User:Al-Majriti

Full Name: Majrīṭī: Abū al‐Qāsim Maslama ibn Aḥmad al‐Ḥāsib al‐Faraḍī al‐Majrīṭī

BY HUMA CHOWDHURY

Biography: He was born in Madrid. Died in Cordoba, Al-Andalus, 1007. Majriti studied in the capital of the Umayyad caliphate in Cordoba. He attended classes of many scholars, Abu Ayyub ibn `Abd al-Ghafir and Abu Bakr ibn abi `Isa. He was astronomer, chemist, mathematician, and Scholar in Islamic Spain.

Contribution to Science: Al- Majriti wrote: The Rank of the Wise and De Aluminibus, describing experiments in synthetic chemistry. He was the first scientist to prove principle of conservation of mass. Al-Majriti took part in translating Ptolemy’s Planispherium. He introduced/ improved astronomical tables of al-Khawarizmi. AlMajriti was the earliest Alchemist who recorded usage and experiment of mercuric oxide.He found the original school of Andulusian astronomer. Al-Majriti observed the star Regulus in the year 979 and found the elliptical longitude.

(Detailed Contribution:

Astrology: He modified zij al-Khwarizmi (astronomical tables calculating celestial positions). He observed Regulus (found elliptical longitude). Al-Majriti 	adapted original astronomical tables to present setting (ex. Islamic Lunar calendar replaced Persian solar calendar) He also provided earliest correct size of Mediterranean sea

Chemistry: He wrote Rutbat al-Hakim. He proved principle of conservation of mass. He experimented with mercuric oxide (heated mercury turned into red powder). [Used now in mercuric batteries: hearing aids, cameras, intruder alarms, pacemakers, sensors, detectors, and radio transmitters.]

More on al-Majriti: Majriti’s students include Ibn al-Samh, Ibn al-Saffar, Ibn Bagruth, Abu al-Salt, and Al-Tartushi. He brought fara’id (religious based inheritances) an philosophical sciences together in a category including astronomy. “According to Şā'id ibn Ahmad Andalusī he was the best mathematician and astronomer of his time (in Al-Andalus). “ He wrote a book on taxation and economy of Al-Andalus. He edited and improved parts of the Encyclopedia of the Brethren of Sincerity.

http://islamsci.mcgill.ca/RASI/BEA/Majriti_BEA.htm http://www.muslimheritage.com/scholars/maslama-al-majriti http://islamicencyclopedia.org/public/index/topicDetail/id/604/page/13