ABU RAIHAN AL-BIRUNI
(973-1048 C.E.)
Abu Raihan Mohammad Ibn Ahmad al-Biruni was one of the well-known figures associated with the
court of King Mahmood Ghaznawi, who was one of the famous Muslim kings of the 11th century C.E.
Al-Biruni was a versatile scholar and scientist who had equal facility in physics, metaphysics,
mathematics, geography and history. Born in the city of Kheva near "Ural" in 973 C.E., he was a
contemporary of the well-known physician Ibn Sina. At an early age, the fame of his scholarship went
around and when Sultan Mahmood Ghaznawi conquered his homeland, he took al-Biruni along with him
in his journeys to India several times and thus he had the opportunity to travel all over India during a
period of 20 years. He learnt Hindu philosophy, mathematics, geography and religion from thre Pandits to whom he taught Greek and Arabic science and philosophy. He died in 1048 C.E. at the age of 75, after
having spent 40 years in thus gathering knowledge and making his own original contributions to it.
He recorded observations of his travels through India in his well-known book Kitab al-Hind which gives
a graphic account of the historical and social conditions of the sub-continent. At the end of this book he
makes a mention of having translated two Sanskrit books into Arabic, one called Sakaya, which deals
with the creation of things and their types, and the second, Patanjal dealing with what happens after the
spirit leaves the body. His descriptions of India were so complete that even the Aein-i-Akbari written by
Abu-al- Fadal during the reign of Akbar, 600 years later, owes a great deal to al-Biruni's book. He
observed that the Indus valley must be considered as an ancient sea basin filled up with alluvials.
On his return from India, al-Biruni wrote his famous book Qanun-i Masoodi (al-Qanun al-Masudi, fi
al-Hai'a wa al-Nujum), which he dedicated to Sultan Masood. The book discusses several theories of
astronomy, trigonometry, solar, lunar, and planetary motions and relative topics. In another well-known
book al-Athar al-Baqia, he has attempted a connected account of ancient history of nations and the
related geographical knowledge. In this book, he has discussed the rotation of the earth and has given
correct values of latitudes and longitudes of various places. He has also made considerable contribution
to several aspects of physical and economic geography in this book.
His other scientific contributions include the accurate determination of the densities of 18 different
stones. He also wrote the Kitab-al-Saidana, which is an extensive materia medica that combines the then
existing Arabic knowledge on the subject with the Indian medicine. His book the Kitab-al-Jamahir deals
with the properties of various precious stones. He was also an astrologer and is reputed to have
astonished people by the accuracy of his predictions. He gave a clear account of Hindu numerals,
elaborating the principle of position. Summation of a geometric progression appropos of the chess game
led to the number:
1616° - 1 = 18,446,744,073,709,551,619.
He developed a method for trisection of angle and other problems which cannot be solved with a ruler
and a compass alone. Al-Biruni discussed, centuries before the rest of the world, the question whether the
earth rotates around its axis or not. He was the first to undertake experiments related to astronomical
phenomena. His scientific method, taken together with that of other Muslim scientists, such as Ibn
ABU RAIHAN AL-BIRUNI
file:///D|/history/scholars/BIRUNI.html (1 of 2) [10/13/2000 11:59:37 PM]
al-Haitham, laid down the early foundation of modern science. He ascertained that as compared with the
speed of sound the speed of light is immense. He explained the working of natural springs and artesian
wells by the hydrostatic principle of communicating vessels. His investigations included description of
various monstrosities, including that known as "Siamese" twins. He observed that flowers have 3,4,5,6,
or 18 petals, but never 7 or 9.
He wrote a number of books and treatises. Apart from Kitab-al- Hind (History and Geography of India),
al-Qanun al-Masudi (Astro- nomy, Trigonometry), al-Athar al-Baqia (Ancient History and Geography),
Kitab al-Saidana (Materia Medica) and Kitab al-Jawahir (Precious Stones) as mentioned above, his
book al-Tafhim-li-Awail Sina'at al-Tanjim gives a summary of mathematics and astronomy.
He has been considered as one of the very greatest scientists of Islam, and, all considered, one of the
greatest of all times. His critical spirit, love of truth, and scientific approach were combined with a sense
of toleration. His enthusiasm for knowledge may be judged from his claim that the phrase Allah is
Omniscient does not justify ignorance
(973-1048 C.E.)
Abu Raihan Mohammad Ibn Ahmad al-Biruni was one of the well-known figures associated with the
court of King Mahmood Ghaznawi, who was one of the famous Muslim kings of the 11th century C.E.
Al-Biruni was a versatile scholar and scientist who had equal facility in physics, metaphysics,
mathematics, geography and history. Born in the city of Kheva near "Ural" in 973 C.E., he was a
contemporary of the well-known physician Ibn Sina. At an early age, the fame of his scholarship went
around and when Sultan Mahmood Ghaznawi conquered his homeland, he took al-Biruni along with him
in his journeys to India several times and thus he had the opportunity to travel all over India during a
period of 20 years. He learnt Hindu philosophy, mathematics, geography and religion from thre Pandits to whom he taught Greek and Arabic science and philosophy. He died in 1048 C.E. at the age of 75, after
having spent 40 years in thus gathering knowledge and making his own original contributions to it.
He recorded observations of his travels through India in his well-known book Kitab al-Hind which gives
a graphic account of the historical and social conditions of the sub-continent. At the end of this book he
makes a mention of having translated two Sanskrit books into Arabic, one called Sakaya, which deals
with the creation of things and their types, and the second, Patanjal dealing with what happens after the
spirit leaves the body. His descriptions of India were so complete that even the Aein-i-Akbari written by
Abu-al- Fadal during the reign of Akbar, 600 years later, owes a great deal to al-Biruni's book. He
observed that the Indus valley must be considered as an ancient sea basin filled up with alluvials.
On his return from India, al-Biruni wrote his famous book Qanun-i Masoodi (al-Qanun al-Masudi, fi
al-Hai'a wa al-Nujum), which he dedicated to Sultan Masood. The book discusses several theories of
astronomy, trigonometry, solar, lunar, and planetary motions and relative topics. In another well-known
book al-Athar al-Baqia, he has attempted a connected account of ancient history of nations and the
related geographical knowledge. In this book, he has discussed the rotation of the earth and has given
correct values of latitudes and longitudes of various places. He has also made considerable contribution
to several aspects of physical and economic geography in this book.
His other scientific contributions include the accurate determination of the densities of 18 different
stones. He also wrote the Kitab-al-Saidana, which is an extensive materia medica that combines the then
existing Arabic knowledge on the subject with the Indian medicine. His book the Kitab-al-Jamahir deals
with the properties of various precious stones. He was also an astrologer and is reputed to have
astonished people by the accuracy of his predictions. He gave a clear account of Hindu numerals,
elaborating the principle of position. Summation of a geometric progression appropos of the chess game
led to the number:
1616° - 1 = 18,446,744,073,709,551,619.
He developed a method for trisection of angle and other problems which cannot be solved with a ruler
and a compass alone. Al-Biruni discussed, centuries before the rest of the world, the question whether the
earth rotates around its axis or not. He was the first to undertake experiments related to astronomical
phenomena. His scientific method, taken together with that of other Muslim scientists, such as Ibn
ABU RAIHAN AL-BIRUNI
file:///D|/history/scholars/BIRUNI.html (1 of 2) [10/13/2000 11:59:37 PM]
al-Haitham, laid down the early foundation of modern science. He ascertained that as compared with the
speed of sound the speed of light is immense. He explained the working of natural springs and artesian
wells by the hydrostatic principle of communicating vessels. His investigations included description of
various monstrosities, including that known as "Siamese" twins. He observed that flowers have 3,4,5,6,
or 18 petals, but never 7 or 9.
He wrote a number of books and treatises. Apart from Kitab-al- Hind (History and Geography of India),
al-Qanun al-Masudi (Astro- nomy, Trigonometry), al-Athar al-Baqia (Ancient History and Geography),
Kitab al-Saidana (Materia Medica) and Kitab al-Jawahir (Precious Stones) as mentioned above, his
book al-Tafhim-li-Awail Sina'at al-Tanjim gives a summary of mathematics and astronomy.
He has been considered as one of the very greatest scientists of Islam, and, all considered, one of the
greatest of all times. His critical spirit, love of truth, and scientific approach were combined with a sense
of toleration. His enthusiasm for knowledge may be judged from his claim that the phrase Allah is
Omniscient does not justify ignorance
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