Mashallah ibn Athari

Mashallah ibn Athari, born in the year seven hundred and forty, was a prominent figure in the fields of astrology, astronomy, and mathematics during the illustrious reigns of the Abbasid caliphs al-Manṣūr and al-Ma’mūn. His contributions were pivotal in introducing these sciences to Baghdad, where he became a leading authority in the interpretation of celestial phenomena.

Renowned bibliographer ibn al-Nadim described Mashallah as virtuous and a leader in the science of jurisprudence, particularly in the judgments of the stars. His expertise earned him the esteemed position of court astrologer for the Abbasid caliphate, where he authored several significant works on astrology in Arabic, some of which have survived in Latin translations.

The name Mashallah, which translates to a believer's acceptance of God's ordainment of good or ill fortune, is likely an Arabic adaptation of the Hebrew name Shiluh. Al-Nadim also referred to him as Mīshā, linking him to the names