Al-Biruni (973 - 1051 CE)

Al-Biruni (973 - 1051 CE)

Abu Raihan al-Biruni, born near Khwarizim, is considered the greatest Muslim scientist and is certainly one of the greatest intellectual figures in Islam, having mastered many disciplines.

Al-Biruni was a prolific writer. Over 180 of his books are known. His book al-Hind (India) is one of the best accounts of the Hindu religion and of the sciences and customs of India in medieval times. Through this work, al-Biruni became known as 'the father of the science of cultural/social anthropology'. His Chronology of Ancient Nations, dealing with the calendar and festivities of different nations is unique

Al-Biruni is regarded as the founder of geodesy (the science of earth measurement) because of the detailed and systemised studies he made of the measurements of the features of the earth's surface.

As well as geography, al-Biruni wrote outstanding works on physics, mathematical geography, mineralogy and nearly every branch of mathematics and astronomy.

He has been referred to as 'the Master'. People said of him, 'He never had a pen out of his hand, nor his eye ever off

a book and his thoughts were always directed to his studies'. He wished to have a long life, not because he loved this world but because he wanted to be able to finish his work before he died. He was very conscious of precision in all his works and in fact his astronomical calculations were so accurate that he was nicknamed 'the Magician'.

Few combined the qualities of an outstanding scientist with that of a meticulous scholar, compiler and historian to the same degree as al-Biruni. However, as his works were not translated into Latin, his influence within Europe was limited.

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