The call of the muezzin

Bibliographic Information

The call of the muezzin

by David A. King

(Islamic philosophy, theology, and science, v. 55 . In synchrony with the heavens : studies in astornomical timekeeping and instrumentation in medieval Islamic civilization ; v. 1 ; studies 1-9)

Brill, 2004

Available at  / 10 libraries

Search this Book/Journal

Note

Bibliography: p. [xx]-lvii

Includes indexes

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This is the first investigation of one of the main interests of astronomy in Islamic civilization, namely, timekeeping by the sun and stars and the regulation of the astronomically-defined times of Muslim prayer. The study is based on over 500 medieval astronomical manuscripts first identified by the author, now preserved in libraries all over the world and originally from the entire Islamic world from the Maghrib to Central Asia and the Yemen. The materials presented provide new insights into the early development of the prayer ritual in Islam. They also call into question the popular notion that religion could not inspire serious scientific activity. Only one of the hundreds of astronomical tables discussed here was known in medieval Europe, which is one reason why the entire corpus has remained unknown until the present. A second volume, also to be published by Brill, deals with astronomical instruments for timekeeping and other computing devices.

by "Nielsen BookData"

Related Books: 1-1 of 1

Details

Page Top