A Pionner in Optics: Ibn Al-Haytham

Abstract

The aim of this article is to shed new light on Ibn al-Haytham's (in Latin Alhazen) theories concerning physics, astronomy and mathematics. The subject is being worked out in three steps. First, mathematics and herewith classical geometrical problems such as perspectives, conics and so on are investigated. Second, astronomy, namely the classical theory of the universe as well as the eccentric and epicyclical models are thoroughly discussed. The third step of the article is optics, which is also treated in three parts: the first is direct vision; second, reflection; and the third refraction. Thanks to Ibn al-Haytham's "Kitab al-Menazir", optics has become the best known science and most popular subject in the Islamic realm. "Kitab al-Menazir", after being translated into Latin, became the only reference book in Europe, as it already had been among Muslims.