Category: Physics

Ibn al-Haytham

(Basra 965 - Cairo 1040)
Ibn al-Haytham, who is known for his revolutionary works in the field of optics before his researches on mathematics and astronomy, is considered the most important figure in the history of optics from the Ancient Age to the 17th century. He carried out a physics study in the modern sense with the detailed experiments he organized by including the physical dimension of the phenomenon with mathematical analysis and made optics a well-worked science with its principles, problems, solutions and methods.

Especially in his "Kitab el-Menazir", he radically changed this science by examining many basic optical phenomena such as the linear (along the line, rectilinear) propagation of light, the properties of shadow, the dark room, the formation of the rainbow and halo, reflection and refraction.

He explained the structure of the eye, the nature of vision and the cause of visual impairments in a way very close to today's knowledge.¹Turkish Religious Foundation Encyclopedia of Islam