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purple motes

a journal of whimsy and hope

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al-Biruni

Abū al-Rayhān Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Bīrūnī was a Persian Muslim scholar who produced learned work on a wide range of topics. He was born in 973 GC in present-day Uzbekistan. He spent most of his life in Ghazni in present-day Afghanistan and produced a leading study of India.

Sebokht and al-Biruni on universal science and parochialism

Similar ancient complaints of Severus Sebokht and al-Biruni indicate that both science and parochialism are universal. … Read the post Sebokht and al-Biruni on universal science and parochialism

al-Biruni's quest for truth encompassed religions and natures

Al-Biruni’s understanding of human natures and human history engaged with his knowledge of sacred words in his truth-seeking. … Read the post al-Biruni's quest for truth encompassed religions and natures

al-Biruni treats Hindu idolatry like ancient Greco-Roman idolatry

In al-Biruni view, Muslim scholars should study Hindu thought and be no more concerned Hindu idolatry than about similar Greco-Roman idolatry. … Read the post al-Biruni treats Hindu idolatry like ancient Greco-Roman idolatry

understanding Byzantine iconomachy: venerating icons preceded Islam

Byzantine iconomachy probably occurred against a long tradition of venerating icons, not against a new response to Islamic success and Byzantine failure. … Read the post understanding Byzantine iconomachy: venerating icons preceded Islam

Mosaic story explains idols in ancient India?

A story of Brahman’s son Narada with parallels to stories of Moses wasn’t for al-Biruni a satisfying explanation of Indian idols and idolatry. … Read the post Mosaic story explains idols in ancient India?

views of India from the ancient Islamic world

Disengagement from India in the ancient Islamic world more plausibly resulted from reconfiguration of scholarly interests than deep cultural differences. … Read the post views of India from the ancient Islamic world

al-Bīrūnī's Book of Pharmacy: two perspectives

Al-Bīrūnī is currently rated as brilliant. Earlier evaluations of al-Bīrūnī’s Book of Pharmacy were more varied and more interesting. … Read the post al-Bīrūnī's Book of Pharmacy: two perspectives

al-Biruni on pharmacological substitutes

Al-Biruni respected Greek medical authority, even when his own reasoning uncovered weakness in Greek pharmacological substitutes. … Read the post al-Biruni on pharmacological substitutes