was instrumental in their splendid achievements in the field of
science, and according to a western critic led them to realize that
"science could not be advanced by mere speculation; its only sure
progress lay in the practical interrogation of nature. The essential
characteristics of their method are experiment and observation. In
their writings on Mechanics, hydrostatics, optics, etc., thesolution
of the problemis always obtained by performing an experiment, or by an
instrumental observation.
It was this that made them theoriginator of chemistry, that led them
to the invention of all kinds ofapparatus for
distillation,sublimation, fusion and filtration; that in astronomy
caused them to appeal to divided instrument, as quadrant and
astrolabe; in chemistry to employ the balance the theory of which they
were perfectly familiar with; to construct tables of specific
gravities and astronomical tables, that produced their great
improvements ingeometryandtrigonometry.
TheMuslims developed Physicsto a high degree and produced such eminent
physicist asKindi, Jahiz, Banu Musa, Beruni, RaziandAbdur Rahman Ibn
Nasr.
Work of Muslim Physicists
Al-Kindi
Abu Yusuf Ibn Ishaq, known asal-Kindiwas born at Kufa in the middle of
the 9th century and flourished in Baghdad. He is the most dominating
and one of the greatest Muslim scholars of physics. Over and above
this, he was an astrologer, philosopher, alchemist, optician and
musical theorist. He wrote more than265 books, the majority of which
have been lost.
Most of his works which survived are in Latin having been translated
by Gerard of Cremona. Of these fifteen are onmeteorology, several on
specific weight, ontides, onopticsand onreflection of light, and eight
are on music. His optics influenced Roger Bacon. He wrote several
books on iron and steel to be used for weapons. He applied mathematics
not only to physics, but also to medicine.
He was therefore regarded by Cardon, a philosopher of the Renaissance,
"as one of the 12 subtlest minds." He thought that gold and silver
could only be obtained from mines and not through any other process.
He endeavored to ascertain the laws that govern thefall of bodies.
Razi
Razi investigated on the determination ofspecific gravityof means
ofhydrostatic balance, called by himMizan-al-Tabii. Most of his works
on physics, mathematics, astronomy and optics have perished. In
physics his writings deal with matter, space, time and motion. In his
opinion matter in the primitive state before the creation of the world
was composed of scattered atoms, which possessed extent. Mixed in
various proportions with the articles of void, these atoms produced
these elements which are five ih number namely earth, air, water, fire
and celestial element. Fire is created by striking iron on the stone.
Abu Rehan Beruni
Abu Rehan Beruni, was a versatile genius, who adorned the durbar
ofMahmud of Ghazni. His outstanding achievement in the realm of
physics was theaccurate determination of the weight of 18 stones. He
also discovered thatlight travels faster than sound. He has also
contributed immensely to geological knowledge by providing the correct
explanation of the formation of natural spring and artesian wells.
He suggested that the Indus valley was formerly an ancient basin
filled with alluvial soil. HisKitab al Jawahir(Book of Jewels) deals
with different types of gems and their specific gravity.
Khazini
Khazini, was a well known scientist of Islam, who explained the
greaterdensity of waterwhen nearer to the center of the earth. Roger
Bacon, who proved the same hypotheses afterwards based his proof on
the theories advanced by Khazini. His brilliant workMizanul
Hikmah(Balance of Knowledge) deals with gravity and containstables of
densities of many solids and liquids. It also contains "observation on
capillarity,uses of aerometerto measure densities and appreciate the
temperature of liquids, theory of the lever and the application of
balance to building."
Other notable Physicists
*.A voluminous unedited lapidary byBetuniis kept in manuscript form in
the Escorial Library. It deals with a large number of stones and
metals from the natural, commercial and medical point of view.
*.Barlu Musahas left behind him a work on balance, whileAl-Jahizused
hydrostatic balance to determine specific gravity.
*.An excellent treatise had been written byAl-Naziriregarding atmosphere.
*.Chapters on weights and measures' were written byIbn Jami and
Al-Attar.Abdur Rahman Ibn Nasrwrote an excellent treatise on weights
and measures for the use of Egyptian markets.
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