Muslim_world History_of_the_compass

al-ashraf s diagram of compass , qibla. ms cairo tr 105, copied in yemen, 1293.

the earliest reference compass in muslim world occurs in persian talebook 1232, compass used navigation during trip in red sea or persian gulf. fish-shaped iron leaf described indicates chinese design has spread outside of china. earliest arabic reference compass, in form of magnetic needle in bowl of water, comes work baylak al-qibjāqī, written in 1282 while in cairo. al-qibjāqī described needle-and-bowl compass used navigation on voyage took syria alexandria in 1242. since author describes having witnessed use of compass on ship trip forty years earlier, scholars inclined antedate first appearance in arab world accordingly. al-qibjāqī reports sailors in indian ocean used iron fish instead of needles.

late in 13th century, yemeni sultan , astronomer al-malik al-ashraf described use of compass qibla indicator find direction mecca. in treatise astrolabes , sundials, al-ashraf includes several paragraphs on construction of compass bowl (ṭāsa). uses compass determine north point, meridian (khaṭṭ niṣf al-nahār), , qibla. first mention of compass in medieval islamic scientific text , earliest known use qibla indicator, although al-ashraf did not claim first use purpose.

in 1300, arabic treatise written egyptian astronomer , muezzin ibn simʿūn describes dry compass used determining qibla. peregrinus compass, however, ibn simʿūn s compass did not feature compass card. in 14th century, syrian astronomer , timekeeper ibn al-shatir (1304–1375) invented timekeeping device incorporating both universal sundial , magnetic compass. invented purpose of finding times of prayers. arab navigators introduced 32-point compass rose during time. in 1399, egyptian reports 2 different kinds of magnetic compass. 1 instrument “fish” made of willow wood or pumpkin, magnetic needle inserted , sealed tar or wax prevent penetration of water. other instrument dry compass.

navigational sailor s compass rose, 1607

in 15th century, description given ibn majid while aligning compass pole star indicates aware of magnetic declination. explicit value declination given ʿizz al-dīn al-wafāʾī (fl. 1450s in cairo).

pre modern arabic sources refer compass using term ṭāsa (lit. bowl ) floating compass, or ālat al-qiblah ( qibla instrument ) device used orienting towards mecca.

friedrich hirth suggested arab , persian traders, learned polarity of magnetic needle chinese, applied compass navigation before chinese did. however, needham described theory erroneous , originates because of mistraslation of term chia-ling found in zhu yu s book pingchow table talks.