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A precise brass instrument made by a skilled artisan to tell prayer times, the Qibla direction, and star positions in the sky.
A historic astrolabe crafted in Yemen by Prince Umar ibn Yusuf in the year 690 AH. The astrolabe functioned as a portable astronomical computer used to calculate time, track the sun and stars, and determine the Qibla, demonstrating the mastery of Muslim artisans in uniting scientific precision with artistic elegance.
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A remarkable brass astrolabe dated 690 AH (1291 CE), crafted personally by Umar ibn Yusuf ibn Rasul, who later reigned as the Rasulid Sultan of Yemen. Recognized as one of the oldest fully intact Islamic astrolabes, it features finely engraved plates and astronomical scales designed to compute latitude, local solar time, prayer hours, the Qibla, and celestial coordinates. It stands as an exceptional artifact illustrating the confluence of royal patronage, scientific scholarship, and metalworking craft.
Overview
A brass astrolabe dated 690 AH / 1291 CE, made by Umar ibn Yusuf ibn Umar ibn Ali ibn Rasul, the Rasulid sultan of Yemen, who made it himself, Yemen; the oldest surviving astrolabe made by a known king. Held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1
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People and things also explored
Arabesque· Girih· Hedwig glass· Horse colours and markings in Timurid painting· Islamic calligraphy· Islamic geometric patterns· Islamic lustreware· Arabic calligraphy and its teaching
Sources
- Metropolitan Museum Open Access
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Astrolabe of Umar ibn Yusuf”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/object/astrolabe-umar-ibn-yusuf/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-25.