SUPERMAN IN ISLAM - 4 THEORY OF LIGHT

Among the wonders of Imam Jafer al-Sadiq (a) was his theory of light. He said “Light comes from an object in to our eyes. The light which enters our eyes is only a part

of the total light which brightens it that is the reason we cannot see clearly objects from far. If the entire light enters our eyes, then we can see distant objects clearly. If a device could be made so as to collect the entire amount of light in our eyes then we can see the distant object clearly”

This theory reached Europe and Rager Beacon used to teach this theory in Oxford University. Subsequently he promulgated his own theory called “Light Theory” in which he expressed his idea that if we could invent an instrument which could convey the complete quantum of light in our eyes then we could see the object 50 times nearer. He was called Doctor Admiral. He died in the year 1294. In the year 1608, Lapershy of Flends, a Belgium national invented the first telescope following the theory of Imam Jafer al-Sadiq (a). In the year 1610, Galilee improved upon this telescope and brought it from Padua University to Vanes and installed it on top of a church. The senators were excited and would like to see the moon through his telescope. When people enquired as to how they could see distant objects so near, Galilee would repeat Imam (a)’s theory. If Imam Jafer al-Sadiq (a) would not have presented the theory of light, would Lapershy or Galilee have produced a telescope and confirm Copernick and Kippler’s theory that stars including earth are revolving around the sun?

Aristotle presented the false theory that stars are not revolving around sun. This false idea kept the human race from investigating space for 18 centuries. The impact of Imam Jafer-al Sadiq (a) theory of light can be imagined by the development in Physics and Astronomy in subsequent centuries.

Imam Jafer al-Sadiq (a)’s theory of light’s second part is equally important. He(a) said that light travels from objects to human eyes where as before that it was believed that light comes from eyes to the object. He (a) was the first Muslim to negate this theory and asserted that light comes from an object and travels to the eyes. The logic is that we cannot see an object in dark and if the old theory is correct then we should be able to see in dark. Imam (a) further said that to see an object either the object should be lighted or light should fall on the object.

Imam (a) further said about the speed of light. He (a) said “light travels very fast towards our eyes and it is a mobile thing”. The Imam (a) while talking to his students said “Strong light can move heavy objects and the light which dawned upon Prophet Musa (a), if Allah wanted could have moved Mount Sina”.