The Intellectual History and Reception of Bahāʾ al-Dīn al-ʿĀmilī’s Tashrīḥ al Aflāk (d. 1621)

Abstract

This thesis explores the intellectual contributions of Bahāʾ al-Dīn al-ʿĀmilī (1547–1621), a 16th-century polymath, Shaykh al-Islām, and prominent scholar active under Shah ʿAbbās I in Safavid Iran. Renowned for his expertise acrosss multiple disciplines, al-ʿĀmilī played a pivotal role in shaping the Safavid intellectual landscape, particularly in the mathematical sciences. His works reflect both an engagement with earlier scholarly traditions and an effort to refine and adapt knowledge to the evolving educational and institutional framework of Safavid madrasahs.

Among his many contributions, Tashrīḥ al-Aflāk (Anatomy of the Celestial Spheres) stands out as a concise yet influential treatise on Islamic theoretical astronomy (ʿilm al-hayʾa). Originally designed as an introductory text for Safavid students, Tashrīḥ al-Aflāk also engaged a more advanced scholarly audience through al-ʿĀmilī’s own gloss/self-commentary (Ḥāshiya), which refined its pedagogical presentation while situating it within the broader tradition of ‘ilm al-hay’a. This dual function—both as a teaching text and a site for scholarly debate—highlights al-ʿĀmilī’s role in the transmission and development of mathematical sciences.

I argue that al-ʿĀmilī’s gloss demonstrates an active engagement with astronomy, building on the traditions of the Maragha and Samarqand schools. His work reflects the broader intellectual culture in which astronomy, philosophy, and theology were deeply interconnected. By addressing theological concerns within an astronomical framework, al-ʿĀmilī underscores the interwoven nature of the rational sciences in the post-classical Islamic world. Through a close reading of his explanatory comments, rhetorical strategies, and pedagogical techniques, I demonstrate how Tashrīḥ al-Aflāk functioned both as a sophisticated scholarly work and an instructional guide. This dual role is most evident in the comprehensive commentary Qānūn al-Idrāk fī Tashrīḥ al-Aflāk (The Law of Perception in the Anatomy of the Celestial Spheres) by the lesser-known yet highly significant student of al-ʿĀmilī: Muḥammad Kāẓim Tunikābūnī (d. after 1623–4).

The influence of Tashrīḥ al-Aflāk extended beyond Safavid Iran, shaping intellectual discourses in Mughal India, where it was widely studied and commented upon by scholars. By tracing the transmission, adaptation, and commentary tradition surrounding Tashrīḥ al-Aflāk, this thesis contributes to a broader understanding of Safavid-era scholarship’s enduring impact on the Islamic world.