Taqi al-Din b. Najm al-Din

Taqi al-Din belonged to a lineage of scholars dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. His father, an esteemed Islamic scholar, instilled in him a profound appreciation for both religious texts and empirical inquiry. This duality is integral to understanding Taqi al-Din’s endeavors, wherein he strived to harmoniously merge rational thought with the teachings of the Quran and Hadith.

2. Encountering Astronomy

A prominent aspect of Taqi al-Din’s legacy is his inclination towards astronomy. His seminal work, “The Book of the Instruments of the Astronomy”, represents a cornerstone in Islamic astronomical literature. Unlike many of his predecessors, whose works often echoed Ptolemaic models, Taqi al-Din advocated for observational accuracy and empirical investigation. He established an observatory in Istanbul, which was one of the most advanced of its time.