Islamic History · July 1, 2026

Thābit b. Qurra

Thābit b. Qurra b. Hārūn (or Zahrūn) b. Thābit b. Kudām b. Ibrāhīm al-Sabū was a philosopher from Harran. He authored various works. Among these is his book on "Euclid," which was translated into Arabic by Ḥunayn b. …

Thābit b. Qurra b. Hārūn (or Zahrūn) b. Thābit b. Kudām b. Ibrāhīm al-Sabū was a philosopher from Harran.

He authored various works. Among these is his book on "Euclid," which was translated into Arabic by Ḥunayn b. Isḥāq al-ʿAbbādī. Originally, he was a Sufi (ṣūfī), but later he abandoned Sufism and became engaged in philosophy, attaining high ranks in that field. He came to Baghdad and gained fame there. Together with astrologers, he would enter the presence of the caliph as an adherent of the Sabian religion.

His grandson, Thābit b. Sinān, also wrote a well-composed history. He himself was an eloquent and skillful scholar.

His uncle, Ibrāhīm b. Thābit b. Qurra, was also a distinguished physician. He was a man of knowledge. The judge Ibn Khallikān narrated the biographies of all of them in this year.