Al-Biruni

Al-Biruni (Kath, Corasmia, September 15, 973 - Ghazni, December 13, 1050) was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, physicist, philosopher, traveler, historian, and pharmacist. Persian.

He was one of the most prominent intellectuals in the Islamic world. He studied almost all the sciences of his day and was richly rewarded for his tireless research in many fields of learning.Royalty and other powerful elements of society financed Al-Biruni's research and he was involved with specific projects. Influential in his own right, Al-Biruni was influenced by scholars from other nations, such as the Greeks, from whom he drew inspiration when he devoted himself to the study of philosophy. He wrote nearly 150 works on history, astronomy, astrology, mathematics, and pharmacology., of which barely a fifth of them have survived.

Life

Al Biruni was born on September 15, 973 in the city of Kath (in present-day Uzbekistan), in Corasmia. His full name was Abū'r-Raihān Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Bīrūnī (Arabic: أبو الريحان البيروني; Persian: ابوریحان بیرونی). He also became known as Alberuni.

At the age of 17 he was able to calculate the latitude of Kath, thanks to the maximum altitude reached by the Sun, and by the age of 22 he had already written several short works on the science of cartography that included a method for the projection of a hemisphere onto a plane. At the age of 26, his writings included topics such as the study of the passage of time (chronology) and astrolabes, the decimal system, astrology and history. He also calculated the radius of the terrestrial sphere (the supposedly widespread medieval belief in a flat earth is a modern myth) with an error of less than 1% of its currently accepted mean value; the western world did not come to have an equivalent result until the sixteenth century.

He was a disciple and friend of Abu Nasr Mansur and had quite an intense epistolary relationship with the philosopher and physician Avicenna, as well as with the historian, philosopher, and moralist Ibn Miskawayh. He was able to speak several languages, including Greek, Hebrew, Syrian, and Berber, although he wrote his work in Persian (his native language) and Arabic. He accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni on his military campaigns in India, which enabled him to learn Sanskrit and Prakrit and study their religion and philosophy, as well as write the Ta'rikh al-Hind (Chronicles of India).

Although many think that he had a great fondness for astrology, reading his works reveals that he did not believe so much in it (as might be guessed from the titles of his works); rather, he used it as the basis for his truly scientific studies. He was a true devotee of Islam, but did not show racist prejudices or against practitioners of other religions.

Many of Al-Biruni's ideas were derived from discussions he had with scholars of his time. For example, he made important observations on the nature of light and heat that were the result of his long correspondence with Avicenna. Actually Al-Biruni was not a great innovator nor were his writings full of original theories... his ideas are founded on the experimental method and observation. His gift of languages allowed him to read firsthand many treatises of the time and his enlightened idea of the evolutionary development of science made him a great encyclopedist and scholar.

He died in Ghazni (in present-day Afghanistan) on December 13, 1048 (aged 75).

Work

He made mathematical contributions in fields such as:

• The theoretical and practical arithmetic.
• The sum of series.
• Combinatory analysis.
• The rule of three.
• The irrational numbers.
• The theory of numerical (quotient) reasons.
• Algebraic definitions.
• Algebraic equation resolution methods.
• Geometry.
• Theorems of Archimedes.
• The trisection of the angle.
• Gnomonic.

The three types of horizons described by Al-Biruni.

Illustration of a lunar eclipse by Al-Biruni.

Although he also studied and reflected on other topics, which is reflected in works such as:

• The chronology of ancient nations (also known as Chronology), early compilation work of various youth work on astrolabes, astrology and history.
• A critical study of what India says, whether rationally accepted or refuted (in Arabic تحقيق ما للهند من مقولة معقولة في العل أم مرولة) — better known as India- compendium of the doctrines of Hindu religion.
• About the signs that remain of the past centuries (in Arabic الثار الباقية عن القرون العالية), a comparative study of calendars of different cultures and civilizations, covered with reflections on mathematics as well as astronomical and historical facts.
• The Canon Mas'udi (in Arabic القانون المسعودي) —also called Canon— a book on astronomy, geography and engineering; it takes its name from Mas'ud, the son of Mahmud of Ghazni, to whom it was dedicated.
• The book of instruction on the elements of the art of astrology (in Arabic التفهيم لصناعة التنجيم) — typically referred to as Elements of astrology— written Arabic and Persian book and, in the form of questions and answers, deals with mathematics and astronomy.
• Pharmacyabout drugs and medicinal treatments.
• Gems (in Arabic الجماهر في معرفة الجواهر) on geology, minerals and gems; dedicated to the son of Mas'ud, Mawdud.
• The astrolabe.
• Biographies of Mahmud of Ghazni and his father Sebük Tigin.
• History of Corasmia.

Eponymy

• The Al-Biruni lunar crater bears this name in his memory.
• The asteroid (9936) Al-Biruni also commemorates its name.