Al-Zarqali, The Great Astronomer of Al-Andalus and A Star of The Islamic Golden Age
By Sahil Razvi, New Age islam
13 June 2026
During the Islamic Golden Age, Al-Zarqali of Al-Andalus created the universal astrolabe, compiled the accurate Toledan Tables, and discovered the movement of the Sun’s apogee. His contributions advanced astronomy and continue to guide us. His story encourages reviving the Islamic Golden Age spirit of inquiry through education and support to foster a new generation of scientists.
Main Points:
· Flourished in 11th-century Al-Andalus during the Islamic Golden Age.
· Invented the universal astrolabe and built an accurate water clock.
· Compiled the precise Toledan Tables and proved the Sun’s apogee moves.
· His work influenced later scholars, including Copernicus, and advanced astronomy.
· His legacy inspires reviving the Islamic Golden Age spirit to nurture new scientists today.
In the radiant era of the Islamic Golden Age, when the light of knowledge shone brightly across the Muslim world from the House of Wisdom in Baghdad to the vibrant centres of Al-Andalus, while much of Europe remained shrouded in darkness and ignorance, one brilliant mind stood out in the city of Toledo. His name was Abū Isḥāq Ibrāhīm ibn Yaḥyā al-Naqqāsh al-Zarqālī, lovingly known as Al-Zarqali or Ibn Zarqala.
Born around 1029 CE in the fertile lands of Al-Andalus, he came from a family of skilled craftsmen. Trained as a metalsmith and engraver, he earned the title “al-naqqāsh,” which later became “Arzachel” in Latin texts. In those blessed times of intellectual flowering, when rulers generously patronised scholars and knowledge flowed freely across cultures, young Al-Zarqali joined the esteemed circle of astronomers working under the wise Qadi Ṣāʿid al-Andalusī in Toledo. Self-taught yet deeply dedicated, he quickly rose to become the foremost astronomer of his age.
For twenty-five years he observed the Sun with remarkable patience, and for nearly thirty years he watched the Moon, recording every detail with precision that would benefit generations. When Christian forces captured Toledo in 1085, he moved to Cordoba, continuing his noble work until he passed away in 1100 CE.
Al-Zarqali’s contributions were both practical and profound, showcasing the innovative spirit that defined Islamic Golden Age. He perfected the al-ṣafīḥa al-zarqāliyya, the universal astrolabe famously known later as the Saphaea. Unlike earlier astrolabes that required different plates for different latitudes, his flat, versatile instrument could be used anywhere on Earth. It helped scholars determine time, direction, and the positions of stars and planets with ease, a true gift for travellers, navigators, and astronomers across the Islamic lands. He also constructed a remarkable water clock capable of marking the hours of day and night while accurately tracking the phases of the lunar month through a clever system of basins and pipes.
His most lasting achievement was the Toledan Tables. Working alongside fellow Muslim scholars in Toledo, he compiled these highly accurate astronomical tables based on years of original observations. The tables provided precise positions of the Sun, Moon, and planets, predictions of eclipses, data on parallax, and improved trigonometric values. While drawing upon the earlier works of Al-Khwārizmī and Al-Battānī, Al-Zarqali added fresh observations and corrections, including a more accurate measurement of the Mediterranean Sea’s length. These tables became a treasure for astronomers throughout the Islamic world and were later translated into Latin, spreading their light far and wide.
Theoretically, Al-Zarqali made a groundbreaking discovery that advanced our understanding of the heavens. He was the first to conclusively prove that the solar apogee, the point farthest from the Sun in its apparent orbit, moves slowly relative to the fixed stars. He measured this motion with impressive accuracy, close to modern values. His solar model, which cleverly adjusted for changing eccentricity, was later studied and built upon by scholars in Andalusia and the Maghrib. He also presented improved trigonometric tables and calculated the obliquity of the ecliptic with notable precision. These achievements were not mere technical feats but reflections of the Islamic Golden Age commitment to observation, reason, and continuous improvement of knowledge.
During this glorious period, Al-Zarqali’s work inspired a whole generation of Andalusian astronomers, including great minds like Ibn al-Kammād and al-Biṭrūjī. His treatises on instruments and the movement of the stars were studied with respect and became part of the rich intellectual tradition that stretched from Cordoba to North Africa. Even after his lifetime, his influence reached European scholars during the Renaissance. Nicolaus Copernicus himself quoted Al-Zarqali’s works in his famous book De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium. A lunar crater was later named Arzachel in his honour by the 17th-century astronomer Giovanni Battista Riccioli, a lasting tribute to his contributions.
As the respected historian Irfan Shahid observed: “He determined the longitude of the Regulus; presented improved trigonometrical tables of sines, cosines, versed sines, secants and tangents; calculated the obliquity of the ecliptic… presented the stereographic projection of the sphere on a plane etc.” These words capture the depth and breadth of his genius.
In today’s world, Al-Zarqali’s contributions remain deeply relevant. His emphasis on long-term, careful observation and the creation of precise, adaptable instruments mirrors the rigorous methods used in modern astronomy, satellite technology, and climate science. The universal astrolabe he perfected symbolises technology that works across boundaries, much like today’s global positioning systems and international space missions that rely on the same celestial principles he helped refine. His Toledan Tables demonstrated the power of collaborative scholarship and accurate data collection, lessons that continue to guide large-scale scientific projects around the world.
For the Muslim world in particular, Al-Zarqali stands as living proof that the spirit of Islamic Golden Age, blending faith, reason, and practical innovation, can still illuminate the path of progress. His corrections of earlier data and patient gathering of evidence remind us that true advancement comes from questioning, observing, and improving, not from blind acceptance. In an age of rapid technological change, his story encourages us to value patience and precision alongside innovation.
To foster a new generation of Al-Zarqalis, we must consciously revive the values that made the Islamic Golden Age shine so brightly. Just as rulers and communities in those times generously supported scholars, built observatories, and encouraged the translation and improvement of knowledge, we too must invest in education and research today. Schools and madrasas should introduce hands-on astronomy and the inspiring history of our scientific heritage alongside modern subjects. This will help young minds feel proud of their civilisational legacy while developing curiosity and critical thinking.
We can create astronomy clubs, small observatories, and maker spaces where students build simple instruments, just as Al-Zarqali crafted his astrolabe and clock. Government support through scholarships, research grants, and science centres would provide the patronage that once nurtured great minds. Encouraging reflection on the heavens and earth, as the Quran Paak beautifully urges, can inspire both faith and scientific wonder in our youth. By fostering inclusive environments where people from different backgrounds collaborate, as they did in Al-Andalus, we can nurture the same spirit of shared inquiry.
Parents and teachers play a vital role too. When we celebrate curiosity, reward patient observation, and show children how knowledge benefits humanity, we plant the seeds for future Al-Zarqalis. International collaborations and exchanges can further enrich this process, allowing young scholars to learn from global advancements while contributing their own unique perspectives rooted in our rich tradition.
Al-Zarqali’s life teaches us that one dedicated individual, working with sincerity and skill within a supportive environment, can leave a legacy that spans centuries. His instruments and tables helped preserve and advance knowledge during a time when learning was a sacred pursuit. Today, as we face new challenges in science and technology, his example calls us to action. By reviving the Islamic Golden Age values of generosity towards knowledge, rigorous observation, and the pursuit of truth for the common good, we can raise a generation that once again lights up the world with discovery and innovation. The stars that Al-Zarqali studied with such devotion are still there, waiting for new eyes and new minds to explore them.
…
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/al-zarqali-great-astronomer-of-al-andalus-/d/140369
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism