Famous Muslim Scientists - World General Knowledge Series PDF

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Famous Muslim Scientists | World General Knowledge Series
Abu Ali Sina or Avicenna 980 – June 1037
Abu Ali al-Hussain Ibn Abdallah Ibn Sina was a Persian physician and philosopher.
He was born in 980 A.D. at Afshana near Bukhara (in present-day Uzbekistan) then capital
of the Samanid Dynasty. He was an encyclopeadist, philosopher, physiologist, physician,
mathematician, astronomer, logi1cian and poet. He gained the titles of Shaikh al-
Ra’is (leader among the wise men) and Hujjat al-Haq (proof of God), displayed a remarkable
aptitude for learning from an early age.
Contributions and Achievements
His most important medical works are the Qanun (Canon) and a treatise on cardiac
drugs (hitherto unpublished) Qanun contains many examples of good observation –
distinction of mediastinitis from pleurisy; contagious nature of phthitis; distribution of
diseases by soil and water; careful description of skin troubles, of sexual diseases; and
supervisions; of nervous ailments (including love sickness); many psychological and
pathological facts clearly analyzed if badly explained.
Sina’s interest in mathematics was philosophical rather than technical and such as we
would expect in a late Neoplatonist. He explained the casting out of nines and its
application to the verification of square and cubes. Many of his writings were devoted
to mathematical and astronomical subjects.
He composed a translation on Euclid.
He made astronomical observations, and devised a contrivance the purpose of which
was similar to that of the vernier, that is, to increase the precision of instrumental
readings.
He made a profound study of various physical questions – motion, contact, force,
vacuum, infinity, light, and heat. He observed that if the perception of light is due to
the emission of some sort of particles by the luminous source, and speed of light must
be finite.
He made investigations on specific gravity.
He did not believe the possibility of chemical transmutation, because in his opinion the
differences of the metals were not superficial, but much deeper; coloring or bronzing
the metals does not affect their essence.
Books:
The Kitab ash-shifa (“Book of Healing”), probably the largest work of its kind
written by on person, is an encyclopaedia of knowledge that covers logic, the natural
sciences, the quadrivium(geometry, astronomy, arithmetic, music), psychology and
metaphysics.
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The al-Qanun fi at-tibb (“Canon of Medicine”), the most famous book in the history
of medicine of all civilizations, is an encyclopaedia of all medical knowledge of the
time. It was translated into Latin in the 12th century and established Avicenna’s fame
in the European civilization.
The Kitab an-najat (“Book of Salvation”), written partly in the field during a military
campaign, is a masterful summary of Avicenna’s philosophical thought outlined in the
Book of Healing.
The Kitab al-isharat wa at-tanbihat (“Book of Directives and Remarks”) is
Avicenna’s testimony; it shows the development of his personal thought and
philosophy in the direction of Islamic mysticism, from the first growth of faith to
uninterrupted vision of God.
The Lisan al-‘arab (“The Arabic Language”), Avicenna’s answer to criticism that he
did not master the Arabic language properly, did not get beyond the stage of a rough
draft.
Jabir Ibn Hayyan or Geber 103-200 Hijri/ 721-815 AD
Jabir Ibn Hayyan, is generally known as the Father of Chemistry He was born in Tus
and settled in Baghdad after the establishment of the Abbassid caliphate He is famous for
writing more than one hundred monumental treatises, of which twenty-two deal with
chemistry. Jabir’s major practical achievement was the discovery of minerals and acids,
which he prepared for the first time in his alembic. It is on the basis of such works that he is
regarded as the father of modern chemistry.
He was the first to introduce the laboratory experimental method, and the
procedures he pursued in his researches are almost identical to those followed today.

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He prepared many chemical substances, he was the first to prepare sulfuric acid from
alum by distillation, he also prepared mercury oxide, nitric acid, which is known as
silver water and he used to call it hydrolyzing water or water of fire.
He was the first to discover caustic soda, as well as the first to retrieve silver nitrate,
which he called the rock of hell.
He was the first to notice the precipitates of silver chloride upon adding table salt to
silver nitrate
He was the first to use the sensitive balance and the extremely accurate weights in his
laboratory experiments; he weighed amounts that are less than 1/100 pounds.
Books:
Kitab al-Kimya
Kitab al Sab’een
Kitab al-Ahjar (Book of Stones)
The book of Poisons and Preventing Their Damages is the most famous work of Jabir
and it is composed of five chapters. He divided poisons in it into animal, plant and rock
poisons. He also mentioned the antidotes to these poisons and their reactions in the body.
This book is considered a link between chemistry and medicine.

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Al Razi or Rhazes 860 A.D – November 923 AD
Abu-Bakr Muhammad Ibn-Zakariya Al Razi was born in the city of Rayy, six
kilometers south east of Tehran.
Numerous “firsts” in medical research, clinical care, and chemistry are attributed to
him, including being the first to differentiate smallpox from measles, and the discovery of
numerous compounds and chemicals including alcohol, kerosene, among others. Edward
Granville Browne considers him as “probably the greatest and most original of all the
physicians and one of the most prolific as an author”
Razi introduced many practical, progressive, medical and psychological ideas

The invention of a suture which he constructed from cat guts. This invention was used
by doctors many centuries after his death, until the invention of an improved version at
the end of the twentieth century.
The invention of mercury ointments.
The differentiation between venous and arterial hemorrhages, using the finger
pressure to stop a venous hemorrhage and a bandage to stop the arterial one in the
same way as modern medicine
The description of cataract extraction
The use of opium in treating dry cough.
The introduction of laxatives to pharmacy
Considering fever as a symptom, not a disease.
Books:
“Al-Hawi fi elm al- tadawi” or “The encompassing Book on Medicine“

“al-Tibb al-Mansouri“
“Smallpox and Measles”
“Al-Asrar fi al-Kimyaa” or “Secrets of Chemistry“
“At-Teb ar-Rawhani” or “Spritual Medicine”

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Ibn Rushd or Averroes 1126-1198 AD
Muslim Spain has produced some of the brightest intellectual luminaries of the
Middle Ages. One of them was Ibn Rushd, better known as Averroes in the west who is
universally acknowledged as the greatest philosopher of Islam and one of the greatest of all
times. Ibn Rushd, known as Averroes in the west was born in Cordova, the metropolis of
Muslim Spain Averroes, who was considered Avicenna of the west, applied himself to
philosophy, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, logic and Islamic jurisprudence. Ibn Rushd
was the most learned commentator of Aristotelian works and was more Aristotelian than Ibn
Sina. He corrected some of the misconceptions of Ibn Sina about the rational philosophy of
Aristotle.
In philosophy, his most important work Tuhafut al-Tuhafut was written in response to
Al-Ghazali’s work
He discovered a previously unobserved star He also gave one of the first descriptions
on sunspots.
In medicine his well-known book Kitab al-Kulyat fi al-Tibb was written before 1162 A.D
Its Latin translation was known as ‘Colliget’. In it Ibn Rushd has thrown light on
various aspects of medicine, including the diagnoses, cure and prevention of diseases
and several original observations of him.
Books:
His chief philosophical work is “Tahafutu’l Tahafut” (The Refutation of the

Refutation), which was written in refutation of al-Ghazali’s work, “Tahafutu’l Falasifa” (The
Refutation of Philosophy).
Abu Raihan Al-Biruni 973-1048 AD
Abu Raihan Mohammad Ibn Ahmad al-Biruni was one of the well-known figures associated
with the court of King Mahmood Ghaznawi. Al-Biruni was a versatile scholar and scientist
who had equal facility in physics, metaphysics, mathematics, geography and history. Born in
the city of Kheva near “Ural” (located in Xorazm Province, Uzbekistan)
His many scientific achievements include: pioneering the notion that the speed of light

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is much greater than the speed of sound, disputing the European Ptolemaic view that
Africa stretched infinitely to the South, insisting it was surrounded by water,
advancing the controversial but correct view that the Indus valley was once a sea
basin, and explaining natural springs by the laws of hydrostatics.
Al-Biruni’s focus was mainly in the location of places relative to each other, their
latitudes and longitudes, and the computation of their azimuths (angular measurement
in a spherical coordinate system) of the qebla (direction to Mecca).
He wrote his famous text, Shadows, around 1021. It is a precious legacy of the history
of mathematics, astronomy, and physics.
In Kitab-al-Jamahir, al-Biruni became the first to determine the hardness of minerals
and their specific weights. He described the ratios between the densities of gold,
mercury, lead, silver, bronze, copper, brass, iron and tin. He was the first to see gas-
liquid inclusions in gems – ancient fluids that took part in the formation of mountain
crystals, topaz, amethysts, sapphires, ambers, and other minerals
He described the general characteristics of the “planets,” Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the
Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon and describes their role in determining people’s
actions and professions, their bodies and diseases, animals, vegetables & minerals.
Books:
Qanun-I Masoodi
al-Athar al-Baqia
Kitab-al-Saidana
Kitab-al-Jamahir
Al-Khawarizmi Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Musa 780-850 AD
Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khawarizmi. The last-mentioned name (his
nisba) refers to his birthplace, Khwarizm, modern Khiva, south of the Aral Sea. He was born
around 780 in the town of Kath part of Khwarism. Kath is now buried in the sand.He was a
mathematician, astronomer and geographer. He was perhaps one of the greatest
mathematicians who ever lived, as, in fact; he was the founder of several branches and basic
concepts of mathematics.
He is considered as “Father of Algebra”.Ftom the title of his work, Hisab Al-Jabr wal
Mugabalah (Book of Calculations, Restoration and Reduction), Algebra (Al-Jabr)
derived its name.

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Al-Khwarizmi developed the concept of the algorithm in mathematics (which is a

reason for his being called the grandfather of computer science by some people).
Al-Khwarizmi’s algebra is regarded as the foundation and cornerstone of the sciences.
To al-Khwarizmi we owe the world “algebra,” from the title of his greatest
mathematical work, Hisab al-Jabr wa-al-Muqabala.
Today, people use algorithms to do addition and long division, principles that are
found in Al-Khwarizmi’s text written over 2000 years ago. Al-Khwarizmi was also
responsible for introducing the Arabic numbers to the West, setting in motion a
process that led to the use of the nine Arabic numerals, together with the zero sign.
Of great importance also was al-Khwarizmi’s contribution to medieval geography. He
systematized and corrected Ptolemy’s research in geography, using his own original
findings that are entitled as Surat al-Ard (The Shape of the Earth).
Books:
Several of his books were translated into Latin in the early 12th century. In fact, his
book on arithmetic, Kitab Al-Jam’a wal- Tafreeq bil Hisab Al-Hindi, was lost in Arabic but
survived in a Latin translation. His astronomical tables were also translated into European
languages and,later,into Chinese. His geography captioned Kitab Surat-Al-Ard,(The Face of
the Earth) together with its maps, was also translated. In addition, he wrote a book on the
Jewish calendar Istikhraj Tarikh Al-Yahud, and two books on the astrolabe. He also wrote
Kitab Al-Tarikh and his book on sun-dials was captioned Kitab Al-Rukhmat, but both of them
have been lost.
Yaqub ibn Ishaq Al-Kindi or Alkindus 801–873 AD
Al-Kindī known as “the Philosopher of the Arabs”, was Muslim Arab philosopher,
mathematician, physician, and musician. Al-Kindi was the first of the Muslim peripatetic
philosophers, and is unanimously hailed as the “father of Islamic or Arabic philosophy”for
his synthesis, adaptation and promotion of Greek and Hellenistic philosophy in the Muslim
world
On the scientific front, Al-Kindi plays a central role in Islamic scholarship for two
principal reasons:
His early role in establishing a scientific methodology;

The diversity of subjects he addressed.

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Al-Kindi was one of the first Arab scholars involved in studying and commenting on
Greek scientific and philosophical manuscripts. He defined philosophy as “the establishment
of what is true and right”.
Al-Kindi took his view of the solar system from Ptolemy, who placed the Earth at the
centre of a series of concentric spheres, in which the known heavenly bodies (the
Moon, Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and the stars) are embedded.
He was also an opponent of alchemy; he debunked the myth that simple,
base metals could be transformed into precious metals such as gold or silver He is
sometimes credited as one of the first distillers of alcohol.
Al-Kindi was the first great theoretician of music in the Arab-Islamic world. He is
known to have written fifteen treatises on music theory, but only five have survived.
He added a fifth string to the’ud’
In the field of mathematics, al-Kindi played an important role in introducing Indian
numerals to the Islamic and Christian world
Al-Kindi General Hospital, one of the biggest medical centres in present day Baghdad
was named after the tremendous contributions in medical and pharmaceutical
disciplines of the great Arab philosopher al-Kindi.
Books:
He was a fertile writer; the total number of books written by him was 241, the
prominent among which were divided as follows:
Astronomy 16, Arithmetic 11, Geometry 32, Medicine 22, Physics 12, Philosophy 22, Logic
9, and Psychology 5.
Gerard of Cremona translated many of his books into Latin. These books include Ikhtiyarat
al-Ayyam, al-Mosiqa, Risalah dar Tanjim, Ilahyat-e-Aristu, Mad-o-Jazr and Adviyah
Murakkaba.
(Gerard of Cremona (1114–1187) was an Italian translator of scientific books from Arabic
into Latin.)

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Ibn Al Haitham or Alhazan 965- 1939 AD
Al-Haitham, known in the West as Alhazen, is considered as the father of modern

optics. Ibn al-Haitham was born in 965 C.E. in Basrah (present Iraq), and received his
education in Basrah and Baghdad. He traveled to Egypt and Spain. He spent most of his life
in Spain, where conducted research in optics, mathematics, physics, medicine and
development of scientific methods. He was called the “Physicist” in medieval Europe and
nicknamed Ptolemaeus Secundus (Ptolemy the Second), according to the historian Henry
Corbin.
Al-Haitham was the first to describe accurately the various parts of the eye and gave a
scientific explanation of the process of vision.
He conducted experiments on the propagation of light and colors, optic illusions and
reflections. He examined the refraction of light rays through transparent medium (air,
water) and documented the laws of refraction. He also carried out the first
experiments on the dispersion of light into colors.
In mathematics, he developed analytical geometry by establishing linkage between
algebra and geometry.
Books:
Ibn Al Haytham’s most important work is “Kitab Al Manazir” (The Book of Optics),
a seven-volume treatise written between 1011 and 1021, and translated into Latin at the
end of the 12th century.
Ibn Al Haytham’s most famous work on astronomy is “Hay’at Al ‘Alam” (On the
Configuration of the World), in which he presents a non-technical description of how the
abstract mathematical models of Ptolemy’s “Almagest” can be understood according to the
natural philosophy of his time.
Nasir al-Din al–Tusi 1201-1274 AD
Al-Tusi, Nasir al-Din was one of the greatest scholars of his time and one of the most
influential figures in Islamic intellectual history. He was a scientist, mathematician,
astronomer, philosopher, and theologian. He created ingenious mathematical models for use
in astronomy.

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Tusi recognized three types of living things: plants, animals, and humans. He wrote
“Animals are higher than plants, because they are able to move consciously, go after
food, find and eat useful things.
Al-Tusi was instrumental in building an observatory in the new capital. Al-Tusi spent
12 years at the observatory and produced an accurate table of planetary movements
In mathematics, al-Tusi pioneered spherical trigonometry and treated trigonometry as
a new mathematical discipline.
He developed six fundamental formulas for the solution of spherical right-angled
triangles.
He wrote on binomial coefficients, which Blaise Pascal later introduced.
In chemistry and physics, Tusi stated a version of the law of conservation of mass. He
wrote that a body of matter is able to change, but is not able to disappear: “A body of
matter cannot disappear completely. It only changes its form, condition, composition,
colour and other properties and turns into a different complex or elementary matter.”
Books
Tusi has about 150 works in Persian and Arabic

Kitab al-Shakl al-Qatta. A five volume summary of trigonometry.
Al-Tadhkirah Fi’ilm al-Hay’ah A memoir on the science of astronomy
Akhlaq-i-Nasri– A work on ethics.
Al-Risalah al-Asturlabiyah – A Treatise on astrolabe.
Zij-i ilkhani (Ilkhanic Tables) – A major astronomical treatise, completed in 1272.
Sharh al-isharat (Commentary on Avicenna’s Isharat)
Awsaf al-Ashraf a short mystical-ethical work in Persian
Omar Ibn Ibrahim al-Khayyam 1044-1123
Ghiyath al-Din Abul Fateh Omar Ibn Ibrahim al-Khayyam was born at Nishapur (Iran)
Persian mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, physician and poet, he is commonly known
as Omar Khayyam. Khayyam means the tent-maker, and although generally considered as
Persian Khayyam was also a well-known poet. In this capacity, he has become more
popularly known in the Western world since 1839, when Edward Fitzgerald published an
English translation of his Rubaiyat (quatrains).
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He made an attempt to classify most algebraic equations, including the third degree
equations and, in fact, offered solutions for a number of them.
His book Maqalat fi al-Jabr wa al-Muqabila is a masterpiece on algebra and has great
importance in the development of algebra.
His remarkable classification of equations is based on the complexity of the equations,
as the higher the degree of an equation, the more terms, or combinations of terms, it
will contain.
His contributions to other fields of science include a study of generalities of Euclid,
development of methods for the accurate determination of specific gravity, etc. In
metaphysics, he wrote three books Risala Dar Wujud and the recently discovered
Nauruznamah. He was also a renowned astronomer and a physician.
Books:
Treatise on Demonstration of Problems of Algebra

Explanations of the difficulties in the postulates in Euclid’s Elements
Abu Al-Nasr Al-Farabi 870-950 AD
Abu Nasr Mohammad Ibn al-Farakh al-Farabi was born in a small village Wasij, near
Farab in Turkistan He lived through the reign of six Abbasid Caliphs. As a philosopher and
scientist, he acquired great proficiency in various branches of learning and is reported to
have been an expert in different languages
Farabi contributed considerably to science, philosophy, logic, sociology, medicine,

mathematics and music. His major contribution seems to be in philosophy, logic and
sociology and, of course, stands out as an Encyclopedist. As a philosopher, he may be
classed as a Neoplatonist who tried to synthesize Platonism and Aristotelism with theology
and he wrote such rich commentaries on Aristotle’s physics, meteorology, logic, etc., in
addition to a large number of books on several other subjects embodying his original
contribution, that he came to be known as the ‘Second Teacher’ (al-Mou’allim al-Thani)
Aristotle being the First. One of the important contributions of Farabi was to make the
study of logic more easy by dividing it into two categories viz., Takhayyul (idea) and Thubut
(proof).
One of the most important contributions of Farabi, beyond his political views and
scientific philosophies, was to make the study of logic easier by dividing it into two

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categories – Takhayyul (idea) and Thubut (proof). He wrote several sociological books,
including his famous work – Ara Ahl al-Madina al-Fadila (The Model City).
Al-Farabi also wrote a book on music, called Kitab al-Musiqa (the Book of Music).
He was an expert in art and the science of music and invented several musical
instruments
He was the first Islamic philosopher to separate philosophy and theology, influencing
the scholars of many different religions who followed him.
He absorbed the components of Platonic and Neo-Platonic philosophy, which he then
integrated into his knowledge of the Qur’an and the various sciences derived from it.
Books:
Ara Ahl al-Madina al-Fadila ‘The Model City’ is a significant early contribution to
sociology snd political science.
Kitab al-Musiqa
Kitab al-lhsa al ‘Ulum classification and fundamental principles of science
Fusus al-Hikam, which remained a text book of philosophy for several centuries at
various centres of learning and is still taught at some of the institutions in the East.
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Famous Muslim Scientists | World General Knowledge Series

Abu Ali Sina or Avicenna 980 – June 1037

Contributions and Achievements

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Jabir Ibn Hayyan or Geber 103-200 Hijri/ 721-815 AD

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Contributions and Achievements

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Al Razi or Rhazes 860 A.D – November 923 AD

Contributions and Achievements

Razi introduced many practical, progressive, medical and psychological ideas

“Al-Hawi fi elm al- tadawi” or “The encompassing Book on Medicine“

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Ibn Rushd or Averroes 1126-1198 AD

Contributions and Achievements

His chief philosophical work is “Tahafutu’l Tahafut” (The Refutation of the

Abu Raihan Al-Biruni 973-1048 AD

Contributions and Achievements

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Al-Khawarizmi Abu Abdallah Muhammad ibn Musa 780-850 AD

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Contributions and Achievements

Al-Khwarizmi developed the concept of the algorithm in mathematics (which is a

Yaqub ibn Ishaq Al-Kindi or Alkindus 801–873 AD

His early role in establishing a scientific methodology;

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Contributions and Achievements

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Ibn Al Haitham or Alhazan 965- 1939 AD

Al-Haitham, known in the West as Alhazen, is considered as the father of modern

Contributions and Achievements

Nasir al-Din al–Tusi 1201-1274 AD

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Contributions and Achievements

Tusi has about 150 works in Persian and Arabic

Omar Ibn Ibrahim al-Khayyam 1044-1123

Contributions and Achievements

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Treatise on Demonstration of Problems of Algebra

Abu Al-Nasr Al-Farabi 870-950 AD

Farabi contributed considerably to science, philosophy, logic, sociology, medicine,

Contributions and Achievements

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Check Other World General Knowledge Notes

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