Exploring Era

CHAPTER 5

A

l-Battani or Mohammad Ibn Jabir Ibn Sinan Abu Abdullah is the father of trigonometry.
He was born in Battan, Damascus. He was an Arabian prince and the ruler of Syria.
Al-Battani was recognised as a renowned astronomer and Islamic mathematician. Al-Battani got
his early education from his own father Jabir Ibn Sinan who was a famous scientist of his era. He
succeeded in elevating the level of trigonometry and is the first person to develop the Contangents
Table.

His works in the field of astronomy were largely influential on Western academics that it gave
rise to the Renaissance era. Al-Battani corrected the works of Ptolemy in his book “Al Zaiju al
Sabik”. The book contains a preface and 57 chapters about calculation methods of constellations,
axial tilt of stars and their problems; types of calendar, time measurement system, astronomical
instruments and their making. The book has been translated into Latin by Plato of Tivoli and
this had had an effect in the development of astronomy in Europe as can be seen in Copernicus’
research on his finding.

Among his other works are "Zaiju al Ralqani” which contains his work “Syarah Arbau'u Maqolat
Li Batlimous”, “Kitab Ta' dil Kawakib” and “Kitab Ma'rifatul Matoli'u al Buruj fima Baina Arba'i
al Falak”. He also had few articles on geography.

Al-Battani who was known as the Ptolemy of Arab or as Albatagnius, had the unusual ability in
succeeding in combining his details of research with the development of the theory of astronomy.