A Concise History of Islamic Medicine: An Introduction to the Origins of Medicine in Islamic Civilization, Its Impact on the Evolution of Global Medicine, and Its Place in the Medical World Today

Abstract

The practice of medicine in Muslim nations dates to the millennia before the advent of the religion of Islam. As far as the pre-Islamic period is concerned, what evidence is available indicates the medical evolution began nearly 6000 years ago in Mesopotamia, where medicine for the first time in history became a recognised profession. In ancient Egypt, it was practised by priest-physicians who demonstrated astonishing knowledge in various medical subjects. The origins of medicine in ancient Persia (Afghanistan, Iran, and parts of Central Asia) span the 6th century B.C. and to the Zoroastrian religious book of Avesta, which delved into such topics as preventive and clinical medicine. In reference to the account of medicine in the Arab peninsula, limited information exists. In terms of post-Islamic ages, the foundations of Islamic science were laid during the reign of the second Abbasid Caliph, al-Mansur, and the establishment of Baghdad as its capital in 762 A.D., when the Arabic translation movement commenced. During the next six centuries, medicine and other fields of science flourished, and prominent physicians such as the Bukht Yishu family, Râzī, Majūsī, Avicenna, Jorjânī, Al-Zahrāwī, and other scientists emerged. In both the pre- and post-Islamic ages, Islamic medicine was heavily influenced by Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Persian, Indian, and, predominantly, Greek medicine. Nevertheless, the advancements and innovations in medical science and healthcare systems that were achieved during the early and medieval Islamic ages have indubitably made an invaluable contribution to the evolution of medicine throughout the world, and to the invention of numerous procedures and practices which are still widely performed today. Hence, the value of comprehending the pivotal role Islamic medicine played (and indeed still plays) in the progression of medical practice across the globe cannot be overstated.