zīj

A zīj is a handbook of astronomical tables that includes information for calculating the positions of celestial bodies like the Sun, Moon, and planets. These tables were accompanied by instructions on how to use them. The ancient prototype for the zīj was Ptolemy's Handy Tables.1

During the Middle Ages, Arabic astronomers played a crucial role in astronomy. They translated and built upon the works of Greek astronomers. A significant example is the zīj compiled by Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī in the 9th century, which blended Indian, Persian, and Greek astronomical tables and techniques. Later, the Toledan Tables, compiled in Spain by Muslim and Jewish astronomers, became influential in European astronomy after being translated into Latin. The Alfonsine Tables, prepared in Christian Europe based on Ptolemaic theory, also served as important astronomical tables for centuries.12