali Al-Qushji was able to work only two years for Muhammad II. His unexpected death in 1474 put an end to the development of astronomy in the State and left the Sultan deprived of his challenging works [14].
- Al-Qushji’s works
Ali Al-Qushji’s most important works in astronomy and mathematics are as follows:
- Risala fi al-Hay’a
This work was written in Persian in 1457. It was one of the most important works of Ali Al-Qushji on astronomy [15]. - Al-Risala fi al-Hisab
Al-Risala fi al-Hisab is a book about arithmetic written in Persian in Samarqand towards the end of 1472 and it consists of 104 folios. The Persian version of the book is different from that of Arabic which has 194 folios. The book deals with calculations and positions of the stars. As to the part ‘Positions of the stars’, it was of great importance for the scholars who were interested in stellar calculations [16]. - Al-Risala al-Muhammadiyya
This is a book on algebra and arithmetic written in Arabic. He wrote this book on his way to Istanbul in 1472. It was presented to the Ottoman ruler, Muhammad II and therefore was given the name Risala al-Muhammadiyya, the exact English translation of which is ‘Muhammad’s Book’. The title of the book shows the deep respect that Ali Al-Qushji had for the Ottoman ruler. The book consists of an introduction and five chapters. It has a richer content than Ali Al-Qushji’s Risala fi al-Hisab which is a book on arithmetic and positions of the stars, because it consists of only three chapters and an introduction and does not contain the charts that Risala al-Muhammadiyya does[17]. - Al-Risala al-Fathiyya
This work of Ali Al-Qushji is about astronomy and written in Arabic in 1473. It was also presented to Muhammad II on the day of his victory in Otlukbeli against Akkoyunlu Ruler, Sultan Hasan. In al-Risala al-Fathiyya, Ali Al-Qushji calculated ‘the inclination of the ecliptic’ and his calculation of ecliptic shows very little difference from today’s value. The book consists in three chapters. The first chapter deals with the number of planets around the Earth, what they are made of and where they are located.
In the first chapter of the book, it is said that “the Earth is the only one and there are nine planets that surrounds the Earth. They move in an orbit. The sun is fixed and the other planets and heavenly bodies are in orbit around the sun.” This chapter also deals with some big and small planets, the shape, the position and the movement of some of the planets, the position of the unfixed stars, the disagreements on the movements of the stars and planets.
The second chapter is about the shape of the Earth and the classification of the climates. In this chapter, the shape of the Earth was said to be almost round. The climate of the Equator, the orbits of the planets, explanations on years and dates, the rising and setting times of the stars were studied.
The third chapter is about heavenly bodies and clouds. It deals with the calculation of the area of the Earth, the calculation of the radius of the Earth, the ratio of the Moon’s diameter to that of the Earth and information about the planets Mercury and Venus [18].
Apart from all these achievements, Ali Al-Qushji also wrote about theology, religious subjects, linguistics and grammar. When he was working in Istanbul for Muhammad II, he controlled and calculated the degrees of the latitude and longitude at which Istanbul lies. He found the latitude as 41 and longitude as 59 which are very close to those of today’s calculations (today’s values are 41.01/58). On the order of Muhammad II, Ali Al-Qushji also constructed a sundial as well [19].
Categorisation of his works
In general, Ali Al-Qushji’s works can be categorized under five groups:
- His works on astronomy
1.1. Sharh-i Zij-i Ulugh Beg
1.2. Risala fi Hall Ashkal Mu’addil al-Qamar li-al-Masir
1.3. Al-Risala fi Asl al-Harej Yumkin fi al-Sufliyyayn
1.4. Sharh ‘ala al-Tuhfat al-shahiyya fi al-Hay’a
1.5. Al-Risala dar ‘ilm al-Hay’a
1.6. Al-Fathiyya fi ‘ilmi al-Hay’a
1.7. Al-Risala fi Halli ashkal al-Qamar - His works on mathematics
2.1. Al-Risala al-Muhammadiyya fi al-Hisab
2.2. Al-Risala der ‘ilm-i Hisab - His works on Islamic law and the philosophy of Islam
3.1. Al-Sharh al-Jadid ‘alat al-Tajrid
3.2. Hashiya ‘ala al-Talwih - His work on mechanical instruments
4.1. Al-Tadhkira fi al-alat al-Ruhaniyya - His works on language and rhetoric
5.1. Sharh al-Risala al-Wad’iyya
5.2. Al-Ifsah
5.3. Al-‘Unkûd al-Zawahir fi Nazm al-Jawahir
5.4. Sharhu al-Safiya
5.5. Al-Risala fi Bayani ba’d al-Mufradat
5.6. Fa’ida li-Tahkiki Lami’t-Ta’rif
5.7. Al-Risala ma ana qultu
5.8. Al-Risala fi al-Hamd
5.9. Al-Risala fi ‘ilm al-Ma’ani
5.10. Al-Risala fi Bahth al-Mufrad
5.11. Al-Risala fi al-Fann al-thani min ‘ilm al-Bayan
5.12. Tafsir al-Baqara wa ali ‘Imran
5.13. Al-Risala fi al-Isti’ara
There are some other works that are attributed to Ali Al-Qushji. However, the copies of these works were not found yet. These are Tarihu Ayasofya, Tafsir al-Zahrawayn, Mahbûb al-Hama’il, Al-Risala fi Mawdû’at al-‘Ulûm, Masarrat al-Qulûb fi Daf’i al-Qurûb [20]. - Concluding remarks
The astronomers and mathematicians of Islam had a strong feeling for precision. They were preoccupied with astronomical theory; they were not satisfied with rough and approximate results, but aimed at utilizing the mathematical tools and they insisted on the need for basing their results on observational data as accurate as possible [21].
Soon after Ali Al-Qushji had come and settled in Istanbul upon Muhammad II’s invitation, he made important contributions in mathematics. As a result, the famous astronomer and mathematician Ali Al-Qushji had an important impact on the development of mathematics and astronomy in the Ottoman State. He left valuable works as sources of information after his death in 1474 in Istanbul. He also produced original works in language and rhetoric. In conclusion, we can say that mathematics and astronomy in the Middle Ages were at their peak during the reign of Muhammad II with Ali Al-Qushji’s studies, works and contributions.
References:
[11] Mehmet Ipsirli, “The Ottoman Ulema (Scholars)”, www.Muslimheritage.com, Manchester, May 2004, p. 6.
[12] Reference?
[13] A. Süheyl Ünver, Türk Pozitif Ilimler Tarihinden Bir Bahis, Ali Al-Qushji Hayati ve Eserleri, Istanbul 1948, p. 17.
[14] A. Süheyl Ünver, op. cit., Istanbul 1948, pp. 16, 81: Franz Babinger, op. cit., p. 414.
[15] A. Süheyl Ünver, op. cit., p. 36.
[16] A. Süheyl Ünver, op. cit., pp. 37-38.
[17] A. Süheyl Ünver, op. cit., pp. 41-42.
[18] A. Süheyl Ünver, op. cit., pp. 42-46.
[19] A. Süheyl Ünver, op. cit., p. 82.
[20] Musa Yildiz, Bir Dilci Olarak Ali Al-Qushji ve Risale fi’l-Isti’are’si, Ankara 2002, pp. 10-14.
[21] Aydin Sayili, op. cit., p. 312.