Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behaviour and properties of light, and scholars of Arab and Islamic civilization made significant contributions to the field after translating, critiquing, and building on Greek studies.

From the third century AH (ninth century AD), Arab scholars such as Atared, Al Kindi, Hunayn ibn Ishaq, Qusta ibn Luqa and Ibn Isa along with Al Razi and Ibn Sahel, enriched the science of optics with new publications.

Arab contributions to developing humanity's knowledge of optics peaked with Ibn Al-Haytham who published several books on the topic including Al-Manazir.

Al-Tusi, Al-Qarafi, and Kamal Al-Din Al-Farsi then followed with new contributions that continued to emerge in modern times and which will be outlined in this lecture.

The lecture will be delivered by Dr. Hassan Abu Al Khair, a researcher specializing in optics and manuscript science. Dr Al Khair holds a PhD in optics for his studies of two of Ibn Al-Haytham’s publications and Taqi Aldin Ibn Marouf Al-Rased’s book Hadaqat Al Absar.

The lecture is one of several activities the library is undertaking to celebrate the International Day of Light, and is part of its series, "Readings in the Manuscripts of the Qatar National Library".

The Library is home to valuable manuscripts such as Kamal al-Din al-Farsi’s review of Al Manazir as well as rare printed copies of Ibn Al Haytham's early writings in Arabic and Latin, among other languages. Some of Ibn Al Haytham's manuscripts are accessible online through the Qatar Digital Library.

Online via Zoom with Live Stream via the Library’s YouTube Channel.

Date: 16 May 2022 

Time: 5:00 - 6:30 PM

Language: Arabic 

Target Audience: Public and researches 

Places are limited, please click the button below to register.