Lata?if al-hisab

Qutb al-Din Lahiji (d. ca. 1088-95/1677-1684) was a philosopher and traditional Islamic scholar who also took an interest in mathematics. He was a student of Mir Damad (d. 1040/1630-31) of the 'School of Isfahan' in philosophy, as well as a contemporary of the philosopher, traditionist and mystic Muhsin Fayd Kashani (d. 1091/1680). After his studies in Isfahan, Lahiji returned to Lahijan. There he was entrusted with the office of Shaykh al-Islam which his elder brother had held for three years before him, in succession to their father, who had been Shaykh al-Islam of Lahijan before then. He held this office for many years. Among his works are Mahbub al-qulub (history of philosophy), Fanus al-khayal (the imaginal world in Illuminationist philosophy) and the Tafsir-i sharif-i Lahiji (Qur?an interpretation). The present collection of mathematical puzzles aims to show the fun and practical use of mathematics. As a Persian text, it is quite rare in its kind.