While Europe was immersed in the darkness of the Middle Ages, the light of Arab-Islamic civilization shone brightly from Baghdad, Damascus, and Cairo, illuminating the world with science, art, and engineering. One of the most brilliant minds of this civilization was a genius ahead of his time, known as Al-Jazari. His full name was Badiʿ al-Zaman Abu al-ʿIzz ibn Ismaʿil al-Jazari, and he is now often referred to with a modern title that reflects the magnitude of his achievements: The Father of Robotics.<br /><br />Who Was Al-Jazari?<br />Born in the 12th century, Al-Jazari served as an engineer and inventor in the court of the rulers of Diyarbakir (in modern-day Turkey). He was not just an engineer—he was an artist, a philosopher, and a mechanical scientist who created machines that continue to astonish 21st-century engineers. His most famous work is a book titled “The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices”, a rare treasure that blends art, engineering, and scientific imagination.<br /><br />The Book of Ingenious Devices: When Engineering Becomes Magic<br />In this extraordinary book, Al-Jazari compiled over 50 mechanical inventions, illustrated with beautiful colored drawings and precise instructions. He invented water and candle clocks that moved like living beings, water-raising machines, and even automated musical instruments—machines that strongly resemble today’s robots!<br />One of his greatest inventions was a fountain that changed the shape of water flow according to time, and his famous elephant clock, which fused Indian, Chinese, and Islamic elements in a unique display of cultural harmony.<br /><br />Why Is Al-Jazari Considered the “Father of Robotics”?<br />Al-Jazari didn’t just invent devices that moved water or made sounds—he designed self-operating systems that controlled the timing of tasks and performed them without human intervention. These principles are the foundation of what we now call automation and robotics. He introduced the world to the concept of automatic control centuries before electricity was discovered.<br /><br />The Arab Civilization: Where Intellect Met Beauty<br />Al-Jazari was not a rare exception—he was part of a golden age where knowledge was honored, and scholars were celebrated. Schools, observatories, and libraries bustled with scientific and philosophical debates. Mathematical knowledge merged with poetry, and engineering with art, producing a civilization that left an enduring mark on the world.<br />Al-Jazari’s achievements remind us that the Arab mind is capable of extraordinary innovation when supported by an encouraging and stimulating environment. His work teaches us that creativity is intertwined with beauty, and that science is not the property of one era, but a river flowing across generations.<br />Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Highlight<br />Goal 4: Quality Education<br />Al-Jazari's legacy underscores the importance of providing inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all—because true innovation flourishes where knowledge is nurtured.<br />Al-Mustaqbal University the first university of Iraq .