Abstracts The modern Physics is based on the findings and thinking of the people of historical age. If no one knows the base and work of the previous on a subject, he or she could mere develop a new thought or findings. For, a civilization must know its past. Hence, the present work is a small effort to find out the contribution of ancient Arabian and Egyptian scientists in the field of Physics and Technologyy. Different scientists of different school of thought, correlating different streams of science being Physics as a main subject, are described in the present work. Key Words: Arabian and Egyptian Scientist, Physics, Technology

The Muslim scientists studied deeply the fundamental questions of physics. For instance Ibn Sina made a profound study of such phenomena as force, motion, light, heat, vacuum, etc. A great progress was made in theoretical and applied mechanics. Useful work was done in the field of mechanics on the wheel, axle, lever, pulley, inclined plane, windmill, water-wheel, toothed wheel, etc. The physicist and astronomer al-Khazini wrote a book on mechanics, hydrostatics and physics, named Kitab Mizan al-Hikmah (Book of the balance of wisdom) which is the most remarkable medieval work on these subjects. It gives a theory of the force of the attraction of the earth (gravity), according to which the universal force is directed towards the centre of the universe, which was supposed at that time to be the centre of the earth. It includes the tables of specific gravity of many liquids and solids (based on the work of al-Biruni), and a history of the subject; the gravity of air; observations on capillarity; the use of aerometer for the measurement of densities and the appreciation of the temperature of liquids; the theory of lever; the application of balance to leveling and to the measurement of time. The analysis and extracts of this book have been published in Arabic and English. (1) In another book on balance al-Khazini stresses the need to remove, as far as possible, the influences of temperature variation during weighing. When al-Khazini’s other studies are considered, he seems to be a precursor of Galileo. Al-Khazini’s full name was Abu’l Fath -Abd al-Rahman al-Mansur al-Khazini (or al-Khazin). He flourished about 1115-1121. He was a Greek (Rumi) slave. His master -Ali al-Khazin l-Marwazi arranged for his good scientific and philosophical education in Marw. Al-Khzin Compiled the astronomical tables called al-Zij al-Mu’tabar al-Sinjari (The esteemed Sinjaric Tables) which were named after Sinjar Ibn Malikshah Ibn Alp Arsaln, governor and later Sultan of Khurasn (1097-98 to 1157-58). They give the position of the stars for the year 1115-1116. Before al-Khazini, Umar al-Khayyam did the greatest work on the balance. Ibn Sina and al-Razi contributed to the theory of the balance. Ban Ms (the sons of Mus), who flourished during the reign of the Caliph al-Ma’mun, wrote many mechanical works. An important work on the balance called Farastn’ or -Qarastun is ascribed to them. Al-Rzi (d. 923-24) made investigations on specific gravity by using the hydrostatic balance. This balance was called al-Mizan al-Tabi’i (the physical balance). (2) Muhammad Ibn -Ali Ibn Rustam al-Khurasani was a famous constructor of clocks and, therefore, he was called al-Sa’ati (the clock maker). Between 1146 and 1169, he constructed a clock placed in the Bab Jairn. (often called -Bab al-Sa’ah, the door of the clock). Al-Sa’ti remained in charge of his clock until his death in 1184-85. (3) Another Muslim mechanician of the 13th century was Abu’l-Isa Ism’il Ibn Razzz (the son of rice merchant) Badi’al-Zamn al-Jazari. He was patronized from 577-578 to 601-602 A.H. 1181-1182 to 1205-1206 A.C.,by the Urtuqid rulers of Diyar Bakr, a district of al-Jazirah. He wrote a treatise on the knowledge of the geometrical mechanical contrivances entitled Kitab fi Ma’rifat al-Hiyal al-Handsiyyah, which was dedicated to the Urtuqid Nasir al-Din Mahmd (ruled from 1200 to 1222). It deals mainly with hydraulic apparatus (elepsydras, fountains, etc.). This important work is interesting from the technical point of view, and represents the best Arabic work on applied mechanics. It is divided into six parts. The first part which deals with the various types of the elepsydras indicating either equal or temporal hours is the most important. Muslims divided the day into twenty-four equal hours. But they adopted another type of division. They divided the day and night each into twelve hours of varying length according to the season. Such type of hours were also used by the Christians in Europe e.g., Italy, until the middle of the 18th century. The book was translated into German, and commentaries on it were also written. (4) Al-S’ti’s son Ridwn repaired and improved the clock, and also wrote a book to describe its construction and use. This book is an important source of the study of early Muslim clocks. Ridwan was a mechanician, physician and poet, and had knowledge of literature and music. He played the flute. Originally he belonged to Khurasan. He was appointed as wazir by the Ayyubi prince al-Faiz Ibrahim and his brother al-Mu’azzam Is. Ridwan also wrote a supplement to Ibn Sin’s treatise on grapes, and a commentary on his Qann (Canon). (5) Qaisar Ibn Abu-l-Qasim, the Egyptian mathematician, astronomer (d. 1251 A.C.) made a celestial globe. He probably made improvements on the water-wheels or water-mills. Such improved types of water-wheels are still seen on the Orontes, and are among the glories of Hama. He constructed these water-wheels (naura) for al-Muzzaffar al-Taqi al-Din Mahmud, the ruler of Hama from 1229 to 1244 A.C. (6) The philosopher Abu Nasr al-Farabi refuted the existence of a vacuum. He wrote a remarkable essay on the elasticity of the air. It is an original piece of research. (7) The Muslim scientists took interest in the determination of the specific gravity of various substances. Sanad Ibn -Ali, a scientist of the ninth century made investigations on specific gravity. Al-Biruni determined the specific gravity of 18 precious stones and metals. Ibn Sin and al-Rzi also made research on this subject. Ibn Yunus (d. 1009 A.C.) applied the pendulum to the measurement of time. Al-Biruni devised a time machine based on the Roman calendar. He constructed it for use in the mosque of Ghazna. But the Imam of the mosque rejected it saying that it was based on a non-Muslim work. At this Al-Biruni was very much annoyed. He said that the, determination of time is a purely secular matter. It is, therefore, of little value whether it is based on a Muslim calendar or a non-Muslim one. Only convenience should be taken into consideration.