Institute of Ismaili Studies
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The Institute of Ismaili Studies, founded by Aga Khan, promotes scholarship and learning on Islam, with an emphasis on Shi‘ism in general and its Ismaili tariqah in particular, and a better understanding of their relationship with other faiths and societies. Its programmes, informed by the full range of diversity within Islam, explore the relationship of religious ideas to broader dimensions of society and culture, paying particular attention to issues of modernity. It also encourages an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Islamic history and thought. In pursuit of its objectives, the Institute collaborates with other institutions of learning."
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The Institute provides much needed authentic scholarly work in Ismaili and Islamic Studies. In this context it provides valuable information for our current times.
As one example, an important factor, often totally ignored, is the fact that scientists such as Nasir al-Din Tusi (1201-1274 AD) , who lived centuries before Nicolaus Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, and Johannes Kepler, had established an astronomical observatory in Maragheh (in the current state of Azerbaijan) which developed very accurate tables of planetary motion. Most researchers of the history of astronomy in the golden age of Islam (which came centuries before and, in many ways, enabled the European Renaissance) believe that this work found its way into Europe and inspired the later work of Copernicus (1473–1543 AD). Kepler (1571-1630 AD) who went to work for Tycho Brahe in order to have access to the latter's data, eventually succeeded in getting this data after Tycho Brahe's death.
It is well accepted that Kepler's laws of planetary motions, which he was able to establish by careful analysis of experimental observations of planetary motions, played a vital role in the later work of Galileo (1564 -1642AD) and Newton (1643 - 1727 AD). However, what is not usually acknowledged in Eurocentric literature is the masterful work performed by earlier natural philosophers, such as Nasir al-Din Tusi, who lived in the Islamic world. The situation is gradually changing: As more and more authentic scholarly work comes to light, we are gradually realizing how important enterprises such as modern astronomy owe a debt to cultures the world over.
It is recognized that modern science has its origins in accurate astronomical measurements, of the type undertaken by these scientists who came earlier than Brahe, Copernicus, Galileo and Newton. And, while these later scientists made enormous contributions, earlier work should not be forgotten or ignored.
