A Saturday of astrolabes, passion and wisdom with Sidi Ibrahim Aybeck

Last Saturday morning we had a special appointment, to receive Sidi Ibrahim Aybeck. I came from Lisbon with the task of giving a workshop on the Islamic astrolabe for the attendees, a very interesting and evocative topic for all of us who in one way or another are interested in physics, astronomy or mathematics.

And the subject became exciting when, from his hand, we discovered the implications of geometry and ancient wisdom that this incredible instrument entails, and how, under the Nur of Allah, the great intellects that devised and developed such a prodigy of science are illuminated.

Sidi Ibrahim not only explained to us how an astrolabe works, but everything we can measure and find out with it. In addition, he also discovered how they devised it and developed it throughout history in its different versions and stages.

But for him, the most important thing is not the story or the names, but to rescue this contraption, so important for science, from oblivion and to vindicate its Muslim origin, to the point of warning it as a subject of dawa for all those interested who are not Muslims.

When I entered the classroom where the workshop was to be held, ten minutes before the start, I was surprised at the table by a whole circus of mechanical ingenuity, inflatable balloons with geometric scales drawn, and other somewhat picturesque devices, including some to determine the quibla. This put me in a situation regarding what kind of workshop, as interesting as it was unique, we were going to have.

But what was really interesting came from the teacher, from the person who shared with us his very deep knowledge on the subject, and also his passion for it.

Sidi Ibrahim Aybeck has an undeniable personal magnetism that makes everyone pay attention when he speaks, and that connects him with the attendees in a profound way. Even though he is not fluent in Spanish, and relying on Portuguese, he explains and clarifies complex topics and makes them enjoyable and accessible to anyone.

Step by step, without skimping on historical details, he was unraveling all the implications that the astrolabe has had and has for the sciences of navigation, astronomy, architecture, calendar calculation, prayer schedules, etc etc

At the end of the class we were able to go out into the street and handle in practice the astrolabes I brought, and see first-hand how such an important instrument is used. Even reflect on things and how they are used, since the astrolabe uses sunlight, but it is the shadow that is looked at to determine the scale; The sun cannot be looked at directly, because it would hurt our eyes. We do not see the sun, but its light illuminates us all.

To conclude, and as a culmination of such a pleasant visit, Sidi Ibrahim presented the mosque with a reproduction of an Ottoman qibla tile from the sixteenth century, a gift that we thank him from the bottom of our hearts, as well as his generosity in giving this workshop and sharing his time and passion with us.

And Allah loves the generous.