Ghiyath al-Din Abul Fateh Omar Ibn Ibrahim al-Khayyam, born May 18, 1048 A. D., Neyshabur, Khorasan died December 4, 1123 A.D., Neyshabur. Persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet, renowned in his own country and time for his scientific achievements but chiefly known to English-speaking readers through the translation of a collection of his robahiyat “quatrains” in The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám (1859), by the English writer Edward Fitz Gerald.

He was educated at Nishapur and lived there and at Samarqand for most of his life. While at Samarqand he was patronized by a dignatory, Abu Tahir, and Khayyam started to write his book on algebra. Algebra would seem to rank first among the fields to which he contributed. He made an attempt to classify most algebraic equations, including the third degree equations and, in fact, offered solutions for a number of them. This includes geometric solutions of cubic equations and partial geometric solutions of most other equations. His book Maqalat fi al-Jabr wa al-Muqabila is a masterpiece on algebra and has great importance in the development of algebra. Contrary to the available opportunities, he did not like to be employed at the King's court and led a calm life devoted to search for knowledge. He travelled to the great centre of learning, Samarqand, Bukhara, Balkh and Isphahan in order to study further and exchange views with the scholars there. In Isfahan, he spent 18 years of his life with the rest of astronomers in research study of astronomy.

The Saljuq Sultan, Malikshah Jalal al-Din, called him to the new observatory at Ray around 1074 A.D. and assigned him the task of determining a correct solar calendar. This had become necessary in view of the revenue collections and other administrative matters that were to be performed at different times of the year. Khayyam introduced a calendar that was remarkably accurate, and was named as Al-Tagvim-Jalali. It had an error of one day in 3770 years and was thus even superior to the Gregorian calendar (error of 1 day in 3330 years).

His contributions to other fields of science include a study of generalities of Euclid, development of methods for the accurate determination of specific gravity, etc. He was also a renowned astronomer and a physician. Apart from being a scientist, Khayyam was also a well known poet. In this capacity, he became more popular in the Western world when on 15 January 1859 Edward FitzGerald published an English translation of his Rubaiyat (quatrains). This has since become one of the most popular classics of world literature.

It should be appreciated that it is practically impossible to exactly translate any literary work into another language, especially poetry, and particularly when it involves mystical and philosophical messages of deep complexity. Despite this, the popularity of the translation of Rubaiyat would indicate the wealth of Khayyam’s thought. He died at Nishapur in 1123 A.D.