The name of another great astronomer from our homeland has been revealed

🔴 A heritage discovered by the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan

🔴 A manuscript copied in the Timurid court around the year 1410

Love for knowledge and enlightenment, along with the pursuit of virtue, were values elevated to a way of life in medieval Eastern societies. Through the work and legacy of scholars nurtured in this spirit, modern science comes to understand its own roots. Today, one of the primary missions of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan is the search for and re-examination of such forgotten yet scientifically significant sources.

One such source is the astronomical work Rawzat al-Munajjimīn (“The Garden of the Astrologers”) by the 13th-century astronomer and astrologer Alishah ibn Muhammad ibn Qasim Khwarazmi. This rare manuscript is now on display at the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan.

Center of Islamic Civilization: Rediscovered Legacy

The Center devotes special attention in its exhibitions not only to widely recognized scholars, but also to those whose names are seldom mentioned in historical sources, yet who made significant scientific contributions in their time. In doing so, the Center seeks not only to inspire a sense of historical pride in viewers but also to foster a deeper appreciation for the processes that laid the groundwork for modern scientific progress.

One such case of scholarly rediscovery is the work of Alishah Khwarazmi. His name first appeared in a manuscript housed in the library of Istanbul University in Turkey. The manuscript presents the author’s scientific activities, astronomical observations, and reflections on the influence of celestial bodies on human life.

About the Work

Rawzat al-Munajjimīn (“The Garden of the Astrologers”) encompasses not only theoretical knowledge but also practical astronomy. The work includes detailed tables and descriptions of stars, constellations, celestial movements, their influence on destiny, and calendars of days and months. According to the text, the author initially set out on a pilgrimage to the Kaaba, but due to the political situation in Baghdad, he stopped there. A local governor invited him to the court and commissioned him to write an astronomical treatise.

During this period, the astrologer was provided with a stipend and accommodation. He spent two years working in Baghdad and completed the manuscript in 690 AH (1291 CE). Scholars have noted that the observational data and calculations in the text demonstrate a high level of precision, even by modern scientific standards.

Who Was Alishah Khwarazmi?

In the introduction of his work, the author refers to himself as “Ala'i Munajjim al-Bukhari”, indicating that he used both the nisbahs “Khwarazmi” and “Bukhari.” This suggests that he may have been born in Bukhara and later lived and worked in the Khwarazm region. It is known that in the early 13th century, there were political ties between Bukhara and Khwarazm, and some sources note that Bukhara was governed by the Khwarazmshahs.

Therefore, the use of both nisbahs may reflect his personal and political-geographical affiliations.

The History and Dissemination of the Work

According to historical records, Rawzat al-Munajjimīn was widely copied across many regions during the medieval period. To date, over 200 manuscript copies of the work are known to exist in libraries around the world. Notably, the treatise is said to have served as a theoretical foundation for Mirzo Ulughbeg’s Zij-i Jadid-i Kuragani.

The manuscript on display at the Center of Islamic Civilization was recopied in the Timurid court around the 1410s. Its opening page features a miniature illustration depicting a group of astrologers in an observatory observing celestial movements with the aid of an astrolabe — a visual representation not only of art but also of active astronomical practice.

The presentation of The Garden of the Astrologers in the exposition of the Center of Islamic Civilization serves not only to convey the historical and scholarly value of the manuscript to the public but also to highlight the contributions of Turkic scholars — particularly those from Khwarazm and Bukhara — to the development of Islamic science.