Mafātīḥ al-ʿUlūm

work by al-Khwārizmī

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The Mafātīḥ al-ʿUlūm, meaning "Keys to the Sciences," is an encyclopedic work compiled by the Persian scholar al-Khwārizmī around 975–997 CE. It is mistakenly referred to as the first encyclopedia.1

The work is divided into two sections: indigenous knowledge, which includes subjects like jurisprudence and grammar, and foreign knowledge, encompassing philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy. Al-Khwārizmī's mathematical contributions, particularly his books on algebra and the introduction of Hindu-Arabic numerals to Western mathematicians, were significant accomplishments. His scientific writings also covered geography and astronomy.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

encyclopaedia
The Arab world
…as the first encyclopaedia, the Mafātīḥ al-ʿUlūm (“Keys to the Sciences”), was compiled in 975–997 by the Persian scholar and statesman al-Khwārizmī, who was well aware of the content of the more important Greek writings. He divided his work into two sections: indigenous knowledge (jurisprudence, scholastic philosophy, grammar, secretarial duties,…
Read More
…as the first encyclopaedia, the Mafātīḥ al-ʿUlūm (“Keys to the Sciences”), was compiled in 975–997 by the Persian scholar and statesman al-Khwārizmī, who was well aware of the content of the more important Greek writings. He divided his work into two sections: indigenous knowledge (jurisprudence, scholastic philosophy, grammar, secretarial duties,…
Read More