Muslim patronage of science during the Abbasid era

From the early days of the Abbasid Caliphate, the caliphs showed a keen interest in translation and acquiring the knowledge, science and culture of other nations. They spent a lot of money on translating foreign language books into Arabic, and each of them played an important role in the development of this movement. This translation movement not only facilitated the exchange of knowledge, but also ushered in a new era in the development of the Arabic language and Islamic civilization.

The era of Caliph Mansur (754-775 AD)

The Abbasid Caliph Mansur was one of the pioneers of this translation movement.

During his reign, many books were translated from foreign languages ​​into Arabic. Of particular note is the Kalila wa Dimna, an Indian collection of proverbs originally written in Sanskrit. It was first translated into Persian and later translated into Arabic by Ibn al-Muqaffa. Through this, the influence of Indian thought and culture began to enter the Arabic world through Persian culture.

Patronage of astronomy and science

Caliph Mansur was not only interested in translating literature or philosophy; he also paid equal attention to science, especially astronomy and astrology. It is said that he was the first caliph to appoint astrologers to the royal court and, with their help, to prepare a star chart (astronomical table). An important role behind this interest was played by Nawbakht al-Farsi, who was a prominent astrologer of the time and a close advisor to al-Mansur. The caliphs of the Abbasid era are particularly memorable in history not only as rulers, but also as patrons of knowledge and culture.

Their efforts translated the knowledge of Greek, Persian and Indian civilizations into Arabic, ushering in a golden age of Islamic civilization. Caliph Mansur was not satisfied with the limitations of Persian astronomy and astrology. His goal was to expand the scope of knowledge, so during his reign, many important books on astronomy, planetary motion and various branches of astronomy were translated. Notable among these were the Indian book 'Sindhind', the famous astronomical book 'Almagest' by the Greek scholar Ptolemy, Aristotle's book on logic, Euclid's book on geometry and books on arithmetic. Through these translations, the foundations of Greek philosophy, mathematics, logic and science entered the Arabic world and later had a profound impact on Islamic thought.

Translation activities were also active in the field of medicine. Abu Yahya al-Batriq achieved particular fame during the reign of al-Mansur. He translated many works by the Greek physicians Hippocrates and Galen into Arabic, which played a fundamental role in the development of Islamic medicine.

The era of Caliph Harun al-Rashid (786–809 AD)

The translation movement reached its peak during the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid, the successor of al-Mansur. Under his patronage, the famous Bait al-Hikmah, the ‘House of Wisdom’ or ‘Storehouse of Knowledge’, was established, which was a library, research laboratory and translation center. Many skilled translators were employed there and a large number of books were imported from the Byzantine Empire (the country of the Romans). The supervisor of this huge undertaking was the famous physician and translator Yuhanna ibn Maswaih. He wrote many books on medicine and pharmacology. In addition, Jibril ibn Bukhtishu, who was al-Rashid’s chief physician, also translated and wrote several books on medicine and logic; one of his famous works is ‘The Introduction to the Art of Logic’.

The Role of the Barmakid Family

The Barmakid family’s contribution to the spread of the translation movement was unique. They generously sponsored the Arabic translation of many books from Greek, Persian and Indian languages ​​and gave financial rewards to skilled translators. Not only that, they also took the initiative to re-translate some of the previously translated books, so that the translations would be more accurate and clear.

The development of the translation movement during the era of Caliph al-Ma'mun and its impact

In the history of the Abbasid Caliphate, the era of Caliph al-Ma'mun (813-833 AD) is called the golden age of translation and scientific awakening. During his time, the translation movement reached a new height. Because under his patronage, the famous 'Baitul Hikma' or House of Wisdom was established, which was a translation center, library and research laboratory all in one.

Observatory and scientific institutions

A famous astronomical observatory was built during the era of Caliph al-Ma'mun, which is immortalized in history by his name. The prominent astronomer Yahya ibn Abi Mansur was entrusted with its supervision. Within a short time, this observatory transformed into a large astronomical and mathematical school, where scholars focused on practical research. From this institution, more advanced research was conducted, going beyond the ancient Greek knowledge base. Here, scientists created new and accurate tables related to planetary motion and achieved extraordinary success in measuring the spherical circumference of the Earth, enabling them to measure two degrees of the Earth, which was a revolutionary scientific achievement for the time.

Impact of the Translation Movement: Thought, Literature and Culture The translation movement in the early Abbasid period not only spread knowledge, it profoundly transformed Arabic thought and culture. Philosophy, science and literary practice gained new life. For the first time, the scientific method was added to the stream of knowledge of human civilization. This gave rise to a new scientific renaissance, whose influence reached beyond the Islamic world to Europe.

1. Mathematics and Algebra: During this era, Al-Khwarizmi was one of the pioneers of mathematics, astronomy and geography. He was one of the best scientists working in the observatory of Caliph Mamun. A new branch called 'algebra' was born from his research, which later spread throughout the world. The word 'Algorithm' originated from his name.

2. Chemistry: Jabir ibn Hayyan is known as the father of chemistry. He laid the foundation of science through experimental research. He introduced many theories related to metals, elixirs and chemical reactions, which are considered the basis of modern chemistry.

3. Medicine and Anatomy: There was also great progress in the development of medicine during this era. Yuhanna ibn Maswaih, who was a physician and anatomist, was the first to apply dissection to monkeys in research. His efforts opened up new horizons in anatomy and recognized him as one of the founders of Arab medical research.

4. Rhythm and Musicology: Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi established the science of prosody through his translated Greek and Persian music books. He revolutionized the genre of Arabic poetry and song by determining the rules of rhythm and meter. His book on the ‘Science of Rhythm’ was so influential that the famous musician Ishaq al-Mawsili adopted it as the standard method in his musicology. Thus, this huge movement of translation and research during the era of the Abbasid Caliph al-Ma’mun not only enriched Arabic literature and thought, but also left a permanent mark on the history of world knowledge. The House of Wisdom and the Observatory he founded became a symbol of the advancement of science and culture in Islamic civilization, where a bridge was built between ancient knowledge and modern exploration.