By: Mohammed Sirajuddin, Hon. Fellow, Furqania Academy Waqf
Trans. by: Atya Tabassum, Fellow, Furqania Academy Waqf

Ibn Zuhr is one of the most famous physicians of Spain. His full name is Abu Marwan Abdul Malik Ibn Abi Ala Zahr. He is known by the names of Ibn Zuhr in Muslim countries and Avenzoar or Abhomeron in European countries. Ibn Zuhr was born in Seville in 1091 CE. Ibn Zuhr belonged to an Arab family of scholars and physicians.(1)

After acquiring literature, jurisprudence and religious knowledge, Ibn Zuhr received medical knowledge from his father. Like his father, he became associated with the Spanish court of Almoravid dynasty. He was then summoned to the Moroccan palace of Ali ibn Yusuf ibn Tashqin (Ruled: 1106-1143). After some time, due to some misunderstanding, he was removed from office and imprisoned. After the fall of Almoravid dynasty, Ibn Zuhr joined the court of Almohad sultans. The ruler Abdul Mu’min appointed Ibn Zuhr as a court physician and at the same time promoted him to the post of minister also. Ibn Rushd, a great thinker and physician of the time, used to say about Ibn Zuhr that Ibn Zuhr was the greatest physician after Galen (d. 210 AD). Will Durant, in his book, praises Ibn Zuhr’s medical ability and writes: “The distinguishing feature of Ibn Zuhr is his therapeutic explanation. He left a legacy of advanced analysis of the formation of abscesses on the outer shell of the heart, the formation of pimples in the intestines, and the paralysis of the throat.” And he further writes, “there are indications that the Hebrew and Latin translations of Al-Tayseer have had a profound effect on the European physicians.”(2)

Ibn Rushd asked Ibn Zuhr to write a book containing information about specific diseases of all organs of the body and the methods of their treatment. Ibn Zuhr wrote al-Tayseer and attributed it to Ibn Rushd. The author of Influence of Islam on World Civilization writes, “This book is a very useful book on practical medicine, diagnostics and treatment of diseases, as it contains many clinical explanations.” This book has had a profound effect on European medicine. Its effects lasted until the seventeenth century. It was translated into Hebrew in the 5th century and was translated into Latin by Perseus, with several editions being published. In this book, Ibn Zuhr has given details about some diseases which were not known to the doctors before him, such as mediastinal tumors, the formation of a tumor in the space between the lungs and the appearance of abscesses on the outer shell of the heart, etc. He was the first Arab physician to recommend tracheotomy. He is the first person to discuss gastric cancer. He explained the artificial delivery of food to the body through the lower end of the esophagus or large intestine.

 

Samri Hamren writes in the Dictionary of Scientific Biography that Ibn Zuhr’s daughter has become known as an able nurse in the Islamic world and one of his sons has become a great physician, poet and writer. Inspired by his son’s ability, Ibn Zuhr has dedicated one of his books “Tazkira” to his son. This book contains chapters on treatments and the careful use of medicines. Ibn Zuhr has explained in one of his books that when medicine is taken with honey or sugar, it reaches the liver where the liver reacts with these things.

Sami Hamarneh describes Ibn Zuhr as follows: “He (Ibn Zuhr) was one of the best Muslim physicians of Spain, whose medical influence continued in the West until the Renaissance.”(3)

Many of Ibn Zuhr’s works, which were spread in the twelfth century and later, were written on medicine. Some of these books are mentioned here.

(1) Al-Tiryaq Al-Sabini: This is a book written on the antidote. An antidote is made by mixing 70 drugs into 7 or 10 compounds. Ibn Zuhr had made this antidote for his guardian ruler Abdul Mu’min in order to protect him from his enemies.

(2) Essay on Al-Kali (Maqalatun fi Illatil Kali): A Book on Kidney Diseases: Ibn Zuhr has written this book at the request of a friend. This book is nonexistent.

(3) Essay on the cause of leprosy and leukoderma (Maqalatun fi Illatil Baras wal Buhaq): This book is written on the treatment of leprosy and leukoderma disease and the difference between them. This book is also nonexistent.

(4) Al-Tazkira: This is about the treatment of common ailments which Ibn Zuhr has attributed to his physician son.

(5) The Beauty (Al-Zainah): It prescribes beauty prescriptions and skin remedies to enhance beauty.

(6) Al-Nutrition (Al Akhziya): Ibn Zuhr has written this book on the orders of his master Abd al-Mu’min on food and its therapeutic benefits.

(7) Facilitation in Therapeutics and Management (Alteisir fil Madawat wat Tadbeer): The best medical textbook of Ibn Zuhr which consists of thirty articles. This book was written on the request of Ibn Rushd.

(8) Moderation in the Reformation of the Soul and the Body (Al Iqtisad fi Islah al Anfus wal Jasad): This book was written for Almoravid Prince Ibrahim bin Yusuf bin Tashqin. It discusses the soul and the body. The book summarizes psychology.

(9) Comprehensive Book of Medical Mysteries (Jami Asrar al Tibb): It discusses the human organs, especially the digestive system. It also discusses bodily organs such as the liver, spleen, bladder and other diseases.

(10) Reminder about Laxative Medicine and How to Take it (Tazkira fi Amr al-Dawa al-Mashaal wa Kifiyya Akhzha): This book is about the method of using of medicines.

References:

1- Scientific Achievements of Medieval Muslims, Dr. Ghulam Qadir Lone, P. 273.
2- Dictionary of Scientific Biography, P. 637, Article by Sami Hamarneh.
3- Introduction to the History of Science, p. 232-233, George Sarton.
4- Dictionary of Scientific Biography, V. 17, P. 638.