By Rumki Chowdhury
Today, we use satellite navigation via various apps in order to reach our destination. Have you ever stopped to wonder about the origin of modern navigation technology? In the heart of the Islamic Golden Age, at a time when innovation thrived across the Islamic world, an astute and intuitive woman emerged from Syria, to leave her mark across the stars in the sky. Her name was Mariam al-ʿIjliyyah, also referred to as Mariam al-Astrulabi, and her work with astrolabes, a complex astronomical device used to measure the movement of the sun and the stars, time and position, earned her a place among the brilliant innovative minds of the 10th-century.
The Astrolabe: A Window to the Cosmos
Before telescopes and digital clocks, humanity looked to the stars for guidance. One of the most sophisticated tools to assist in this celestial pursuit was the astrolabe, an ancient Greek invention later refined by Islamic scholars. It was a two-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional sky. An astrolabe could be used to determine the position of the sun and stars, tell time, calculate the height of buildings or mountains, and navigate long journeys across land and sea.
There are many components to an astrolable, but it typically consists of four key parts:
In the Islamic world, including in Baghdad, Cairo and Cordoba, astrolabes took on religious and cultural significance. Many were inscribed with Quranic verses, religious dedications, and Hijri dates (The Islamic Lunar Calendar), intertwining faith together with science into one artifact.
Mariam and the Legacy of Al-Asturlabi
Born in 10th-century Syria, Mariam was the daughter of al-ʿIjliyy al-Asturlabi, a respected astrolabe maker in the city of Aleppo. Al-ʿIjliyy had apprenticed under one of the most renowned figures of his time, Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh Nasṭūlus. Known for crafting one of the oldest surviving astrolabes (dated 927–928 CE), Nasṭūlus’ work still resides in museums in Kuwait and Cairo.
Mariam spent most of her upbringing, observing her father, Al-ʿIjliyy, at work with the astrolabes–thus, eventually learning the techniques herself. Having grown up during this intellectual and thriving golden age, Mariam developed her skills from the simple task of working on existing designs to modernizing them. She utilized her tremendous passion for and skills in math, astronomy, and metalwork to construct her versions of this intricate device. Despite not being formally trained in mathematics, Mariam demonstrated a mastery of astronomical calculations, spatial geometry, and metallurgy that impressed the scholars of her time.
Mariam’s Recognition at the Court of Sayf al-Dawla
News of Mariam’s work and fine reputation eventually reached Sayf al-Dawla, the ruler of Aleppo and a known patron of the arts and science. Sayf al-Dawla, who reigned from 944 to 967 CE, and who had established Aleppo as a hub of intellectual activity, invited Mariam to join his court. Her work there contributed not only to the advancement of astronomy, but also to practical additions such as timekeeping, navigation, and architectural measurements. Therefore, it is because of Mariam’s efforts in having modernized the astrolabe, that the device became a staple among the tools used by experts in the fields of navigation and architecture. Mariam dedicated her life to improving transportation and communication via her applications to the astrolabe. Thus, her having been invited to join the royal court, demonstrates not only her recognition as an innovator of her time, but also as a female innovator of her time; thus, further demonstrating the progressive nature toward science in the Islamic world.
Mariam: A Role Model for Generations to Come
Centuries later, Mariam’s legacy continues to inspire. In 1990, astronomer Henry E. Holt discovered an asteroid in the main belt and named it 7060 Al-‘Ijliya in her honor, acknowledging her contributions to the history of astronomy.
Her story also found new life in popular culture. In 2016, award-winning Nigerian-American author Nnedi Okorafor published the science fiction novella Binti, featuring a protagonist inspired by Mariam. Okorafor first learned about her at a literary festival in the UAE, and was moved by the story of a 10th-century Syrian-Muslim woman who fine-tuned the tools necessary to read the universe.
To this day, Mariam Astrulabi remains an inspiration for girls and women at the forefront of science and innovation, worldwide. Even when celebrating Women’s History at Cambridge University, Sandi Toksvig, a Danish-Briths broadcaster, was invited to talk about the gaps in women’s history, during which she mentioned Mariam Astrulabi, thereby filling some of that gap.
Sources:
–https://www.baytalfann.com/post/muslim-woman-scientist-mariam-astrulabi
About the Author:
Rumki Chowdhury is the Editor of the World Hijab Day Organization. She holds a Masters of English Literature from the Queen Mary University of London and a Bachelors in English Writing from William Paterson University of New Jersey. She holds the honor of being an award-winning published author and poet who has experience in the worlds of publishing, media and academia. Moreover, she is married and is a blessed mother of three daughters.
