The Role of Muslims in the Formation and Development of Sciences (Part 34)
Physics among Arab and Muslim Scientists
Initially, physics did not attract much attention from Arab and Muslim scientists because it was considered an inseparable part of geometry. However, Hassan ibn Haytham (354-430 AH) changed this perception with his intelligence and genius, giving special attention to physics to the extent that this science grew under his supervision and gained complete independence from geometry.
Arab and Muslim scientists presented new theories and innovative research on topics in physics that had previously been discussed abstractly and theoretically by Greek scientists. These topics include the laws of hydraulics, gravity, thermal mirrors, specific gravity, the reflection and refraction of light, and the science of pyramids.
Indeed, Arab and Muslim scholars such as Bani Musa ibn Shakir, Hasan ibn Haytham, Abu Al-Rayhan Al-Biruni (362-440 AH), Abu Al-Fath Al-Khaza’i (died 550 AH), Qutb al-Din Al-Shirazi (634-710 AH), and others rendered great service to humanity, comparable to the contributions made by Western scientists such as Blaise Pascal (1032-1073 AH), the French scientist Isaac Newton (1052-1140 AH), the English scientist Jean d’Alembert (1717-1783 AH), and Michael Faraday (12.6-1284 AH). These scientists have been praised and celebrated in international circles.
Arab and Muslim scientists conducted laboratory experiments and measurements on natural phenomena, leading them to develop new methods of scientific thought and research to understand the laws of nature. This approach is consistent with contemporary scientific thinking. Thus, it can be said that Arab and Muslim scientists were among the first to fully recognize the significance of physics, a science that enabled them to establish scientific laboratories to verify their natural laws.
Abu Ali Sina (371-428 AH) studied the works of Aristotle and Thales (384-322 BC) and also paid attention to the science of sound. He proved that vision is faster than hearing, since hearing requires air vibrations.
Arab and Muslim scientists excelled in applied sciences, applying principles of sound to the science of music, which played an important role in Arab and Islamic civilization, especially in the treatment of mental illnesses.
The Egyptian Ibn Yunus Sadfi (d. 399 AH) invented a compass that he used for time measurement while observing stars and in his physical experiments. This invention refutes the claim by some Western scientists that the Italian scientist Galileo (971-1052 AH) invented the pendulum (oscillating motion) and that such achievements are theirs alone.
Although Chinese scientists invented a compass, they initially used it for magic, superstition, and legends. Arab and Muslim scientists, however, took this small device, refined it, and employed it for navigation.
Hasan ibn Haytham conducted several experiments to discover the relationship between the angles of incidence and refraction, scientifically proving that the ratio between these angles is not constant but varies. In doing so, he rejected the theories of Ptolemy (355-283 BC), who claimed that the ratio between the angles of incidence and refraction is constant.
In summary, Arab and Muslim scientists expanded the field of physics with their remarkable discoveries related to the nature of light, the moon, rainbows, concave and spherical mirrors, eclipses, and shadows. Western scientists have universally benefited from their knowledge.
Ibn Haytham became famous in the field of optics, and his research and discoveries gained immense recognition, with his book “Al-Manazir” being translated into Latin more than five times due to its significant importance.
Why Did Arab and Muslim Scientists Pay Attention to Physics?
The Greeks did not adopt a method of scientific research based on experiments to formulate or validate their laws. They lacked the necessary scientific skills, tools, and even the desire to understand nature through scientific experimentation. Instead, they began with general presuppositions and used logical and abstract reasoning to draw conclusions.
The Greeks were not interested in the study of particles, seeking instead to form a comprehensive understanding of the world and its order. They esteemed intellectual endeavors while looking down on manual labor, which they believed corrupted the mind and soul.
Abstract philosophy peaked during Plato’s time, who famously stated: “In our life, the nearest way to knowledge is to avoid contact with the body as much as possible, purifying ourselves from it until God (Allah) frees us.” Plato believed there was no need to study celestial motions unless they provided approximate insights about ideal motions for absolute speed and slowness, which could only be comprehended through reason.
It is not surprising that Greek physics amounted to a collection of abstract ideas and unfounded speculations, as Greek scientists relied heavily on abstract philosophy without giving empirical experience a significant role in their pursuits.
Muslim scholars took this weak foundation provided by the Greeks and expanded upon it, transforming physics into a field grounded in experience and induction, rather than philosophy.
Greek scientists left a legacy in mechanics, which was considered an integral part of physics. Aristotle’s book “Mechanics” describes methods for finding the resultant of perpendicular forces. This credit also belongs to another Greek scientist, Archimedes (287-212 BC), who pioneered mechanical concepts such as:
– The idea of the center of gravity, which has several implications.
– The idea of the lever, which states that “force is inversely proportional to the length of the lever.”
– The principle of density.
Muslim scientists paid great attention to the works of Archimedes and Hero (150 AD), developing their scientific theories and ideas in mechanics, as this field was crucial in applied sciences.
One of the most significant factors contributing to the stagnation of physics in the Greek era was their complete reliance on abstract philosophical ideas and a tendency to abandon scientific experimentation, which is foundational to this vital discipline.
In evaluating the role of Greek scientists in physics, it is fair to critique them for their delay in advancing this important science. They inherited some physical ideas from ancient Egyptian and Babylonian scholars, which were based on scientific practices and elementary experiments. Overall, physics during the Greek era was primarily based on philosophical concepts and abstract methods.
When Muslim scientists engaged with this subject, they approached it rigorously, using empirical study and induction, and adopted practical methods of research and experimentation that are today used by contemporary scientists.
Muslim scholars benefitted from Greek science only to the extent that Archimedes, Aristotle, and Herodotus had received knowledge from Egyptian and Babylonian scientists.
In fact, Muslim scientists refined the foundational theories they inherited from Greek scientists by relying on their own practical scientific experiments and research. Thus, they truly became the innovators of the scientific method.
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