He was a polyglot, fluent in Arabic, Greek, Persian, and Sanskrit, which enabled him to absorb the knowledge of various ancient civilizations. His work was extremely wide-ranging, encompassing alchemy, astronomy, geography, geology, Islamic philosophy, and theology.
At a time when Europe was entering the Dark Ages, the Islamic world was experiencing a golden age of intellectual discovery and knowledge. One of the leading figures in this development was Abu Rayhan Biruni (973-1048), an extraordinary scholar who made achievements that shaped many of the modern sciences. From his hypothesis about the rotation of the Earth to his measurements of its diameter, his work became a bridge between the ancient heritage and the innovations that would emerge later, including those that exploded in the European Renaissance. Abu Rayhan Biruni was born in Khwarezm, in northwestern modern-day Uzbekistan, and was a man of extraordinary learning, to the point that a modern city, Beruniy, is named after him.
He was a polyglot, fluent in Arabic, Greek, Persian, and Sanskrit, which enabled him to absorb the knowledge of various ancient civilizations. His work was extremely wide-ranging, encompassing alchemy, astronomy, geography, geology, Islamic philosophy, and theology.
One of Biruni’s greatest contributions was in the field of astronomy. He was one of the first to calculate the radius and rotation of the Earth and developed an improved quadrant for measuring the altitude of the Sun. He also developed a method for determining the density of substances through the ratio of mass to volume. These discoveries served as the basis for the work of later scholars such as Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton. His work also inspired the astronomer Richard Dunthorne, who used studies of the phases of the Moon and data on equinoxes and eclipses to determine the acceleration of the Moon. Biruni was also a pioneer of Indological studies. He served as an astrologer at the court of Mahmud of Ghazni, the sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire.
During his expeditions to India, he recorded his observations of this unknown and mysterious country, creating one of his most important works, an encyclopedic work that constitutes a great wealth of knowledge on Indian culture.
His scientific legacy is vast and continues to influence us to this day. Today, under the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the legacy of such prominent figures as Al-Biruni is being actively studied and promoted at the Center for Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan. This center is a magnificent building in the heart of Tashkent, designed to tell the story of these Uzbek intellectuals and preserve their transformative works for generations to come. Al-Biruni’s name remains synonymous with wisdom, the pursuit of knowledge, and inspiration, motivating future generations to seek the truth and make new scientific discoveries. He has been a source of inspiration for scientists and mathematicians for over a thousand years, and his influence is still present today. In addition to having a city named after him, Al-Biruni now has an award dedicated to his legacy.
At the 220th session of the UNESCO Executive Board, held in October 2024, it was announced that the UNESCO-Uzbekistan International Prize will be named after Al-Biruni, in honor of his scientific achievements. This prize will be awarded every two years.
