The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
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The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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1320?-1380?
Arab astronomer and mathematician who compiled an extensive series of tables necessary for Muslim prayer rituals. Working at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, al-Khalili was responsible for providing a means of timekeeping in order to regulate the hours of the five daily prayers that are a part of the Islamic faith. This required extensive knowledge of geometry, and his calculation of the exact direction of the Muslim holy city of Mecca—toward which all Muslims pray—forced him to confront challenging problems in spherical trigonometry.