Recent investigations have revealed the important contribution of the Mushm

he Middle Ages to the development of scientists thought and the scientific met 0

hcontribution which the Muslim world has made 1n the various branches of sets

served as the bass for the development of modern science.

cONTRIBUTIONS OF 1BN-AL-HAITHAM 

(1) Ibn al Hassan ibn-al-Haitham was born in 965 A.D. in Basrah. Later he we ent

to Egypt. He was one of the m0st eminent physicists ol the Middle Ages. He is the

propounder of modern optiCs.

His remarkable book "Kitab al-Manazir (Book on Optics) 1s One of the leading

classics or optics. This nmagnum opus of Ibn al-Haitham influenced scientific thought for

more than six centuries. His books are more than 200. His books on physics and

mathematics are 15 in number.

Tbn al-Haitham's important contribution 1s the development of scientific

methodology. He explained reflection and refraction of light. e made research on

spherical and parabolic mirrors, lens and their aberrations, dioptrics, eye and vision

camera obscure, optical illusions, comets, rainbow, twilight, the Milky Way, etc.

He made contributions in at least seven subjects of science: mathematics, optics,

anatomy, physiology, psychology, meteorology and cosmology. He has been considered

as the Father of Modern Optics.

Abu Raihan al-Biruni was born in 973 A.D. in Kheva. He was a versatile genius

(i1)

He contributed profoundly in ph/sics, mathematics, astrononmy, medicine, geography and

history. He was contemporary ot lbn-e-Sina.

He wasa prolific wrifer. He wrote more than 150 books. He was associated with

the court of Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavi. He travelled all over India during a period of 20

years. On his return from India, he wrote his encylocpaedic work.AL-Qanun al-Masudi

which discussed several problems of geometry (called Albirunic problems) and also

discussed trigonometric theorems of planetary motions.

Al-Biruni determined the densities of 18 different stones and metals. he diseussed

ne rotation of the earth and gåve correct values of logitudes and latitudes. He expressed

hat speed of light is immense but finite

f-Biruni was a great scholar. He is known as Vidya Sagar' (Sea of KnowIedge

1e 1s considered as one of the greatest scientists of all times.