Al-Biruni

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

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

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

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

• Islamic Golden Age
• Science in the medieval Islamic world
• List of Muslim scientists

External links

• Britannica Biography
• Famous Scientists Biography

Al-Biruni Resources
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