Khālid b. Yazīd: The First Alchemist in Islamic Civilization
Journal Title: تاریخ و فرهنگ - Year 2014, Vol 46, Issue 93
Abstract
The scholarly character of Khālid b. Yazīd and his attempts in acquiring and spreading of knowledge has always been of doubt to researchers and, with the expansion in the field of research on roots of science, has taken a mythical form. In earlier centuries, Ibn Khaldūn, and in the modern age, such researchers as Ruska, Kraus, Ulman, Sarton, and Mieli have totally denied Khālid’s attempts in the formation of translation movement in the Muslim World, his scholarly activities, and ultimately, the writings attributed to him. In contrast, some researchers have shown by presenting some evidences that Khālid has been active in the field of acquisition and development of sciences. Also, according to the writings of the Iranian alchemists, he is regarded as one of the pioneers of this discipline. In case of the soundness of the documents denoting Khālid’s alchemy, some reasons can be enumerated for his practicing this discipline, among which is his attainment of financial affluence and, as a result, relative compensation of his lost power due to abandoning caliphate and mastery in medicine. In this article, the proximity of medicine to alchemy and the attempts of the Muslim physicians to attain the elixir of life are also addressed.
Authors and Affiliations
Mansur Mu’Tamedi, Jahanara Shoja’Nia
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP195801
- DOI 10.22067/history.v46i10.35230
- Views 119
- Downloads 0
Role of the Shī‘a Scholars in Secular Nationalism and Modernization of the Judicial System of the first Pahlavī Era
Throughout the history of the Islamic Iran the judicial system has always been based on common law and canon law (sharī‘a). Upon the formalization of Shī‘ism as the official school (nadhhab) in the Safavid era, the Shī‘a...
Hierarchical Analysis of the Factors Influential on the Unquestioning Obedience of the Ismā‘īlīs Using the Fuzzy Model
Ḥasan Ṣabbāḥ’s specific leadership style and his followers’ specific style of obedience, because of his followers’ unquestionable and voluntary obedience to him, is one of the most outstanding examples for stylistics stu...
Analysis of the Indexes of Local Historiography of Khurāsān in the Contemporary Era
In this article, the indexes of local historiography of Khurāsān in the contemporary era are examined. These indexes are explained in three components of the historian, the subject, and the publication. The quantity stat...
The Impact of the Situation of Daylam and the Alvids of Ṭabaristān on the Rise of the Buyids with an Emphasis on Economic Backgrounds
The Buyids were originally from among the Daylamids of Daylam proper (khāṣ), but since the economic situation of this region was not much favorable, they joined various rules (ḥukūmas) such as the Alavids of Ṭabaristān a...
Social Developments in Kashan’s Jewish Community during Qajar Period
Contrary to other Jewish communities of Iran, Kashan’s Jewish community has undergone positive social and political developments during Qajar period. Although they could never enjoy equal social privileges as citizens, i...