Al-Ṣābiʾ Thābit ibn Qurra al-Ḥarrānī (836 in Harran, Mesopotamia – February 18, 901 in Baghdad) was an Arab astronomer, mathematician and physician who was known as Thebit in Latin.
Thabit was born in Harran (known as Carrhae in antiquity) in Mesopotamia (in modern day Turkey). At the invitation of Muhammad bin Musa bin Shakir, one of the Banu Musa brothers, Thabit went to study in Baghdad at the House of Wisdom. He belonged to the sect of the Sa...
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Al-Ṣābiʾ Thābit ibn Qurra al-Ḥarrānī (836 in Harran, Mesopotamia – February 18, 901 in Baghdad) was an Arab astronomer, mathematician and physician who was known as Thebit in Latin.
Thabit was born in Harran (known as Carrhae in antiquity) in Mesopotamia (in modern day Turkey). At the invitation of Muhammad bin Musa bin Shakir, one of the Banu Musa brothers, Thabit went to study in Baghdad at the House of Wisdom. He belonged to the sect of the Sabians of Harran, a sect of Hermeticists, often confused with the Mandaeans. As star-worshippers, Sabians showed a great interest in astronomy, astrology, magic, and mathematics. This sect lived in the vicinity of the main center of the Caliphate until 1258, when the Mongols destroyed their last shrine. During Muslim rule, they were a protected minority, and around the time of al-Mutawakkil's reign their town became a center for philosophical, esoteric, and medical learning. They may have been joined by the descendants of pagan Greek scholars...
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