Abu Rayhan al-Biruni
Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni was a distinguished Muslim scholar, traveler, philosopher, geographer, astronomer, pharmacist, geologist, historian, and translator of Indian cultures. Often regarded as one of the greatest intellects in Islamic history, he was the first to articulate the concept of the Earth’s rotation on its axis. Al-Biruni studied mathematics under the renowned scholar Mansur ibn Iraq and was a contemporary of prominent figures such as Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Ibn Miskawayh. He acquired proficiency in both Greek and Sanskrit during his extensive travels.
The Early Life of Abu Rayhan al-Biruni
In 999 CE, Abu Rayhan al-Biruni traveled to Jurjan at the age of twenty-five. During his stay at the court of Sultan Abu al-Hasan Qabus and Shams al-Maali, he published his first work, “The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries.” Upon his return to his homeland, he joined the entourage of Prince Abu al-Abbas Ma’mun ibn Ma’mun Khwarazmshah, who assigned him various political tasks due to his eloquence. Following the fall of the emirate to Mahmud ibn Sabuktigin, the ruler of Ghazni, Biruni, along with other scholars, was brought to the ruler’s court. It was during this period that he published his second book, “The Validity of What India Has to Offer: Acceptable or Rejected by Reason.” In addition, he authored two significant works: “Al-Qanun al-Mas’udi” and “The Explanation of the Basics of Astrology.” Western scholars have often referred to al-Biruni as “the Ptolemy of the Arabs.”
Achievements of Abu Rayhan al-Biruni
Astronomy and Mathematics
Al-Biruni authored a remarkable collection of works in astronomy and mathematics, totaling ninety-five books out of a comprehensive collection of one hundred and forty-six. His writings encompassed sixty-five percent of what has been discovered in celestial sciences and the fundamental principles relied upon in modern times. Additionally, he provided extensive commentary on Indian astronomy in his book “The History of India,” where he discussed the Earth’s rotation in relation to specific astronomical phenomena. This subject was also revisited in his work “The Key to Astronomy.”
Al-Biruni engaged in numerous discussions and debates regarding the Earth’s rotation, particularly with the scholar Ibn Sina. He also challenged Aristotle’s views on astronomy, disputing the belief that celestial bodies are fixed. He validated his proposition of a vacuum through experimental methods and offered explanations for the phenomena of eclipses.
Physics
In the realm of physics, al-Biruni explored the speed of light, concluding that it exceeds the speed of sound. He conducted various physical experiments and contributed to the fields of dynamics and statics. Furthermore, he analyzed the density of several metals, including gold, copper, silver, iron, and mercury.
Geography
Among al-Biruni’s geographical accomplishments, he is noted for devising the concepts of latitude and longitude and developing a theory for measuring the Earth’s radius while calculating its circumference.