Thabit ibn Qurra

Thabit ibn Qurra al-Harrani, of the Sabians. His name in the Fihrist is Abu al-Hasan Thabit ibn Qurra ibn Marwan. He was born in the year 221 AH and died in 288 AH, aged seventy-seven solar years ².

He was a money-changer in Harran. Muhammad ibn Musa took him along when he saw that he was eloquent, then connected him with al-Mu'tadid and brought him in among the astrologers. Ibn al-Nadim says that the origin of the leadership of the Sabians at the courts of the caliphs was Thabit ibn Qurra ².

Ibn al-Nadim also reports that the Banu al-Munajjim used to pay him, together with Hunayn ibn Ishaq, about five hundred dinars a month for translation and attendance ³.

al-Mas'udi reports that when al-Mu'tadid, in the year 289 AH, was pursuing Wasif the servant, he came to the temple of Antioch, venerated it, and spoke of its significance ⁴.