Al-Shahrazuri

Shams al-Din Muhammad Mahmud Shahrazuri, commonly referred to as Shahrazuri, was a notable figure of the 13th century, recognized for his contributions as a Muslim physician, historian, and philosopher. Of Kurdish descent, his life remains largely enigmatic, with historical records indicating his presence in AD 1288, and some accounts suggesting his demise occurred in that same year. Shahrazuri is credited with composing a substantial biographical dictionary that encompassed both ancient Greek and early Muslim learned individuals. Despite his significant scholarly output, particularly in historical biography, specific details concerning his birth and death dates are scarce. One of his most celebrated works is the *Nuzhat al arwâḥ wa rawḍat al-afrâḥ*, with several extant copies documented, including one housed in the John Rylands Library in Manchester. Furthermore, Edward Granville Browne alluded to two medical treatises attributed to Shahrazuri, one written in Arabic and the other in Persian. His philosophical contributions include a commentary on the works of Suhrawardi, titled *Sharḥ Ḥikma al-ishrâq*. This commentary is believed to have influenced Qutb al-Din Al Shirazi's work *Durrat al-Taj*. Another of Shahrazuri's philosophical writings concerning Suhrawardi's Illuminationist philosophy is cited as *al-Shajarah al-Ilahiyyah* (The Divine Tree), considered by some to be the most accurate exposition of the subject.