Shirazi’s Nihayat al-Idrak: Introduction and Conclusion

Qu?b al-d?n al-sh?r?z? (634h/1236ce-710h/1311ce) wrote four major works on astronomy: nih?yat al?idr?k f? dir?yat al?afl?k (“the utmost attainment in comprehending the orbs), in arabic, first edition completed mid-sha?b?n 680/november 1281); the ikhtiy?r?t?i mu?affar? (“selections for mu?affar al-d?n arslan” [a minor ruler in qas?am?n? (modern kastamonu, turkey)], in persian, completed sometime between 680/1281 and 684/1285); al?tu?fa al?sh?hiyya (“the imperial gift” dedicated to the vizier am?r sh?h ibn t?j al?d?n mu?tazz ibn ??hir in siw?s, in arabic, first edition completed last part of jum?d? i 684/ july or august 1285); and fa?alta fa?l? talum (“you’ve done it so don't blame [me]”), a supercommentary on the tadhkira f???ilm al?hay?a by na??r al-d?n al-??s?, in arabic, completed sometime after the tu?fa, which, sh?r?z? claims in fa?alta, was plagiarized by a certain al-?im?dh?, whence the need for this rather vituperative work). none of these works has been edited or translated, which is rather surprising given the importance of all these texts for an understanding of islamic astronomy. as a small contribution toward the goal of giving sh?r?z?’s works the editions they deserve, an edition and translation of the introduction and conclusion of the nih?ya are presented below.