Cosmographic heritage in the Islamic worldview

How can the relationship between the universe, nature, and humanity be described in the Islamic worldview? Zakariya al-Qazwini’s Aja’ib al-Makhluqat answers this question through the lens of 13th-century scientific and philosophical thought. This encyclopedic work holds special significance as it reflects the Islamic civilization’s perspective on knowledge and enlightenment, expressed through remarkable ideas.

In Islamic civilization, ideas about nature, humanity, and the universe were conveyed not only through the Qur’an and hadith but also in the scientific and philosophical works created by scholars and thinkers. One such work is Zakariya al-Qazwini’s Aja’ib al-Makhluqat wa Ghara’ib al-Mawjudat. This book is one of the most widespread in the Islamic world and stands out as a unique encyclopedic source reflecting medieval science, worldview, and mythological concepts. Dozens of its copies were translated over time into Arabic, Persian, and Turkic, and it also attracted the attention of European orientalists. The famous German orientalist Carl Brockelmann described it as “the most valuable cosmography in Islamic culture”.

The author, Zakariya ibn Muhammad al-Qazwini, was a historian, naturalist, and geographer who lived in Qazvin in the 13th century. One of the most learned scholars of his time, he is said to have drawn inspiration and information for his work from great sources such as Abu Rayhan al-Biruni’s Athar al-Baqiya and Yaqut al-Hamawi’s Mu‘jam al-Buldan. The composition of the book continued the consistent traditions of Islamic science, combining wondrous descriptions with reflections on nature and human existence.

In the world of wonders and marvels

Al-Qazwini’s Aja’ib al-Makhluqat is divided into two parts. The first covers celestial beings angels, jinn, and even creatures beyond human imagination (in some interpretations described as “extraterrestrials”). The second part deals with the peoples living on Earth, the animal and plant kingdoms, geographical regions, and natural classifications. Through these sections, the book not only conveys the Islamic worldview but also depicts the medieval understanding of human nature relationships, cultural traditions, and what we would now call ethnography and biology.

Al-Qazwini’s approach is not merely descriptive; it is aimed at explaining phenomena through divine wisdom. In his view, the universe is a perfect structure created by Allah’s command “Be!”, and every being within it has its own purpose and role. He calls on humanity to reflect upon this created world, to study its marvels, and thereby to draw closer to the Creator.

Cultural and spiritual significance

The Aja’ib al-Makhluqat was created for a broad readership of the medieval era and carried a distinctly encyclopedic character. For its time, the work served not only as a source of science but also as a spiritual and educational manual written in an accessible and popular style. Although some of its content may, by modern scientific standards, appear mythological or mystical, it holds great importance for understanding the way people of that period thought about nature and society.

Particularly in intellectual centers such as Movarounnahr, Khorezm, and Samarkand, this work attracted significant interest. One copy produced in Samarkand in the 1500s is now preserved in the Oriental manuscripts collection in Berlin (SBB-PK, Hs. or. 14649). This fascination was also reflected in the book’s repeated reproduction in various sources, its embellishment with miniatures, and its widespread circulation among the public. A copy of the manuscript is also included in the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan’s media project 100 Ancient Manuscripts of Uzbekistan.

In conclusion, Aja’ib al-Makhluqat is a monument that unites the science, creed, and aesthetics of Islamic civilization. Its content remains of great value today as a historical, scientific, and philosophical heritage, especially for the global scholarly community in the fields of Oriental studies and source studies. It not only defined the intellectual landscape of its era but also served as a primary source and inspiration for later generations of thinkers. Al-Qazwini’s work remains a noble fountain of knowledge, continually calling humanity to re-examine the relationship between man and the universe.

Durdona Rasulova

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