Al-Khwarizmi, Algebra, and Inspiration from the Qur'an: A Historical Study of Islamic Mathematics

Abstract

This study explores the contributions of the Muslim scholar Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi to the development of algebra and its connection to the spiritual values found in the Qur’an. Using a qualitative approach through library research, the study examines the historical and intellectual context of the Abbasid Caliphate, particularly the role of Bayt al-Hikmah as a center of scientific knowledge. Through his monumental work, Al-Kitab al-Mukhtasar fi Hisab al-Jabr wal-Muqabala, Al-Khwarizmi not only laid the systematic foundations of algebra but also demonstrated that scientific advancement is inseparable from religious inspiration especially Qur’anic verses on numbers, justice (mizan), and rationality. The study affirms that the integration of revelation and reason forms a foundational principle in the development of Islamic science. In addition to highlighting Al-Khwarizmi’s influence on modern mathematics and technologies such as algorithms and computation, the research underscores the importance of preserving the Qur’anic scientific spirit in contemporary Islamic science education.