For the Western world, the Middle Ages were a period when science was blocked and there were restrictions. For the Islamic world, this period was a golden age in many areas, especially science and culture. One of the names who made important works in the golden age was Ibn al-Haytham. In this article, we will examine the life and works of Ibn al-Haytham, known as the father of optics.
Father of Optics
Born in Basra in 965, Ibn al-Haytham was originally from Basra. He is known in the Western world as “Alhazan”. He is known worldwide as the “father of optics”. After starting his education in Basra, Ibn al-Haytham went to Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo, the science and culture centers of the period, and took courses such as mathematics and astronomy.
Not much is known about Ibn al-Haytham’s life; he is known to have served as a vizier in Basra. He held this position for a short time, but he left it because it was disrupting his scientific studies.
Ibn al-Haytham, who made his name known throughout the world with his works, died in Egypt in 1040 after a life devoted to science.
Ibn al-Haytham: Founder of Optical Science 1
The First Dam Idea
One of Ibn al-Haytham’s most influential works was the idea of building a dam. He developed a project to build a dam on the Nile River to prevent it from flooding every year. Invited to Egypt by the Fatimid Sultan al-Hakim to carry out this project, Ibn al-Haytham conducted research around the river. Realizing that he would not be able to implement the project as a result of the studies , Ibn al-Haytham apologized to the sultan.
A Philosophical Genius
Ibn al-Haytham’s fame was not only due to his work in optics but also to his work in astronomy, logic and mathematics. Ibn al-Haytham stated that philosophy was the basis of natural sciences and that sciences should be based on this.
Masterpiece of Optical Science: Kitab al-Menazir
The revolutionary work of Ibn al-Haytham in the field of optics was the book called “Kitabu’l-Menazir”. In this book, Ibn al-Haytham discussed the optical problems and solutions that had been made from the beginning to his time. Optics were examined and explained from many aspects in the book. The work, which consisted of seven volumes, covered topics such as the propagation of light, the formation of the rainbow, reflection and refraction, and the science of optics was rewritten with this work. Kitabu’l-Menazir brought Ibn al-Haytham fame in the West and in the scientific world.
Ibn al-Haytham: Founder of Optical Science 2
First Experimental Studies
Ibn al-Haytham brought some innovations to the studies in the field of optics and reorganized this science. While experiments and proofs were not done in the studies done before him, he tested and proved every idea he developed. The dark room experiment he did was one of these experiments and this experiment was the basis of the working principle of the camera. The telescope was invented based on this system.
When we look at Ibn al-Haytham’s other studies, these studies were about the eye and vision . He examined the structure of the eye, how vision occurs, and the causes of vision disorders, and made predictions close to today’s results.
Ibn al-Haytham’s most important thesis on seeing that made him famous was the idea that light emanates from the object, not the eye. Until Ibn al-Haytham’s time, it was believed that light emanates from the human eye and vision occurs. Ibn al-Haytham opposed this thesis with the thesis that light emanates from the object and reaches the human eye and the event of seeing occurs, and he proved this thesis.
Example to the West
At the end of the 12th century, Ibn al-Haytham’s book on optics, Kitabü’l Menazır, and his other works were translated into Latin. The translations made made Ibn al-Haytham known in the field of optics and in the West. People working in the field of optics in the West continued their work based on Kitabü’l Menazır and rewrote the science of optics. This book became famous in the Western world and was taught as a textbook for many years.
As scientists who are examples to the whole world also set an example to today’s world and helped to raise new Ibn’ul Heysems…