I stumbled upon this thing called “Al-Hassani” the other day, and let me tell you, it was a trip. I was digging around the internet, looking for something completely different – I think I was trying to figure out how to make a water fountain or something like that.

Anyway, I ended up on this article about Professor Salim T. S. Al-Hassani. Sounds pretty important, right? Turns out, this guy is a big deal in the world of mechanical engineering. He’s all about uncovering the history of technology, especially stuff from the Muslim world that we often forget about.
So, I started reading. At first, I was just skimming, but then I saw this thing about a water clock. Not just any water clock, mind you – this was some crazy contraption designed by a guy named Al-Jazari way back in the day. The thing is called the “Castle Clock,” and it’s insane. I mean, we’re talking about a huge, elaborate clock powered by water.
Here’s how I got hooked:
- Found this professor’s name: Salim Al-Hassani, sounded interesting.
- Started reading his work: Mostly about old inventions and stuff.
- Saw the “Castle Clock”: Designed by Al-Jazari, this thing is a beast.
- Got lost in the details: How it works, what it looks like, and how to maintain it.
- Realized there’s a whole world out there: We don’t really learn about this stuff in school.
I spent hours on this. I was trying to understand how this clock actually worked. Apparently, there’s a whole system of weights and pulleys, and the water flow is regulated somehow. It’s way more complicated than those little water clocks you see at science fairs.
The Rabbit Hole
This Al-Hassani guy, he’s the chairman of some foundation that’s trying to bring this old knowledge back to light. I guess a lot of these inventions were forgotten or ignored for a long time. It makes you wonder what else we’ve missed, you know?

I’m not even an engineer, but I was fascinated. There was a lot I did not understand at first, but I kept reading. I found a few articles about this clock, and about Al-Hassani and this 1001 Inventions thing he’s involved with. It’s all about showcasing the contributions of Muslim scientists and inventors throughout history.
I ended up spending the whole afternoon reading about water clocks and all sorts of other inventions. It’s crazy to think about how advanced some of these old civilizations were. They were building these incredible machines hundreds of years before we had computers or even electricity. It makes you feel kind of small, in a good way. It’s a reminder that we’re standing on the shoulders of giants, as they say.
It is a little sad that all of this was almost lost, but I am glad I found it. I’m definitely going to look more into this stuff. Who knows, maybe I’ll even try to build a water clock myself one day. A small one, of course, I’m not crazy enough to try and recreate the Castle Clock. But hey, you never know!