Final answer:
Two notable Muslim scholars in physics are Ibn al-Haytham, the father of optics, and Avicenna (Ibn Sina), who made significant advancements in the study of light, vision, and other areas of physics and astronomy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two prominent Muslim scholars who made significant contributions to the field of physics are Ibn al-Haytham and Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna. Ibn al-Haytham, often referred to as the father of optics, revolutionized the way we understand light and vision. His works in the 10th and 11th centuries were so influential that they were featured on the cover of a later prominent scientist's major work, highlighting his impact on both optics and scientific practice.
Avicenna, another towering figure, was instrumental in the shift from the consolidation of Greek learning to innovative approaches in philosophy and science. His genius encompassed a range of subjects, with particular relevance to astronomy and physics, two fields intimately connected with his philosophical inquiries.
During a time when Europe was engulfed in what is often termed the 'Intellectual Dark Ages,' Muslim scholars like Ibn al-Haytham and Avicenna preserved and significantly built upon Greek and Latin scientific works. Their efforts were part of a broader Abbasid scholarship which also recalculated the Earth's circumference and refined understanding of celestial phenomena such as the precession of the equinoxes. Moreover, the fostering of an educational environment where religious devotion and scientific investigation were seen as complementary allowed for advancements in a wide array of scientific fields within the Islamic world, which in turn, helped trigger the European Renaissance.