Did Muslim world accept Ptolemy theory?
THIS refers to the letter headlined Ptolemy theory by Mr S. M. Mehdi A. Jaffery (May 4). The writer has asked whether the Ptolemy theory was accepted and followed by the scientists/astronomers of the Muslim world, or rejected and an alternative theory was offered by some scholars of the period between the seventh and the 15th centuries AD. I have made an attempt to answer the above-mentioned question, which is as follows: Claudius Ptolemaeus, popularly known as Ptolemy, born in Hellainistic city of Ptolemais Harvi, was a celebrated astronomer, geographer and a mathematician (2nd century AD). He evolved detailed description of an Earth-centred (geo-centric) universe. His astronomical work, known as Mathematika syntaxis (the mathematical collection), was eventually known as Almagest in the Arab world. He was basically impressed by the Greek astronomer Hiparchus to formulate his geo-centric theory. This theory prevailed in the Christian world up to the 15th century when Nicolas of Cusa, c
