Al-Biruni in chains

Article Type

Article

Description

The article explores how Mahmud of Ghazni (r. 998–1030) and other Muslim Persianate rulers treated scholars, poets, and intellectuals as both symbols of prestige and tangible assets of empire. Conquerors not only seized territories and treasures but also forcibly relocated men of letters, artists, and scientists, integrating them into state machinery as advisers, officials, and court poets. Mahmud, often described as a patron of learning, is reframed by scholars like E.G. Browne as a “kidnapper of literary men,” with up to 400 poets in his court, including the renowned Abu’l Qasim Unsuri. Al-Biruni, considered one of the greatest Muslim scientists, was reportedly brought to Mahmud’s court in chains, yet produced monumental works such as Kitab al-Hind under Ghaznavid patronage. Ibn Sina (Avicenna), another towering figure, resisted Mahmud’s demands, leading to a life of political intrigues, imprisonment, and eventual refuge in Isfahan. The essay underscores that in the Muslim Persianate world, intellectuals were not merely cultural ornaments but central to political legitimacy and imperial power, intertwining intellectual and political history.

Publication Source

DAWN

Publication Date

8-31-2025

Pages

7

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS