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Al-Tafhim li Awa’il Sana’at
al-Tanjim (‘The Book of Instruction
in the Elements of the Art of Astrology’)
Inscribed 2011
What is it
The manuscript, written in Persian in the 11th century, is
one of the world’s oldest scientific works on mathematics
and astrology.
Why was it inscribed
Using precise mathematical calculations, it brought
astronomical rigour to traditional astrology and
contributed towards the astronomy revolution during
the Renaissance.
Where is it
Library of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in Tehran,
Iran
Al-Tafhim li Awa’il Sana’at al-Tanjim is a Persian language
work by the renowned Iranian scientist, abu-Rayhan
al-Biruni (973–1048). It is the oldest Persian text on
mathematics and astrology and was written when Iranian
scientists and scholars used Arabic to write their scientifi c
works. By composing his book in Persian, al-Biruni
contributed to the creation of scientifi c Persian. He
also composed an Arabic version simultaneously.
This book was written at the request of Rayhanah, the
daughter of Hussein or Hassan Khwarizmi, in 1029. As a
self-study text on astrology for a Persian-speaking girl, it
is an important example of the ancient Persian vernacular
and off ers a wealth of insight into the history, traditions
and chronology of Iranian culture of that era.
To aid his readers in their comprehension of a complex
subject, al-Biruni begins with the principles of geometry
and arithmetic; he then proceeds to astronomy and
chronology, and after introducing the use of the astrolabe
for astronomical and astrological purposes, he explains the
principles of astrology. The book is logically structured into
530 questions and answers. Each new topic starts with a
question posed by an imaginary student and ends with an
answer by an imaginary professor. It is illustrated with clear
and elegant fi gures in red and black inks and the text is
also coloured, with bright red questions and black answers.
� Leaves of the manuscript
Arabian astrolabe, 11th century �
The book is a concise compilation of al-Biruni’s
knowledge of mathematics and astrology and is a treasury
of scientifi c and literary wisdom. At the time it was written,
political leaders and ordinary people searched for guidance
in their lives and found the systemic links between the
stars and human activities useful and believable. It is still
cited today as an example of how scientifi c instruction can
be presented in a simple and easy-to-understand way.
Al-Biruni wrote many volumes in Arabic, but this is his
only remaining work in Persian. Its historical authenticity,
scientifi c merits and literary signifi cance have made this
rare book one of the most famous in the Persian language.
It has been reprinted in many formats and translated into
English, Italian, German and Russian.
The oldest Arabic manuscript of this book dates back
to 1177 and is preserved in Chester Beatty Library in Dublin;
this Persian manuscript was transcribed in 1143, less than
100 years after al-Biruni ’s death.
76 Al-Tafhim li Awa’il Sana’at al-Tanjim (‘The Book of Instruction in the Elements of the Art of Astrology’)