Mashallah ibn Athari

Mashallah ibn Athari was a prominent Persian Jewish scholar of the 8th century, specializing in astronomy, astrology, and mathematics. Born in the Khorasan region, he later resided in Basra, where he played a significant role in introducing astronomical and astrological knowledge to Baghdad during the Abbasid caliphate. His expertise flourished under the reigns of caliphs al-Manṣūr and al-Ma’mūn, marking a notable period in the development of these sciences.

As a respected figure in his field, Mashallah served as a court astrologer to the Abbasid caliphate, applying his knowledge to provide guidance and judgments based on celestial observations. His written works on astrology, penned in Arabic, have survived in part through Latin translations, demonstrating the reach and influence of his scholarship. Contemporary bibliographers, such as ibn al-Nadim, recognized Mashallah's exceptional virtue and leadership in the science of stellar judgments, underscoring his status as a pioneering expert in his time.