The polymath who helped build the Safavid Empire and taught the Earth moves

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Baha al-Din al-Amili was a Lebanese-born scholar who became the intellectual architect of Safavid Iran. As a trusted advisor to Shah Abbas I, he navigated civil wars, settled complex legal disputes, and authored over one hundred treatises, including groundbreaking astronomical works that dared to propose the Earth’s rotation.

Born in 1547 in Baalbek, Baha al-Din al-Amili—often called Sheikh Bahai—fled Ottoman territory with his family in 1554 to escape persecution. Settling in the Safavid Empire, he rose to become the senior jurist and Shaykh al-Islam of Isfahan. His influence was so profound that his word carried the force of law, and he was held in immense esteem by both the elite and the common people of the realm.

Al-Amili’s intellectual output was staggering, spanning theology, law, mathematics, and architecture. He is credited with reviving mathematical sciences in Iran after a century of neglect. His work, 'The Essentials of Arithmetic', served as a standard textbook until the early 20th century. In astronomy, his treatise 'Anatomy of the Heavens' was revolutionary; he was among the earliest thinkers to argue for the Earth’s rotation, a position he reached independently of Western influences.

Beyond his scholarly pursuits, he was a key political operative for Shah Abbas I. He helped resolve a civil war in 1590 by negotiating with a rebellious governor and used his legal expertise to bypass restrictive oaths, enabling royal marriages. His legacy is also etched into the physical landscape of Isfahan, where he is associated with the urban planning of the imperial capital, including the iconic Naqsh-e Jahan Square and various hydraulic innovations.

Despite his fame, much of his life remains shrouded in legend. While many architectural feats—such as a public bath heating system powered by a single candle—are attributed to him, these claims remain difficult to substantiate with historical records. Nevertheless, his role as a bridge between religious authority and scientific inquiry defined the cultural identity of the Safavid era until his death in 1621.

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