Contextualizing Astrology in the Islamic Tradition: Philosophical Foundations and Celestial Influences

This paper examines the theoretical foundations of astrology within the Islamic intellectual tradition, with a particular focus on the adaptation and transformation of Aristotelian cosmology through key texts and figures. It analyzes the Ghāyat al-Ḥakīm (Picatrix) and Fī l-tadbīrāt al-falakiyyah, attributed to Alexander of Aphrodisias and adapted by the circle of al-Kindī, tracing their role in the conceptual development of astrology as a science. The study investigates how al-Kindī, his intellectual circle, and Abū Maʿshar al-Balkhī contributed to the integration of astrology within a broader philosophical and theological framework, emphasizing the cosmological and providential roles of the heavenly bodies. By contextualizing the influence of Baghdad as a centre of translation and synthesis, the paper highlights the gradual development of astrological thought that later found resonance in 10th-century al-Andalus. The analysis revisits the notion of the ‘astrologization of the Aristotelian cosmos’ and examines the relationship between astrology, providence, and human free will, offering new insights into the ways medieval Islamic scholars reconciled celestial influence with metaphysical doctrines. Ultimately, this paper situates astrology within the broader trajectory of medieval Islamic philosophy, shedding light on its epistemological and practical dimensions.