Abu Ma'shar al-Balkhi

Abu Ma'shar al-Balkhi, also known as Albumasar, was born on the tenth of August in the year seven hundred eighty-seven. He emerged as a prominent figure in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, philosophy, and astrology during the Abbasid era. His full name, Abū Maʿshar Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿUmar al-Balkhī, reflects his Persian roots and his significant contributions to Islamic scholarship.

Throughout his life, which spanned until the ninth of March in the year eight hundred eighty-six, Abu Ma'shar became renowned as one of the greatest astrologers at the Abbasid court in Baghdad. His work, while not characterized by major innovations, was instrumental in shaping the training of astrologers through practical manuals that he authored.

These manuals not only influenced the intellectual landscape of the Muslim world but also left a lasting impact on Western Europe and Byzantium through various translations. His legacy is marked by the profound effect his teachings had on the development of astrology and related sciences.