Al-Bīrūnī as Researcher and Scientist

Abū al-Rayḥān al-Bīrūnī frequently characterises himself as a ‘servant of knowledge’ (khādim al-ʿilm), and expresses his gratitude for his good fortune in being able to pursue scientific enquiries from his youth (al-Qānūn, 1/3). In his view, one must not distinguish between the various branches of k…