Islamic Medicine and Contributors in the Golden Age

"Medicine of the Prophet"

Jan 1, 650

Prior to the major scientific translations and discoveries made in the Islamic Golden Age, Muslims believed that the Qur'an and Hadith both encourage the duty of taking care of the ill. This helps to instill the belief that everyone should be provided healthcare and that they should care for one another.

Translations of Ancient Manuscripts and Medical Texts

Jan 1, 700

In and around the 8th Century, many Arab and Persian scholars began to translate medical texts and manuscripts from from Greek, Syriac, Sanskrit and Pahlavi into Arabic. Some translated these texts from Arabic into Latin. These various translations saved many important texts from disappearing forever.

Hospitals

Jan 1, 750

By the 8th century, Muslims were beginning to establish hospitals in different countries and in different cities. These hospitals were generally run with Islamic core values and were primarily economically run by Zakat tax. At this time there were not many of the hospitals so physicians still regularly made house visits or worked in small offices. The physicians main focuses were to establish medicine based on hygiene and on diet rather than different remedies.

House of Wisdom

Jan 1, 800

The House of Wisdom was founded in Baghdad by Caliph Hard al-Rashid in the early 800s. The House of Wisdom was a public academic center and large library where many scholars were encouraged to translate medical texts. While translating these texts, many would add in their own observations and knowledge. Thus, encyclopedias with various scholars information were created.

Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi's Monograph

Jan 1, 880

(Around 880) Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi or Rhazes was a Persian polymath and important figure in the medical field. He was the physician for the royal court and oversaw the Audidi Hospital. He wrote a monograph that showed smallpox and measles were two different diseases, even though they had been classified as one disease before. He is considered the "Father of Islamic Medicine."

Al-Mansuri and Al-Hawi

Jan 1, 890

(Around 880) The Al-Mansuri and Al-Hawi is an encyclopedia of medical reviews that was written by Rhazes. This was filled with past physicians and researchers findings as well as Rhazes' findings. This encyclopedia became the standard for educating students and further educating scholars in the field. In the encyclopedia Rhazes stresses the importance of keeping an individual patient's medical records

Kitāb ila man la yahduruhu al-tabib

Jan 1, 895

(Around 895) The Kitāb ila man la yahduruhu al-tabib was a book written by Rhazes. This book was written for those who could read but did not have access to a physician or the means to pay for a physician. The book contains many remedies and treatments that do not require a physician. Rhazes created this book to help those less fortunate than him and in doing so he informed many people how to treat themselves in a time of need.

Ibn Al-Jazzar's "Medicine for the Poor and the Destitute"

Jan 1, 940

The book "Medicine for the Poor and the Destitute" was written by Ibn al-Jazzar, a physician and author in modern day Tunisia. The book was a compilation of inexpensive recipes and treatments for those who were poor and/or could not see a physician. Ibn al-Jazzar was a devote Muslim who believed in helping others, so much so that he gave free medical consultations in his home when he was not at work.

Ibn al-Jazzar's Viaticum peregrinantis

Jan 1, 965

The "Viaticum peregrinantis" was also written by Ibn al-Jazzar. This book was written for those who were traveling and did not have the assistance of a physician if something went wrong along the way. For example, the book gives recipes and treatment remedies for dealing with fevers, rashes, or even animal and insect bites.

Al-Zahrawi's Encyclopedia

Jan 1, 990

Al-Zahrawi or Abulcasis was a surgeon, chemist, and physician in Spain. He wrote an encyclopedia that was used as a standard reference work in the medical field in universities all over Europe for a little over five hundred years. Abulcasis also worked on at least 30 treaties in which he discussed surgeries, instruments, and techniques. He used works from previous physicians and added his own, extensive, background of information.

"Canon of Medicine"

Jan 1, 1025

"Canon of Medicine" is a medical encyclopedia written by Ibn Sina who is also known as Avicenna. He was an Iranian polymath who focused on philosophy and medicine. This particular encyclopedia is made up of five different books that deal with different parts of the human body and medicine. He writes this book using his ideas and building off physicians ideas before him, especially Galen.

"Practical Manual of Treatments and Diet"

Jan 1, 1135

Ibn Zuhr, Avenzoar, wrote the "Practical Manual of Treatments and Diet." This book discusses pericarditis, mediastinal abscesses, and procedures like a tracheotomy or a kidney stone removal. Avenzoar was a Spanish physician, surgeon, and poet who opposed Avicenna but still read all of his work. Avenzoar also taught a fellow Muslim, Ibn Rushd, about medicine.

Averroës's Kitab al-Kulyat fi al-Tibb

Jan 1, 1162

The Kitab al-Kulyat fi al-Tibb is a medical text written by, Spanish polymath, Ibn Rushd who is also known as Averroës. This book is large and vast, encompassing anatomy, pathology, physiology, pharmacology, symptomatology, therapeutics, and hygiene. Averroës also wrote commentaries of physicians previous works. In all of his writings he tends to tie in Islamic beliefs with science.

Ibn Al-Nafis' “Al-Shamil fi al-Tibb”

Jan 1, 1200

The Al-Shamil fi al-Tibb was written by Ibn al-Nafis who was a physician in both Syria and Egypt during the 13th century. Although Ibn Al-Nafis was a physician trained in all areas, his focus was on urology which is the topic of this book. He added ideas onto the physicians before him and created a wider knowledge of the field of urology and diseases associated with it.

Ibn Al-Quff's Contribution

Jan 1, 1260

Ibn Al-Quff was a physician in Syria and in Jordan from the middle to almost the end of the 13th century. He was the author of the earliest medieval Arabic treatise that was created specifically for surgeons to study and use.

Cerrahiyetu ‘l-Haniyye

Jan 1, 1420

The Cerrahiyetu ‘l-Haniyye is a treatise written by a physician named Serafeddin Sabuncuoglu. This was the first illustrate surgical atlas to date, and this is also the last, recorded, major medical encyclopedia from the Islamic world in the Golden Age.