Al-Biruni: One of the Greatest Pioneers of Geographical Science

Authors

  • Aijaz Ahmed Department of Islamic Studies, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 2020202, U.P., India

Abstract

Abu Rayhan al-Biruni (973-1048) was unquestionably one of the greatest polymaths and scientists of the tenth century Islamic Golden Period. He is commonly referred to as al-Biruni. Among his various fields of study, al-Biruni excels in mathematics, physics, astronomy, science, as well as history, chronology, and languages, in which he is well-versed. He also made significant contributions to the advancement of Muslim geographical knowledge, particularly in the subject of mathematical geography. Furthermore, al-Biruni is sometimes referred to as the father of comparative religious studies, as well as the father of Indology, modern geodesy, and the first anthropological. In this paper, I will highlight some of his experimental contributions, as well as his geographical knowledge, which constituted the foundation of current geography knowledge.

References

. M. A Hanifi, A Survey of Muslim Institutions and Culture, Pakistan, 1978, p 149

. Bayt al-Hikmah was founded by the Abbasids caliph al-Mamun (813-833) whose reign is considered the golden period of the Abbasids.

Dr. Mohammad Israuddin, “Al-Biruni’s Contributions to Geography”, Al-Biruni Commemorative Volume, edited by Hakim Mohammad Said, Karachi. Pakistan, 1979, p.206

. Ahmad Nafis, Muslim and Science of Geography, Decca, 1980, p.28-30; https://historiaislamica.com/en/al-biruni-the-man-who-calculated-the-earths-radius/

. Nasr Sayyed Husain, Abu Rayhan Al-Biruni, nd. P. 2

. S. M. Ali, Arab Geography, Aligarh, 1960 p.81

. Kath meant a wall in the Khwarizmian language even if there were no building within it and also see in D.J. Boilot “ Al-Biruni”, in Encyclopeadia of Islam new edition, E.J. Brill, Vol. I,(London, 1960). E. S. Kennedy, “Al-Biruni”, Dictionary of Scientific Biography, (Charles Scriber’s Sons, New York), 1970.

. https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Al-Biruni/#:~:text=Important%20contributions%20to%20geodesy%20and,(see%20%5B50%5D).

. https://historiaislamica.com/en/al-biruni-the-man-who-calculated-the-earths-radius/

. Hakim Mohammad Said, ‘Abu Raihan Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Al-Biruni”, in Al-Biruni Commemorative Volume, op.cit., p. 18

. Dr, Mishra J. S., Al-Biruni Eleventh Century Historian, Varanasi, 1985, p. 4

. Ali S. M., Arab Geography, op.cit, p. 82

. Ahmad Nafis, Muslim and the Science of Geography, op.cit, p. 29

. Husain Majid, Evolution of Geographical Thought, Jaipur, 1988

. Cf Ali S. M., opcit, p. 82

. Ibid., p. 83

. Ahmad Nafis, Muslim Contribution to Geography, p. 30

. Ali S. M., op.cit., p. 85

. Ahmad Nafis, Muslims and the Science of Geography, p. 44

. Ahmad Ziauddin, “Al-Biruni-Life and Works”, Islamic Culture, Vol., 5, 31, pp. 43-44

. Nafis Ahmad, Muslims and the Science of Geography, p. 55

. Sultan Mawdud was succeeded by his father Masud who was murdered by his officer. Mawdud reign was eight year.

. Ahmad Nafis, Muslim and the Science of Geography, op.cit, p. 30

. E. S. Kennedy, “Al-Biruni” in Dictionary of Scientific Biography, New York, 1970, Vol. II p. 155

. Sharief M. M., A History of Muslim Philosophy, (Delhi, 1989), Vol. II, p. 1269

. Mohammad Israruddin, “Al-Biruni’s Contribution to Geography’, Al-Biruni Commemorative Volume, p. 207

. The distance of a point E or W of the Greenwich meridian, which is longitude 0 degree, measured as an angle from the centre of the Earth. Longitude is measured in degrees E or W of the Greenwich up to 180 degrees. Lines of longitude are known as meridians.

. The distance of point N or S of the equator, measured as an angle from the centre of the Earth,. The equator is latitude 0 degree and the poles are latitudes 90 degree N and 90 degree S. Lines joining poles with the same latitude are called parallels.

. Ahmad Nafis, Muslim Contribution to Geography, p. 33

. Ibid., p. 32

. It is a Point on the surface of the Earth directly opposite to each other if a straight line were drawn through the centre of the Earth. Australia and Newzealand , which lie roughly on the opposite side of the earth to the British Isles, are often referred to as the antipodes

. Mohammad Israruddin, “Al-Biruni’s Contribution to Geography’, Al-Biruni Commemorative Volume, p. 206

. Mohammad Aslam, “Al-Biruni Aur Ilm-I Djughrafiyah”, Al-Biruni Commemorative Volume, p. 844.

. Ibid., p. 843

. Ibid., p. 839

. M. M. Sharif (ed.), A History of Muslim Philosophy, 1966, Vol. II, p. 1290

. Ibrahim Boolaki, “The Mathematical Geography of al-Biruni”, in Hamdard Islamicus, Pakistan, Vol. VII, No. 2, pp. 64-65

Downloads

Published

2023-09-30