Abū Jaʿfar, Muḥammad ibn Mūsā ibn Shākir (800s – 873) was a Persian inventor who lived in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. Along with his brothers Ahmad and Al-Hasan, he was a member of the Hidden Ones, assisting the brotherhood with their inventions and knowledge.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Abu Jafar was born in the early 9th century, as the eldest son of Mūsā ibn Shākir, a famous astronomer who served as governor of Khurasan. Thanks to their father's position, Abu Jafar and his brothers received an elite education and went on to serve the Abbasid court as mathematicians, inventors and scholars,[2] becoming quite close to the caliph Al-Mutawakkil, according to Tabid Al-Nubi.[3]
Around 830, the Banū Mūsā brothers participated in Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi's calculation of the circumference of the Earth. They also paid for manuscript-buying trips to the Byzantine Empire, and published 20 books on various subjects, the most important of which was the Book of Ingenious Devices (Arabic: Kitab al-Hiyal). Thanks to their friendship with the caliph, the brothers were also able to secure important and wealthy positions as architects and city planners responsible for canal construction.[2]
However, Abu Jafar and his brothers eventually grew disgusted with the Caliphate for reasons they refused to disclose, and joined the Hidden Ones of Alamut to fight against the corruption and injustice that were running rampant in Baghdad.[3]
Life as a Hidden One[]
In 862, Abu Jafar became acquainted with Basim Ibn Ishaq, a new recruit to the brotherhood, who would occasionally mistake him for one of his brothers due to their identical appearances.[4] Prior to Basim's induction into the Hidden Ones, Abu Jafar directed him to meet with his brother Al-Hasan so that he could receive his Hidden Blade for the initiation ceremony.[5]
Abu Jafar greeting Basim
Sometime later, Abu Jafar left Alamut and travelled to Baghdad, basing himself in the Harbiyah bureau headed by Fuladh Al Haami. During Basim's investigation of the Order of the Ancients member known as Al-Ghul, Abu Jafar informed him about assassination contracts posted in each Hidden One bureau in Baghdad, and also told Basim to bring him any materials he found so that he could upgrade his equipment.[6]
After Basim assassinated Al-Ghul, he returned to the Harbiyah bureau, where Abu Jafar congratulated him, telling Basim that it was the first of many achievements to come. He then offered to expand Basim's inventory with any of the tools among his wares. After Basim made his choice, he thanked Abu Jafar and jokingly referred to him as Ahmad, which the inventor caught on to.[7]
Personality and traits[]
Abu Jafar was described as more grounded than his brothers Ahmad, who was more aloof, and Al-Hasan, who was fascinated by spirituality. Like most siblings, the three were prone to arguments, but when they put their minds together, they were able to create marvels.[8]
Abu Jafar was shown to be irritated whenever Basim mistook him for one of his brothers and corrected him each time, until Basim eventually learned to differentiate between them. Even then, he would sometimes continue to refer to Abu Jafar as either Ahmad or Al-Hasan as a joke, which the inventor found amusing.[7]
Behind the scenes[]
Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Musa is a historical character introduced in the 2023 video game Assassin's Creed: Mirage. Although Abu Jafar was historically born in the early 800s,[1] placing him in his late 50s/early 60s when the events of Mirage take place, he appears to have been aged down in the game.
Gallery[]
Appearances[]
- Assassin's Creed: Mirage (first appearance)
- Echoes of History (mentioned only)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2
Banū Mūsā brothers on Wikipedia
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Database: The Banu Musa Brothers
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Fire and Wisdom
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – A New Beginning
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Taking Flight
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Zeroing In
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Branching Out
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Mirage – Database: The Banu Musa
