Iraq: The Archangel Israfil. Illustration from Zakariyi ibn Muhammad al-Qazwini, ‘Aja’ib al-makhluqat wa-ghara’ib al-mawjudāut (Marvels of Things Created and Miraculous Aspects of Things Existing) c. 1250 CE

Abu Yahya Zakariya' ibn Muhammad al-Qazwini (born 1203 - died 1283), was a Persian physician, astronomer, geographer and proto-science fiction writer.

Born in the Persian town of Qazvin, he was descended from Anas ibn Malik, Zakariya' ibn Muhammad al-Qazwini served as legal expert and judge (qadhi) in several localities in Persia and at Baghdad. He travelled around in Mesopotamia and Syria, and finally entered the circle patronized by the governor of Baghdad, ‘Ata-Malik Juwayni (d. 1283 CE).

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