The field of medicine, which we see today, is the accumulation or evolution from centuries-long knowledge and advancements, with significant contributions made by the Islamic world. The Islamic Golden Age (8th to 14th century) was a period of immense scientific expansion in different sectors, including medical practices. Islamic physicians, scientists, and scholars made transformative discoveries in healthcare that led to a modality for continued success. This blog sheds light on the historical account of how Islamic medicine phenomena invented many health practices which ascended to northern Europe, and today we feel them as bones, tendons, joints, etc., that follow from early work by Ibn Sina.
The Muslim world thrived in intellectual productivity during the Islamic Golden Age. Scholars from different lands, regions, and backgrounds gathered in centers like Baghdad’s House of Wisdom, Cordoba, or Cairo. These centers translated ancient Greek, Roman, Persian, and Indian medical texts into Arabic, preserving the inherited knowledge while also developing it further.
A conversation about the history of Islamic medicine would not be proper without mentioning Ibn Sina, whom Western writers have called Avicenna. Ibn Sina was born in 980 CE in Uzbekistan and wrote about various subjects, including medicine, philosophy, and science. His most popular book, “Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb” (The Canon of Medicine), is an exhaustive summary that was utilized and alluded to for over six centuries in both Europe and the Islamic world.
The Canon of Medicine
Another monumental work including all medical subjects like anatomy, pharmacology, pathology, and surgery. Ibn Sina formulated evidential clinical trials and adopted systematic practice, an early example of evidence-based medicine. The descriptions of diseases he saw, such as diabetes and tuberculosis, are uncanny for his time.
Pharmacology and Experimental Medicine
In pharmacology, Ibn Sina made substantial contributions. He named and set organic standards for 500 drugs and described over 600 new narcotics, detailing their effects. The advice he dispensed regarding the paramount importance of food, cleanliness, and nurturing a healthy lifestyle is as valid today as it was back then.
One of the great giants of Islamic medicine, Al-Razi (865-925 CE), often called Rhazes in Western naming, was a Persian physician who wrote more than 200 medical works. He was a pioneer in medical history, excelling in many areas, including pediatrics and ophthalmology.
Pioneering Pediatrics
Al-Razi is one of the founders of pediatric practice, recording a treatise titled “The Diseases of Children,” which described pediatric illnesses and the importance of specialized care for children.
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Ophthalmology
Al-Razi made significant strides in eye sciences. His most notable work includes differentiating between smallpox and measles.
Medical Ethics
Al-Razi played a key role in medical ethics, advocating that a doctor should be truthful, empathetic, and prioritize patient well-being. His contributions laid the foundation for modern ethical principles in medical practice.
Al-Zahrawi (936-1013 CE), also known as Albucasis in the West, is considered the father of surgery. A surgeon from Al-Andalus (modern-day Spain), Al-Zahrawi authored a 30-volume medical encyclopedia called “Kitab al-Tasrif,” a standard reference in Europe for over five centuries.
Innovations in Surgery
Al-Zahrawi revolutionized surgical procedures, such as the use of catgut for internal stitches, a method still used in modern surgery. He also invented many surgical instruments still in use today.
Women’s Health
Al-Zahrawi wrote extensively on women’s health, addressing topics such as childbirth, gynecological conditions, and cosmetic surgery, showcasing his advanced knowledge of female anatomy and health.
Islamic civilization contributed significantly to the development of hospitals and healthcare systems. The Islamic world founded some of the earliest hospitals (Bimaristans), which not only treated patients but also served as centers for medical education and research.
Bimaristans
These hospitals had specialized wards for different diseases, including mental health. They provided free care to all, regardless of background, funded by charitable endowments (waqf). This charitable and accessible model influenced the development of hospitals in Europe during the Middle Ages.
Medical Education
Bimaristans also functioned as medical schools, where students gained hands-on experience under the supervision of experienced physicians, laying the foundation for modern medical education.
The breakthroughs and knowledge gleaned by Muslim physicians during the Islamic Golden Age played an indispensable role in European medicine. Many of their works were translated into Latin and became principal texts in European universities, such as Ibn Sina’s Canon of Medicine, which remained a core text until the 17th century.
Islamic medical knowledge was transferred to Europe through the Crusades, trade, and diplomacy. During the Renaissance, European medicine reemerged, recovering knowledge preserved by Arab scholars, which originated from Greek and Roman legacies. This transmission significantly influenced European thought centuries before welfare states controlled healthcare.
Today, the legacy of Islamic medicine is evident in various fields, from pharmacology and surgery to medical ethics and hospice care. Healthcare practice continues to center around a holistic approach, with a focus on prevention and ethics.
Some documentable accomplishments sourced to Islam’s legacy in medicine include:
The vast heritage of Islamic medicine demonstrates significant scientific and intellectual advancements within Muslim civilization. From Ibn Sina and Al-Razi’s early contributions to Al-Zahrawi’s revolutionary surgical procedures, it’s crucial to acknowledge the groundwork laid by these great Muslim physicians as we continue to advance in healthcare.