Al-Biruni (4 September 973, Kath – 13 December 1048, Ghazni), a polymath (hezarfen) known for his works during the Islamic Golden Age. His full name is Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni (Persian: بیرونی, Arabic: ابو الريحان محمد بن احمد البيروني).
In Western languages his name appears as Alberuni or Aliboron. He is known for his work in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, geography, history, and medicine.
Al-Biruni was born in Khwarazm, a historic region in Central Asia. He lost his father at a young age. In Khwarazm he was protected by the Afrighid (Al-i Iraq) dynasty and received an education in mathematics and astronomy at the court. His teachers here were Ibn Iraq and Abd al-Samad ibn Hakim. During this period, when he was only 17, he wrote his first book. When Khwarazm came under the rule of the Ma'munid dynasty, al-Biruni went to Iran and lived there for a time. Later he was taken under the protection of the Ziyarids. He wrote his book titled al-Athar al-Baqiya at the court of the Ziyarids. After working there for two years as well, he returned to his homeland and began working on astronomy and astrology with Abu al-Wafa.
When Mahmud of Ghazni conquered Khwarazm in 1017, al-Biruni came to the city of Ghazni and there came under the patronage of the Ghaznavids. He was held in great esteem at the court and took part in Mahmud of Ghazni's expedition to India. There he attracted the attention of Indian scholars, and when the Indian country was taken, he settled in the city of Nandana and continued his scientific work there. By learning Sanskrit, he studied the life and culture of Indian society.
From there he returned again to the city of Ghazni and spent the rest of his life in this city. This period is considered al-Biruni's most productive time. He published his work titled Tahdid Nihayat al-Amakin, which he had long been preparing, in the year 1025, which falls within this period. He dedicated his work on astronomy titled al-Qanun al-Mas'udi to Sultan Mas'ud, the son of Mahmud of Ghazni. Al-Biruni died on 13 December 1048.