Which of the following languages did Al-Biruni not know?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Greek
Al-Biruni was well versed in Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit; he did not know Greek, and read Plato and other Greek philosophers in Arabic translations.
Note: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| – | 30-05 S1* | – | 30-05 S2 | – |
* A similar question.
NCERT (2026-27): “1.1 From Khwarizm to the Punjab … Al-Biruni was born in 973, in Khwarizm in presentday Uzbekistan. Khwarizm was an important centre of learning, and Al-Biruni received the best education available at the time. He was well versed in several languages: Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit. Although he did not know Greek, he was familiar with the works of Plato and other Greek philosophers, having read them in Arabic translations. In 1017, when Sultan Mahmud invaded Khwarizm, he took several scholars and poets back to his capital, Ghazni; Al-Biruni was one of them.…” |