ARABIC ASTRONOMICAL MANUSCRIPTS IN THE SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY OF ST. PETERSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE CENTRAL ASIAN INTELLECTUAL LEGACY

The Scientific Library of St. Petersburg State University holds approximately 900 volumes of Arabic manuscripts, although only a small proportion of these are devoted to the natural sciences. This paper discusses astronomical manuscripts from the University’s collection, with particular attention paid to the physical characteristics of these texts. Through research, it has been possible to attribute several manuscripts that had been previously listed in descriptions and catalogues as anonymous. Additionally, new manuscripts on astronomy and related fields of knowledge have been identified. During the study of the collection, several conclusions have been made. The limited number of astronomical texts largely reflects the priorities and interests of the individuals who compiled the collection, as they were primarily focused on teaching Arabic, literature, history, and Islam within the framework of traditional Oriental studies. The large number of commentaries on Al-Mulakhkhaṣ fī al-hayʼa by al-Jaghmīnī once again highlights the significance of this work in the history of scholarship in the Middle East and Central Asia. Other works are treatises, astronomical tables, works on plain (al-hayʼa) astronomy, descriptions of astronomical instruments, as well as a copy of the famous <italic>A Book of the Fixed Stars</italic> by ʻAbdurraḥmān al-Ṣūfī. It is worth noting that there are no works on astrology (aḥkām an-nujūm) available, apart from a few brief excerpts. Many of the works have dedications addressed to rulers who supported science, which sheds light on the history of the relationship between rulers and scientists (in particular, astronomers) in the region. This finding warrants further investigation and may provide insight into the intellectual history Islamic communities.