Abu Ali ibn Sina (980-1037)

Ibn Sina, Abu Ali al-Husayn ibn Abdullah ibn al-Hasan ibn Ali (980.8. Bukhara, Afshana village - 1037.18.6. Hamadan city, Iran) is a great Central Asian encyclopedist who made a great contribution to the development of world science. He is known as Avicenna in the West.

Ibn Sina's father Abdullah was from Balkh, moved to Bukhara during the time of Samanid emir Nuh ibn Mansur (967-997) and was appointed as a financial official in the village of Hurmaysan. He married a girl named Sitora in the village of Afshona and had two sons. The eldest of his sons was Husain (Ibn Sina), the youngest was Mahmud. When Husayn was 5 years old, the Ibn Sina’s family moved to the capital, Bukhara, and he was sent to study. Before he was 10 years old, Ibn Sina fully mastered the Qur'an and etiquette lessons. At the same time, he is also engaged in arithmetic and algebra, perfectly mastering the Arabic language and literature.

Ibn Sina received all the necessary knowledge in Bukhara. The scientific work of the scientist began at the age of 18. He wrote a treatise on psychic powers dedicated to Nuh ibn Mansur, a medical poetic work called "Urjuza", and at the request of his neighbor and friend Abul-Husayn al-Aruzi, He wrote the work "Hikmat al-Aruzi" ("The Wisdom of Aruzi"). In addition, at the request of another friend, the jurist (lawyer) Abu Bakr al-Barqi (or Baraki), the 20-volume encyclopedic work "Al-hasil wa-l-mahsul" ("The End and the Result") and the 2-volume "Kitab wrote al-bir wa-l-ism" ("The Book of Generosity and Crime").

Contemporaries of Ibn Sina called him "Shaykh ar-rais" ("leader of the wise, chief of scholars"); "Sharaf al-mulk" ("reputation, honor of the country"), "hujjat al-haqq" ("evidence of the truth), "Hakim al-Wazir" ("wise, enterprising minister"). In the history of world science, Ibn Sina is recognized as an encyclopedic scientist, because he dealt with almost all the existing sciences of his time and wrote works about them. The scientist wrote his works in Arabic, the scientific language of the Near and Middle East at that time, and some (poetic and some philosophical works) in Persian. Various sources mention that he wrote more than 450 works, but 242 (160) of them have reached us. Of these, 80 are related to philosophy, 43 to medicine, and the rest are to logic, psychology, natural science, astronomy, mathematics, music, chemistry, ethics, literature and linguistics.

Ibn Sina's scientific heritage is conditionally divided into 4 parts, i.e. philosophical, natural, literary and medical fields. But if we look at the quantitative ratio of Ibn Sina's works, it can be seen that the interest and attention of the scientist is more focused on philosophy and medicine. Although it was his medical legacy, particularly the Laws of Medicine, that made him famous in the West as "Avicenna", the name "Sheikh-ar-Rais" is primarily a reference to his great philosophy.

The scientist's biggest and most important work on philosophy is "Kitab ash-shifa". It consists of 4 parts: 1) logic - divided into 9 parts: al-madhal - introduction to logic; al-maqulot – categories; al-ibarat – interpretation; al-qiyas - syllogism; al-burhan - proof, evidence; al-jadal - dispute, dialectic; as-safsata - sophistry; al-khitaba - rhetoric; ash-she'r - poetics (art of poetry); 2) nature (minerals, plants, animal world and people are discussed here in separate sections; 3) mathematics - divided into 4 sciences; arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music; 4) metaphysics or theology. Some parts of this work have been published in Latin, Syriac, Hebrew, German, English, French, Russian, Persian and Uzbek languages.

Another philosophical work of Ibn Sina, "Kitab an-najot" is an abbreviated form of "Kitab al-shifa", which has also been partially translated into several languages of the world. Philosophical views of the scientist are also found their reflection in philosophical treatises of various volumes such as  "Al-ishorat wa-tanbihat" ("Hints and condemnations'), "Hikmat al-mashriqin" ("Philosophy of the Orientalists"), "Kitab al-ishorat fi-mantiq wa hikmat" ("Hints of logic and philosophy "), written in Persian language "Donishnoma" ("Book of Knowledge"), as well as artistic stories with philosophical content such as "Tayr Story", "Solomon and Ibsol", "Hayy Ibn Yaqzon", "The Story of Yusuf".

More than 30 of Ibn Sina's works related to medicine have reached us, among them there is a medical encyclopedia such as "Qanun" as well as "Urjuza fit-tib" ("Medical Urjuza") of various volumes dedicated to some theoretical and practical issues of medicine, "al-Adviyat al-qalbiya" ("Heart medicines"), "Daf' almadorr al-kulliya an-al-abdon al-insaniya" ("Removal of all harm to the human body"), "Kitab al-qulanj" ("The book about the Kulanj"), "Maqola fi-nabz" ("Article about pulse"), "Risala fi-l-boh" ("Treatise on sexual power"), "Risala fi tadbir al-musofirin" (" Treatise on the Activities of Travelers"), "Risola fi hifz as-sihha" ("Treatise on Health"), "Risola fi-s-sikanjubin" ("Treatise on Sikanjubin"), "Risola fil-fasd" ("Treatise on Blood Drawing"), "Risola fil-hindabo" ("Treatise on Chicory ").

Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Abu Rayhan Beruni (973-1048)

Abu Rayhan Beruni was born on September 4, 973 year in the city of Kot (now the city of Beruni) situated in ancient Khorezm. He was a lexicographer, astronomer, geographer, mineralogist, ethnographer, historian, and poet of the Middle Ages.

Beruni  studied mathematics and astronomy from a young age under the mentorship of Abu Nasr Iraq, and measured the height of the Sun at the zenith with an “armila” at the age of 16-17. 30 years later, Beruni, analyzed the results which he measured in his youth and the notes were quite reliable, as he engaged in observing solar eclipses at that times, as well. At the age of 22, Beruni made the first globe in Central Asia. He studied many books left by his ancestors and created the first major work about the annual calculations of different people that has reached us - "Osorul Baqiya" ("Memorials left by ancient peoples"). It fully describes all periods, holidays and calendars of the Greeks, Romans, Persians, Sogdians, Khorezami and many other tribes, and the cultural and literary history of various countries of the East, as well.

In 998, the governor of Jurjan, Qabus ibn Vushmagir, invited him to his city and offered Beruni a high position from the ministry. However, Beruni, who was thirsty for knowledge, rejected this offer, and in 1004, he returned to Gurganj and established the "Ma'mun Academy" named after the king of Gurganch.

In this academy, Abu Ali ibn Sina, Miskawayh, philosopher Abu Sahl Mashihi, mathematician and astronomer Abu Nasr ibn Iraq, translator Abul Khair ibn Hammar, writer Abu Mansur al-Saolabi, Zayniddin Jurjani and dozens of other scientists studied science and made a great contribution to its development by creating wonderful works there. All ancient scientific sources call this community "Darul Hikma" ("House of the Wise").

Beruni's teacher, Abu Nasr ibn Iraq, was a very knowledgeable scholar of his time. He was nicknamed "the Ptolemy of his time" during his lifetime. In addition, Abu Rayhan raised Beruni in his house. Thanks to these two great figures, Gurganch Palace created an ideal conditions for scholars. Also, they were in personal connection with many scholars in the Near and Middle East.  From the year of 1004, upon the request of Ibn Iraq and Beruni, scholars from Nishapur, Balkh and Bukhara and even Arab Iraq began to come to Gurganj. In this way, a scientific institution named "Darul Hikma" was fully formed in Gurganch. In this scientific institution, as in "Baytul Hikma" in Baghdad, researches were carried out in all fields of science. According to information given by Beruni, some translations from Syriac and Greek languages were also carried out here.

Beruni wrote "History of India" and "Geodesia" in 1025, "Al-Qanun al-Mas'udi" between 1030-1041, "Mineralogy" and "Kitab as-saydana fi-t-tibb" in 1041-1048. The contribution of this scientist’s to the development of science was huge, he created 152 treatises, 30 of which have come down to us.

Abu Rayhan Beruni visited in India a thousand years ago and studied the ancient Indian script - Sanskrit, and wrote his famous work "India" in order to study its history and culture. "India" is a very large work, which contains information about Indian literature, philosophy, exact sciences, geography, philology, law and customs, religion, historical-religious narratives and types of Indian writing.

Abu Rayhan Beruni's connection with Ibn Sina also took place during his stay in Gurganj. Only 18 of their questions and answers and objections written by Abu Rayhan Beruni to Ibn Sina have reached us. These correspondences show that he was also interested in natural philosophy and physics. In these questions and answers, two famous scientists conducted a scientific discussion on issues such as space, heat distribution, thermal expansion of objects, reflection and refraction of light.

Abu Rayhan Beruni died in Ghazna on December 11, in 1048 year, at the age of 75. Eternalizing the name of the great scientist, many scientific centers, streets, cities, villages in our country are proudly named after him.

Ahmad al-Farghani (797-865)

The great astronomer, mathematician and geographer al-Farghani is a prominent figure among Central Asian scholars who lived in the Middle Ages.

His full name is Abul Abbas Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Kasir al-Farghani.

Al-Farghani was born in the village of Kubo (Kuva) in the Ferghana Valley.

Al-Farghani was governor of the eastern lands of Caliph Harun al-Rashid and was among the group of scholars of his son Abdallah (the future Caliph al-Ma'mun), in Merw.

In 861, Ahmed al-Farghani created a nilometer, i.e., an instrument for determining the water level of the Nile River, on Rawzah Island near Cairo.

Al-Farghani's main astronomical work “The Book of Celestial Movements and the General Science of Astrology” (“Kitab al-kharakat as-samowiyya wa jawami' ilm an-nujum”) was twice translated into Latin in Europe in the 12th century and into other languages and after being translated into other European languages in the 13th century, the Latinized name “Alfraganus” was widely used in the West for several centuries.

The Latin translation of Al-Farghani's work was first published in 1493 and is one of the oldest published books.

In 1669, after the famous Dutch mathematician and arabologist Jacob Golius published the Arabic text of al-Farghani's work with a new Latin translation, the fame of al-Farghani and his work in Europe increased even more.

The famous scholar Regiomontan, one of the greatest representatives of the European Renaissance, conducted lectures on astronomy based on al-Farghani's books at Austrian and Italian universities in the 15th century.

Al-Farghani's name was also mentioned by Dante (15th century) and Schiller (18th century). Among European scholars, the work of al-Farghani was highly appreciated by Dalambre, Brockelman, H. Zuter, I. J. Krachkovsky, A. P. Yushkevich and B. A. Rosenfeld.

At present, eight works by al-Ferghani are known, all of them are related to astronomy. They are as follows: the above-mentioned work, widely known as the “Book on the Fundamentals of Astronomy” - manuscripts of which are available in almost all libraries of the world. “Book on Making Asturlob” - manuscripts are in the libraries of Berlin, London, Mashhad, Paris and Tehran, “Book on Practice with Asturlob” - the only manuscript in Rampur (India), “Tables of Al-Farghani” - manuscript in Patna (India), “A Treatise on the Determination of the Time of the Moon's Occurrence under and above the Earth” - manuscript in Cairo, “On the Calculation of the Seven Climates” - manuscripts in Gotha and Cairo, “A Book on Making Sundials” - manuscripts  are preserved in Aleppo and Cairo. Beruni mentions al-Khwarizmi's “Zij”, but the manuscript has not been found.

Ferghani's name is known throughout the East and the West. As a scientist who made a great contribution to the development of natural and scientific knowledge in the Middle Ages, he is mentioned with great pride and honor in the sources, in the works of the latest Western and Eastern authors, especially in his own country, Uzbekistan, streets and educational institutions are named after him.

In 1998, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the 1200th anniversary of the famous scientist was celebrated in great scope.

Mirzo Ulugh Beg (1394-1449)

Muhammad Taraghay ibn Shohrukh ibn Temur Ulugh Beg Koragon is considered a Timurid sultan, a statesman, and a great astronomer (astrologer) and mathematician. Mirzo Ulugh Beg was born on March 22, 1394, in the city of Sultaniyeh during the five-year campaigns of his grandfather, Amir Timur, the ruler of Turan. His father was Shahrukh Mirzo, and his mother was Gawhar Shad Begum, from a Turkic noble family. He was given the name Mirza Muhammad Taraghay. Ulugh Beg was not truly a personal name, but rather a moniker, which can be loosely translated as "Great Ruler (Bek)." His mentor was the poet and scholar Arif Ozariy. During the reign of his father Shahrukh Mirza, he was the governor of Mavarannahr and became the sovereign ruler of the entire Timurid Empire after his father's death (1447-1449).

Ulugh Beg distinguished himself in the field of mathematics related to astronomy, including works on trigonometry and spherical geometry, as well as a general interest in art and intellectual pursuits. It is believed that he spoke five languages: Turkic, Arabic, Persian, Mongolian, and a little Chinese. During his reign (first as a governor, then directly), his attention and patronage led the Timurids to the cultural peak of the Renaissance. The governorship of Samarkand was granted to Ulugh Beg by his father Shahrukh Mirza.

Between 1424 and 1429, he built the Ulugh Beg Observatory in Samarkand. Scholars consider this observatory to have been the largest in the Islamic world and Central Asia at that time. Ulugh Beg was later recognized by many scholars as the greatest astronomer of the 15th century. He established the Ulugh Beg Madrasah (1417—1420) in Samarkand and Bukhara, transforming these cities into cultural centers of learning in Central Asia.

The name Ulugh Beg is Turkic, meaning "great" or "chief bek." The title Koragon is a Persian variant of the Mongolian word "kuregen," meaning "son-in-law of the Khan." In 1830, astronomer Johann Heinrich von Mädler named one of the craters on the moon after Ulugh Beg.

Ulugh Beg is famous as a great astronomer in the world of science. His most significant work is the astronomical table known as "Zizhi jadidi Koragony". He was also interested in medicine and music and wrote poetry. His poems are quoted in Alisher Navoi's work "Majolis un-nafois." From the scientist we inherited 4 works:

"Zizhi jadidi Koragony". – related to astronomy;

"Treatise on determining the sine of a degree"– related to mathematics;

"Risolayi Ulugbek" - dedicated to the stars;

"Tarikhi Arba' Ulus" (History of the Four Nations) – related to history.

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (783-850)

The great mathematician, astronomer and geographer Muhammad al-Khorazmi lived and worked at the end of the 8th century and the first half of the 9th century. During that period, Central Asia was a part of the Arab Caliphate.

Khorezm made a great contribution to the world science. He became the founder of algebra. The word "algebra" itself is taken from his treatise "Al-kitab al-mukhtasar fi lisb al-jabr wa al-muqabala". His treatise on arithmetic, based on Indian numerals, led to the spread of the decimal positional counting system we use today and operations in this system in Europe. And the name of the scientist "al-Khorazmi" in the form of "algorithm" has been established forever in science. His work on geography laid the foundation for the creation of dozens of geographical works in Arabic. Khorezmi's "Zij" showed the way of development of astronomy both in Europe and Eastern countries. But unfortunately, the information about the life of such a figure who founded several branches of science, "the greatest mathematician of his time and, if all conditions are taken into account, one of the greatest of all times" (J. Sarton), was not saved.

Khorezmi was born and grew up in Khorezm. In the literature, 783 is accepted as the year of his birth. It can be said that he got his initial education and knowledge from many teachers in various fields mainly in his country, in the cities of Central Asia.

During the time of Caliph al-Ma'mun, a group of great scholars from Central Asia and Khurasan created in Baghdad. Among them were Yahya ibn Abu Mansur from Marv, al-Farghani, Habash al-Marwazi, Khalid ibn Abdumalik al-Marvarudi, Abul Abbas al-Jawhari from Farob and other scholars, along with Khorezmi.

In Baghdad, al-Ma'mun fully improved the activities of the scientific center "Bayt ul-Hikma" founded by his father, gave it the appearance of a large state institution, and at first developed translation activities on a large scale. Many books were brought from Byzantium, India, and the scope of "Bayt ul-Hikma" was somewhat expanded. Two large observatories were built under it: the first one was built in 828 in the al-Shammosiya neighborhood of Baghdad, and the second one was built in 831 on Mount Kasiyun near Damascus. Both observatories were managed by the scientists from Central Asia and Khorasan. Khorezmi, as the director of this scientific center, monitored its activities.

Among the major translators who worked in "Bayt ul-Hikma" during the Khorezm period were Hajjaj ibn Yusuf ibn Matar, Abu Zakariyya Yuhanno ibn al-Bitriq, Hunayn ibn Ishaq and Kusto ibn Luqa al-Ba'albakki.

It would be a mistake to say that all the scholars who worked with Khorezmi in Baghdad and in "Bait ul-Hikma", later known as "Ma'mun Academy", were Central Asian or Khorasan. Scholars from Syria, Iraq, Iran and other parts of the Caliphate also worked there. However, Central Asians occupied a significant place among them. Khorezmi lived and worked in such a scientific environment and died in Baghdad in 850.

Only 10 of the more than 20 works written by Khorezmi have reached us. These are "A Brief Book on Algebra and Al-Muqabala Calculation" - an algebraic work, "A Book on Indian Arithmetic" or "A Book on Addition and Subtraction" - an arithmetic work, "Kitab surat-ul-arz" - a work on geography. "Zij", "Book about working with Asturlob", "Book about making Asturlob", "About determining azimuth using Asturlob", "Kitab ar-ruhoma", "Kitab at-tarikh", "About determining the Jewish calendar and holidays pamphlet". Four of these works are preserved in Arabic, one is part of Farghani's work, two are in Latin translation, and the remaining three have not yet been found.

Khorezmi's work "Kitab surat-ul-arz" has been studied by many scholars. But the work has not been fully translated into any modern language. In 1983, on the occasion of the scientist's 1200th anniversary, we published an Uzbek translation of this work as part of Khorezmi's "Selected Works".

Khorezmi's works mentioned above show that he was the founder of many branches of science. His ideas led to the rise and development of mathematics and astronomy. At present, his services are recognized by the world public.

Khorezm's works are stored in various libraries around the world. It has been translated into various Western and Eastern languages. With his works and inventions, he made famous not only his homeland, but also the scientific achievements of the Arab caliphate, the high results of the culture of his time, to the whole world and all ages. Currently, awards and medals have been established in his name in various countries (Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, etc.), and streets and institutions have been named after him.