Sijzi
Persian astronomer and mathematician (c.945-c.1020)
About Sijzi
Lived 951 – 1024 (aged 72–73). Sijzi was an astronomer, mathematician and astrologer.
Abu Sa'id Ahmed ibn Mohammed ibn Abd al-Jalil al-Sijzi (c. 945 - c. 1020, also known as al-Sinjari and al-Sijazi; ; Al-Sijzi is short for "Al-Sijistani") was an Iranian Muslim astronomer, mathematician, and astrologer. He is notable for his correspondence with al-Biruni and for proposing that the Earth rotates around its axis in the 10th century.
He dedicated work to 'Adud al-Daula, who was probably his patron, and to the prince of Balkh. He also worked in Shiraz making astronomical observations from 969 to 970.
Mathematics Al-Sijzi studied intersections of conic sections and circles. He replaced the old kinematical trisection of an angle by a purely geometric solution (intersection of a circle and an equilateral hyperbola.)
Earth's rotation Al-Biruni tells us that Al-Sijzi invented an astrolabe, called "al-zūraqī", whose design was based on the idea that the Earth rotates:
Al-Biruni also referred to Al-Sijzi as a prominent astronomer who defended the theory that the Earth rotates in al-Qānūn al-Masʿūdī.
The fact that some people did believe that the Earth is moving on its own axis is further confirmed by a reference from the 13th century which states: "According to the geometers [or engineers] (muhandisīn), the earth is in constant circular motion, and what appears to be the motion of the heavens is actually due to the motion of the earth and not the stars."
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Important facts
People in Sijzi's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Sijzi's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Sijzi?
Persian astronomer and mathematician (c.945-c.1020)
When was Sijzi born?
Sijzi was born in 951 in Sistan.
When did Sijzi die?
Sijzi died in 1024.
What was Sijzi's occupation?
Sijzi was an astronomer, mathematician and astrologer.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sijzi. https://biography.guide/sijzi/
MLA: "Sijzi." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sijzi/.
Chicago: "Sijzi." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sijzi/.
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