Banū Mūsā brothers

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The Banū Mūsā, literally the Sons of Musa, refers to a Persian family of polymaths, astronomers, mathematicians, and engineers active in 9th century Baghdad. Both their own contributions and their direct connections to other prominent scholars of the House of Wisdom mark them as one of the most preeminent figures of the Islamic Golden Age. The term Banū Mūsā is derived from the name of Mūsā ibn Shākir, and most commonly refers to his three sons; Muḥammad ibn Mūsā (before 803 – February 873); Aḥmad ibn Mūsā (d. 9th century); and Al-Ḥasan ibn Mūsā (d. 9th century). Mūsā ibn Shākir was a renowned astronomer serving directly under the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun. After his death, his three sons received an education under al-Ma'mun’s direct orders, and were enrolled at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad. There they undertook the translation of ancient Greek works acquired from Byzantium, which they used to develop their own technological, mathematical and astronomical ideas. They were some of the...

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