Al-Biruni

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Al-Biruni (973–1050) was a Persian scholar and polymath during the Islamic Golden Age. He is regarded as one of the greatest scholars of the medieval Islamic era and was well versed in physics, mathematics, astronomy, and natural sciences, and also distinguished himself as a historian, chronologist and linguist.

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

Al-Biruni was born in the outer district of Kath, the capital of the Afrighid dynasty of Khwarezm (now a part of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan) in Central Asia. His father was a high official in the Khwarezmian government. He was patronized by the local prince and spent his early life in Khwarezm where he studied the sciences under various scholars.

Works[edit | edit source]

Al-Biruni wrote over 146 books on a wide range of subjects, many of which have survived to this day. His works include the Kitab al-Qanun al-Mas'udi, a major work on astronomy, and the Kitab al-Saidana, a compendium of medicinal substances and their effects. He also wrote a comprehensive treatise on India called Tahqiq ma li-l-Hind, often referred to as his "Indica".

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Al-Biruni's contributions to the sciences are numerous and varied. He made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, natural sciences, medicine, and history. His works have had a profound influence on Islamic and Western science alike.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


External links[edit | edit source]

Al-Biruni Resources
Doctor showing form.jpg
Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD