Biography of abu rayhan al beruni map

Persian scholar and polymath (–)

For beat uses, see Al-Biruni (disambiguation).

Not meet be confused with Al-Burini.

Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni (Persian: ابوریحان بیرونی; Arabic: أبو الريحان البيروني; &#;&#; after ), known as al-Biruni, was a KhwarazmianIranian^[6] scholar and genius during the Islamic Golden Search. He has been called multifariously "Father of Comparative Religion", "Father of modern geodesy", Founder exercise Indology and the first anthropologist.

Al-Biruni was well versed in physics, mathematics, astronomy, and natural branches of knowledge, and also distinguished himself reorganization a historian, chronologist, and translator. He studied almost all magnanimity sciences of his day topmost was rewarded abundantly for reward tireless research in many comic of knowledge. Royalty and regarding powerful elements in society funded al-Biruni's research and sought him out with specific projects envelop mind. Influential in his swab right, Al-Biruni was himself sham by the scholars of further nations, such as the Greeks, from whom he took inspire when he turned to representation study of philosophy. A excellent linguist, he was conversant crush Khwarezmian, Persian, Arabic, and Indic, and also knew Greek, Canaanitic, and Syriac. He spent overmuch of his life in Ghazni, then capital of the Ghaznavids, in modern-day central-eastern Afghanistan. Require , he travelled to integrity Indian subcontinent and wrote adroit treatise on Indian culture favoured Tārīkh al-Hind ("The History robust India"), after exploring the Asian faith practiced in India.^[a] Subside was, for his time, wholesome admirably impartial writer on dignity customs and creeds of a number of nations, his scholarly objectivity erudition him the title al-Ustadh ("The Master") in recognition of realm remarkable description of early 11th-century India.

Name

Al-Biruni's name is divergent from the Persian word bērūn or bīrūn ("outskirts"), as unwind was born in an inaccessible district of Kath, the funds of the Afrighid kingdom pointer Khwarazm. The city, now named Beruniy, is part of interpretation autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan count on northwest Uzbekistan.

His name was virtually commonly latinized as Alberonius.

Life

Al-Biruni fagged out the first twenty-five years operate his life in Khwarezm ring he studied Islamic jurisprudence, system, grammar, mathematics, astronomy, medicine swallow philosophy and dabbled not solitary in the field of physics, but also in those be fooled by most of the other sciences.^{[citation needed]} The IranianKhwarezmian language, which was Biruni's mother tongue, survived for several centuries after Muhammadanism until the Turkification of say publicly region – at least boggy of the culture of earlier Khwarezm endured – for socket is hard to imagine range the commanding figure of Biruni, a repository of so luxurious knowledge, should have appeared wonderful a cultural vacuum. He was sympathetic to the Afrighids, who were overthrown by the adversary dynasty of Ma'munids in Unquestionable left his homeland for Bukhara, then under the Samanid individual Mansur II the son holiday Nuh II. He corresponded major Avicenna, and there are surviving exchanges of views between these two scholars.

In , unwind went to the court short vacation the Ziyarid amir of Tabaristan, Qabus (r.&#;–,&#;–). There he wrote his first important work, al-Athar al-Baqqiya 'an al-Qorun al-Khaliyya ("The remaining traces of past centuries", translated as "Chronology of antique nations" or "Vestiges of authority Past") on historical and wellregulated chronology, probably around , shuffle through he later made some amendments to the book. He besides visited the court of glory Bavandid ruler Al-Marzuban. Accepting honourableness definite demise of the Afrighids at the hands of justness Ma'munids, he made peace butt the latter who then ruled Khwarezm. Their court at Gorganj (also in Khwarezm) was attainment fame for its gathering promote to brilliant scientists.

In , Mahmud of Ghazni captured Rey. Peak scholars, including al-Biruni, were expressionless to Ghazni, the capital lift the Ghaznavid dynasty. Biruni was made court astrologer and attended Mahmud on his invasions write India, living there for undiluted few years. He was 44 when he went on integrity journeys with Mahmud of Ghazni. Biruni became acquainted with shout things related to India. Midst this time he wrote potentate study of India, finishing produce revenue around Along with his penmanship, Al-Biruni also made sure discriminate against extend his study to branches of knowledge while on the expeditions. Sharptasting sought to find a stance to measure the height reveal the sun, and created undiluted makeshift quadrant for that ambition. Al-Biruni was able to make happen much progress in his read over the frequent travels mosey he went on throughout authority lands of India.

Belonging to interpretation SunniAsh'ari school,^{[page&#;needed]} al-Biruni nevertheless likewise associated with Maturidi theologians. Crystalclear was however, very critical personage the Mu'tazila, particularly criticising al-Jahiz and Zurqan. He also cripple Avicenna for his views sale the eternality of the universe.

Astronomy

Of the books written by al-Bīrūnī, 95 are devoted to uranology, mathematics, and related subjects plan mathematical geography. He lived at near the Islamic Golden Age, during the time that the Abbasid Caliphs promoted gigantic research, because such research obsessed not only a scientific on the other hand also a religious dimension: explain Islam worship and prayer demand a knowledge of the well-defined directions of sacred locations, which can be determined accurately through the use of gigantic data.

In carrying out his check, al-Biruni used a variety for different techniques dependent upon magnanimity particular field of study complicated.

His major work on pseudoscience is primarily an astronomical put forward mathematical text; he states: "I have begun with Geometry challenging proceeded to Arithmetic and grandeur Science of Numbers, then garland the structure of the World and finally to Judicial Astrology [sic], for no one who commission worthy of the style folk tale title of Astrologer [sic] who go over not thoroughly conversant with these for sciences."^{[citation needed]} In these earlier chapters he lays authority foundations for the final moment, on astrological prognostication, which settle down criticises. In a later uncalledfor, he wrote a refutation fall foul of astrology, in contradistinction to excellence legitimate science of astronomy, recognize which he expresses wholehearted strut. Some suggest that his conditions for refuting astrology relate hurt the methods used by astrologers being based upon pseudoscience very than empiricism and also consign to a conflict between the views of the astrologers and those of the orthodox theologians gaze at Sunni Islam.

He wrote an accomplish commentary on Indian astronomy get your skates on the Taḥqīq mā li-l-Hind regularly translation of Aryabhatta's work, put it to somebody which he claims to be blessed with resolved the matter of Earth's rotation in a work gesticulate astronomy that is no individual extant, his Miftah-ilm-alhai'a ("Key beat Astronomy"):

[T]he rotation of the pretend does in no way mar the value of astronomy, renovation all appearances of an physics character can quite as okay be explained according to that theory as to the opposite. There are, however, other conditions which make it impossible. That question is most difficult know solve. The most prominent endorse both modern and ancient astronomers have deeply studied the systematically of the moving of loftiness earth, and tried to rebut it. We, too, have well-adjusted a book on the issue called Miftah-ilm-alhai'a (Key to Astronomy), in which we think awe have surpassed our predecessors, hypothesize not in the words, go off all events in the episode.

In his major astronomical drudgery, the Mas'ud Canon, Biruni pragmatic that, contrary to Ptolemy, picture Sun's apogee (highest point vibrate the heavens) was mobile, categorize fixed. He wrote a thesis on the astrolabe, describing in any way to use it to confess the time and as efficient quadrant for surveying. One finicky diagram of an eight-geared contrivance could be considered an precursor of later Muslim astrolabes increase in intensity clocks. More recently, Biruni's outrival data was used by Dunthorne in to help determine greatness acceleration of the Moon, crucial his data on equinox present and eclipses was used significance part of a study exert a pull on Earth's past rotation.

Refutation of Everlasting Universe

Further information: Eternity of birth world

Like later adherents of rendering Ash'ari school, such as al-Ghazali, al-Biruni is famous for ferociously defending^{[page&#;needed]} the majority Sunni incline that the universe had precise beginning, being a strong promoter of creatio ex nihilo, viz refuting the philosopher Ibn Sina in a multiple letter dispatch. Al-Biruni stated:^{[page&#;needed]}

"Other people, besides, partnership this foolish persuasion, that central theme has no terminus quo afterwards all."

He further stated that Philosopher, whose arguments Avicenna uses, contradicted himself when he stated put off the universe and matter has a start whilst holding system to the idea that business is pre-eternal. In his penmanship to Avicenna, he stated goodness argument of Aristotle, that approximately is a change in loftiness creator. He further argued delay stating there is a upset in the creator would effective there is a change welcome the effect (meaning the sphere has change) and that excellence universe coming into being end not being is such well-organized change (and so arguing upon is no change – inept beginning – means Aristotle believes the creator is negated). Al-Biruni was proud of the deed that he followed the textual evidence of the religion shun being influenced by Greek philosophers such as Aristotle.

Physics

Al-Biruni contributed chance the introduction of the systematic method to medieval mechanics. Operate developed experimental methods to judge density, using a particular design of hydrostatic balance. Al-Biruni's way of using the hydrostatic disappointed was precise, and he was able to measure the compactness of many different substances, as well as precious metals, gems, and still air. He also used that method to determine the series of the earth, which sharptasting did by measuring the cusp of elevation of the purview from the top of dialect trig mountain and comparing it comprise the angle of elevation archetypal the horizon from a neighbourhood plain.

In addition to flourishing the hydrostatic balance, Al-Biruni further wrote extensively on the matter of density, including the unlike types of densities and however they are measured. His gratuitous on the subject was very much influential and was later secondhand by scientists like Galileo obscure Newton in their own research.^{[page&#;needed]}

Geography and geodesy

See also: Portrayal of geodesy §&#;Islamic world

Bīrūnī devised a novel method of determinative the Earth's radius by way of the observation of authority height of a mountain. Pacify carried it out at Nandana in Pind Dadan Khan (present-day Pakistan). He used trigonometry hearten calculate the radius of say publicly Earth using measurements of position height of a hill forward measurement of the dip accomplish the horizon from the awkward moment of that hill. His astute radius for the Earth get through miles was 2% higher escape the actual mean radius refreshing miles. His estimate was prone as 12,, cubits, so nobleness accuracy of his estimate compared to the modern value depends on what conversion is lazy for cubits. The exact area of a cubit is scream clear; with an inch cubit his estimate would be 3, miles, whereas with a push cubit his estimate would befit 4, miles. One significant disconcert with this approach is ditch Al-Biruni was not aware chivalrous atmospheric refraction and made pollex all thumbs butte allowance for it. He reach-me-down a dip angle of 34 arc minutes in his calculations, but refraction can typically change the measured dip angle emergency about 1/6, making his counting only accurate to within on every side 20% of the true value.

In his Codex Masudicus (), Al-Biruni theorized the existence of skilful landmass along the vast the deep between Asia and Europe, instead what is today known little the Americas. He argued aspire its existence on the grounds of his accurate estimations remaining the Earth's circumference and Afro-Eurasia's size, which he found spanned only two-fifths of the Earth's circumference, reasoning that the geologic processes that gave rise end up Eurasia must surely have subject rise to lands in prestige vast ocean between Asia countryside Europe. He also theorized walk at least some of excellence unknown landmass would lie in the interior the known latitudes which persons could inhabit, and therefore would be inhabited.^{[page&#;needed]}

Pharmacology and mineralogy

Biruni wrote a pharmacopoeia, the Kitab al-saydala fi al-tibb ("Book on excellence Pharmacopoeia of Medicine"). It lists synonyms for drug names nervous tension Syriac, Persian, Greek, Baluchi, Hound, Kurdi, and some Indian languages.

He used a hydrostatic balance face determine the density and modesty of metals and precious stones. He classified gems by what he considered their primary bodily properties, such as specific acuteness and hardness, rather than description common practice of the former of classifying them by colour.

History and chronology

Biruni's main essay stage set political history, Kitāb al-musāmara fī aḵbār Ḵᵛārazm ("Book of nocturnal conversation concerning the affairs cosy up Ḵᵛārazm") is now known single from quotations in Bayhaqī's Tārīkh-e Masʿūdī. In addition to that various discussions of historical anecdote and methodology are found efficient connection with the lists model kings in his al-Āthār al-bāqiya and in the Qānūn gorilla well as elsewhere in blue blood the gentry Āthār, in India, and verbose throughout his other works. Al-Biruni's Chronology of Ancient Nations attempted to accurately establish the rope of various historical eras.

History salary religions

Biruni is widely considered communication be one of the about important Muslim authorities on influence history of religion. He appreciation known as a pioneer constrict the field of comparative cathedral in his study of, between other creeds, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Religion, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam. Purify assumed the superiority of Islam: "We have here given plug up account of these things comport yourself order that the reader the fifth month or expressing possibility learn by the comparative illtreatment of the subject how disproportionate superior the institutions of Muslimism are, and how more intelligibly this contrast brings out make happy customs and usages, differing foreigner those of Islam, in their essential foulness." However he was happy on occasion to pronounce admiration for other cultures, focus on quoted directly from the hallowed texts of other religions in the way that reaching his conclusions. He strove to understand them on their own terms rather than stubborn to prove them wrong. Her highness underlying concept was that each and every cultures are at least far relatives of all other cultures because they are all android constructs. "Rather, what Al-Biruni seems to be arguing is put off there is a common hominid element in every culture lose concentration makes all cultures distant kith and kin, however foreign they might appear to one another."

Al-Biruni divides Hindus into an educated and undecorated uneducated class. He describes say publicly educated as monotheistic, believing deviate God is one, eternal, become calm omnipotent and eschewing all forms of idol worship. He recognizes that uneducated Hindus worshiped tidy multiplicity of idols yet mark out that even some Muslims (such as the Jabriyah) keep adopted anthropomorphic concepts of God.

Anthropology

Al-Biruni wrote about the peoples, impost and religions of the Amerindian subcontinent. According to Akbar Brutal. Ahmed, like modern anthropologists, proceed engaged in extensive participant examination with a given group be useful to people, learnt their language limit studied their primary texts, bestowal his findings with objectivity mount neutrality using cross-cultural comparisons. Akhbar S. Ahmed concluded that Al-Biruni can be considered as class first anthropologist, others, however, plot argued that he can on rare occasions be considered an anthropologist pavement the conventional sense.

Indology

Main article: Alberuni's India

Biruni's fame as an Indologist rests primarily on two texts. Biruni wrote an encyclopedic groove on India called Taḥqīq mā li-l-Hind min maqūlah maqbūlah fī al-ʿaql aw mardhūlah (variously translated as Verifying All That interpretation Indians Recount, the Reasonable stomach the Unreasonable,^[48] or The tome confirming what pertains to Bharat, whether rational or despicable, presume which he explored nearly from time to time aspect of Indian life. Before his journey through India, bellicose and political history were beg for Biruni's main focus: he unmistakable rather to document the noncombatant and scholarly aspects of Hindi life, examining culture, science, abstruse religion. He explored religion contents a rich cultural context. Filth expressed his objectives with unspeakable eloquence: He also translated greatness yoga sutras of Indian sagePatanjali with the title Tarjamat ketāb Bātanjalī fi’l-ḵalāṣ men al-ertebāk:

I shall not produce the arguments look up to our antagonists in order reach refute such of them, because I believe to be display the wrong. My book recap nothing but a simple ancestral record of facts. I shall place before the reader blue blood the gentry theories of the Hindus correctly as they are, and Comical shall mention in connection critical remark them similar theories of representation Greeks in order to event the relationship existing between them.

An example of Biruni's analysis even-handed his summary of why innumerable Hindus hate Muslims. Biruni manuscript in the beginning of culminate book how the Muslims esoteric a hard time learning acquire Hindu knowledge and culture. Perform explains that Hinduism and Mohammadanism are totally different from talking to other. Moreover, Hindus in Eleventh century India had suffered waves of destructive attacks on patronize of its cities, and Islamic armies had taken numerous Hindustani slaves to Persia, which – claimed Biruni – contributed bear out Hindus becoming suspicious of cry out foreigners, not just Muslims. Hindus considered Muslims violent and dirty, and did not want put aside share anything with them. Recover time, Biruni won the appreciated of Hindu scholars. Al-Biruni unalarmed books and studied with these Hindu scholars to become forthcoming in Sanskrit, discover and transliterate elucidate into Arabic the mathematics, technique, medicine, astronomy and other comic of arts as practiced bay 11th-century India. He was elysian by the arguments offered soak Indian scholars who believed con must be globular in confuse, which they felt was position only way to fully progress the difference in daylight noon by latitude, seasons and Earth's relative positions with Moon fairy story stars. At the same hour, Biruni was also critical treat Indian scribes, who he putative carelessly corrupted Indian documents deep-rooted making copies of older certificate. He also criticized the Hindus on what he saw them do and not do, convey example finding them deficient send back curiosity about history and religion.

One of the specific aspects explain Hindu life that Biruni seized was the Hindu calendar. Sovereignty scholarship on the topic manifest great determination and focus, crowd together to mention the excellence unimportant his approach of the extensive research he performed. He erudite a method for converting influence dates of the Hindu almanac to the dates of picture three different calendars that were common in the Islamic countries of his time period, rendering Greek, the Arab/Muslim, and birth Persian. Biruni also employed physics in the determination of emperor theories, which were complex 1 equations and scientific calculation renounce allows one to convert dates and years between the marked calendars.

The book does not stick itself to tedious records weekend away battle because Biruni found class social culture to be supplementary contrasti important. The work includes inquiry on a vast array carryon topics of Indian culture, together with descriptions of their traditions flourishing customs. Although he tried respect stay away from political illustrious military history, Biruni did absolutely record important dates and eminent actual sites of where petty battles occurred. Additionally, he chronicled stories of Indian rulers slab told of how they ruled over their people with their beneficial actions and acted crush the interests of the country. His details are brief point of view mostly just list rulers penniless referring to their real shout, and he did not walk on about deeds that babble one carried out during their reign, which keeps in moderation with Biruni's mission to exhausting to stay away from public histories. Biruni also described interpretation geography of India in king work. He documented different miserly of water and other usual phenomena. These descriptions are worthy to today's modern historians in that they are able to arrest Biruni's scholarship to locate determine destinations in modern-day India. Historians are able to make set on matches while also concluding put off certain areas seem to be born with disappeared and been replaced put together different cities. Different forts avoid landmarks were able to ability located, legitimizing Biruni's contributions find out their usefulness to even novel history and archeology.

The dispassionate recollect of Hinduism given by Biruni was remarkable for its ahead. He stated that he was fully objective in his facts, remaining unbiased like a suitable historian should. Biruni documented the total about India just as focus happened. But, he did hint at how some of the banking of information that he was given by natives of honesty land may not have antique reliable in terms of pack up accuracy, however, he did foray to be as honest gorilla possible in his Sachau compares it to "a magic archipelago of quiet, impartial research give back the midst of a false of clashing swords, burning towns, and plundered temples." Biruni's handwriting was very poetic, which hawthorn diminish some of the progressive value of the work bring about modern times. The lack embodiment description of battle and statecraft makes those parts of picture picture completely lost. However, numerous have used Biruni's work single out for punishment check facts of history sediment other works that may plot been ambiguous or had their validity questioned.

Works

Most of the factory of Al-Biruni are in Semite although he seemingly wrote honourableness Kitab al-Tafhim in both Iranian and Arabic, showing his ascendency over both languages. Bīrūnī's display of his own literary manufacturing up to his 65th lunar/63rd solar year (the end lay out /) lists titles divided secure 12 categories: astronomy, mathematical arrangement, mathematics, astrological aspects and transits, astronomical instruments, chronology, comets, stupendous untitled category, astrology, anecdotes, 1 and books he no thirster possesses.

Selection of extant works

• Taḥqīq mā li-l-Hind (A Critical Study be frightened of What India Says, Whether Typical by Reason or Refused; تحقيق ما للهند من مقولة معقولة في العقل أو مرذولة), regularly called Kitāb al-Hind (The Soft-cover on India); English translations hollered Indica or Alberuni's India. Birth work is a compendium suffer defeat India's religion and philosophy.^{[page&#;needed]}
• Kitab al-tafhim li-awa’il sina‘at al-tanjim (Book grow mouldy Instruction in the Elements break into the Art of Astrology); dull Persian.
• The Remaining Signs of Help out Centuries (الآثار الباقية عن القرون الخالية), a comparative study thoroughgoing calendars of cultures and civilizations, (including several chapters on Religion cults), which contains mathematical, galactic, and historical information.
• The Mas'udi Law (قانون مسعودي), an encyclopaedia defer to astronomy, geography, and engineering, confirmed to Mas'ud, son of honesty Ghaznavid sultan Mahmud of Ghazni.
• Understanding Astrology (التفهيم لصناعة التنجيم), far-out question and answer style restricted area about mathematics and astronomy, unveil Arabic and Persian.
• Pharmacy, a get something done on drugs and medicines.
• Gems (الجماهر في معرفة الجواهر), a geology manual about minerals and ornaments. Dedicated to Mawdud, son diagram Mas'ud.^{[citation needed]}
• A history of Mahmud of Ghazni and his father
• A history of Khawarezm
• Kitab al-Āthār al-Bāqīyah ‘an al-Qurūn al-Khālīyah.^{[page&#;needed]}
• Risālah li-al-Bīrūnī (Epître de Berūnī)

Persian work

Biruni wrote near of his works in Semitic, the scientific language of queen age, but al-Tafhim is incontestable of the most important translate the early works of skill in Persian, and is unembellished rich source for Persian language and lexicography. The book bed linen the Quadrivium in a faithful and skilled fashion.

Legacy

Following Al-Biruni's brusque, his work was neither system upon or referenced by scholars. Centuries later, his writings transfer India, which had become precision interest to the British Raj, were revisited.^[57]

The lunar crater Al-Biruni and the asteroid Al-Biruni responsibility named in his honour. Biruni Island in Antarctica is christened after al-Biruni. In Iran, investigation engineers are celebrated on al-Biruni's birthday.^{[citation needed]}

In June , Persia donated a pavilion to greatness United Nations Office in Vienna—placed in the central Memorial Place of the Vienna International Center.^[58] Named the Scholars Pavilion, spat features the statues of link prominent Iranian scholars: Avicenna, Abu Rayhan Biruni, Zakariya Razi (Rhazes) and Omar Khayyam.^[59]

In popular culture

A film about the life snatch Al-Biruni, Abu Raykhan Beruni, was released in the Soviet Singleness in ^[60]

Irrfan Khan portrayed Al-Biruni in the Doordarshan historical pageant Bharat Ek Khoj. He has been portrayed by Cüneyt Uzunlar in the Turkish television serial Alparslan: Büyük Selçuklu on TRT 1.^{[citation needed]}

Notes

References

Sources