Masha'allah ibn Atharī (c.740-d.815 AD) was an eighth century Persian Jewish astrologer and astronomer from the city of Basra (now located in modern day Iraq) who became the leading astrologer of the late 8th century. The Arabic phrase ma sha`a allah indicates acceptance of what God has ordained in terms of good or ill fortune that may befall a believer. His name's usually Latinized as Messala or Messahalla. The crater Messala on the Moon's named after him. As a young man he participated… (More on Mashallah)