Islamic prominent scholarIbnu Sina

To make known the students about the

background education and biography of the

Islamic scholar.

To inspire the students to be excellent in their

field as what had been achieved by previous

Islamic scholars in the period of ‘Islamic

renaissance’.

Name : 'Abu 'Ali al-Husin ibn 'Abdullah ibn Sina D.O.B : August 980 A.D. (Safar 370 A.H.) P.O.B : in the village of Afshana near Bukhara, Turkistan. His father : Abdullah, from Balkh, the local governor of

Kharmaithan, His mother : Sitareh, from Afshana . D.O.D : 1037 A.D ( 480 A.H) Ibn Sina is known to the West by the Europeanized Hebrew

translation of his name, Avicenna (Aven Sina). Avicenna was born at a time when Bukhara was the capital and

intellectual center of the Samanid dynasty, which ruled over much

of Eastern Iran (Persia) and Afghanistan (Khurasan) until the rise

of Mahmud of Ghazna of Afghanistan.  

He was known as a great physician and philosopher in

his time.

Also expert in astrology, chemistry, math, physiology,

physic, theology and pharmacology.

Wrote more than 450 journals and books from variety

discipline of knowledge.

Today, only 240 of his books still exist. 150 from it in the

field of philosophy and 40 of it relates to medicine.

The famous books – kitab al-shifa’ dan Al-Qanun fit tibb.

His early education was religious, and by the age of 10, he knew

by heart the whole Qur'an and other available Persian and Arabic

literature.

Because of Avicenna's remarkable talent, his father employed a

private teacher, al-Natali, to instruct him in arithmetic, geometry,

logic, natural sciences, and astronomy.

When ibn Sina reached the age of thirteen he began to study

medicine and he had mastered that subject by the age of sixteen

when he began to treat patients.

He also studied logic and metaphysics, receiving instruction from

some of the best teachers of his day, but in all areas he continued

his studies on his own.

In his autobiography, (W E Gohlman (ed. and trans.), The life of Ibn

Sina ,(New York, 1974) ibn Sina stresses that he was more or

less self-taught but that at crucial times in his life he

received help.

Fame and recognition – when the Sultan of Bukhara, Nuh ibn

Mansur al-Samai, fell seriously ill with a disease was successfully

treated by Avicenna. (he was 18 years old.)

For his services, Avicenna was awarded free access to the

Sultan's rich library.

By the age of 21, Avicenna wrote his first collection of books which

include "Kitab al-Majmu" (The Compendium), on mathematics and

sciences of the day, "Kitab al-Hasil w'al-Mahsul" (The Import and

the Substance), 20 volumes on jurisprudence, and "Kitab al-Birr

w'al-Ithm" (Good Work and Evil), on ethics.

Following the death of his father, Avicenna left Bukhara for Jurjaniyah

and offered his services to the Khawarzmian dynasty.

In this court, he wrote "Kitab al-Tadaruk li-anwa al-Khata' fi'l-

Tadbir" and "Qiyam al-'Ard fi wasat al-Sama'" on mathematics

and astronomy, respectively.

During this period, Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna had also gathered in

his court many intellectuals and poets including al-Firdusi, who is

considered to be the father of Persian language.

Unfortunately, Mahmud of Ghazna was filled with envy at the

brilliance of men of science like Avicenna at the Khawarazm

court and demanded Avicenna's attendance in his own royal

court.

However, Avicenna chose to escape to Gurgan and then to

Jurjan.At that time Jurjan was under the rule of Syams al-

Maa’li Qabus bin Wasymakir , 1012 A.D (402 A.H)

Here, he was joined with his lifetime companion , Abd al-

Wahid Abu ‘Ubaid al -Juzjani and composed the "Kitab-al-

Mukhtasar al-Awsat," "Kitab al-Mabda' w'al-Ma'ad," and

"al-Arsad alKulliyyah," along with chapters which later

formed parts of "al-Najat" and "al-Qanun."

A-Juzjani was his student and his companion ,who, after the death

of Ibnu Sina, had make a written biography of his journey in

lifetime.

When Sultan Qabus was killed and caused chaos in the politic

administration, Ibnu sina together with Al-Jurjani moved to Rayy,

then to Quzwain and to Hamadan.

In Rayy- he treated a prince, who suffered melancholia and

depression (Majd al-Dawlat 387-420 A.H) in the palace.

Ibnu Sina moved to Quzwain when Sultan Majd al-Dawlat cannot

control his army from rebel.

From Quzwain, he moved to Hamadan in 1015 A.D (405

A.H). There he treated Amir Syams Al-Dawlat from colic and

successfully cured the diseased.

He had been appointed as prime minister and colleague of

the Amir.

The army rebel and detained Ibnu Sina, displeased with his

appointment, ask Amir to sentence him to death.

Amir refused – being forced, finally ask Ibnu Sina to leave

the city.

He hiding himself for 40 days in the house of Abi’ Sa’id bin

Dakhduk – then Amir sick again, asked to come to the

palace to do the treatment for the Amir.

after being cured, reinstated him as the prime minister.

Avicenna wrote his peripatetic philosophy, "Kitab al-Shifa" (The

Book of the Remedy) and "al-Adwiyat al-Qalbiyyah" The

Remedies of the Heart) while he was burdened with state duties.

Then in 414 A.H, on the death of Shams-ul-Dawlah, his successor

offered to keep Avicenna in his post, but he refused, was jailed.

In the detention he finished his writing for kitab Al-Hidayat.

After 4 months – released by Sultan Ala’ al-Dawlat, he went to

Isfahan. Stayed there for 13 years.

During the 15 years of his stay in Isphahan, he composed

numerous books including the "Kitab al-Najat" (The Book

of Deliverance) and the "Danishnama-yi Alai" (The Alai-i-

Book of Knowledge) which he wrote in Farsi.

Avicenna died at an early age of 58 while on a journey back

to Hamadan (Iran) where he rests today.

Ibn Sina's wrote about 450 works, of which around 240 have

survived. Of the surviving works, 150 are on philosophy while 40 are

devoted to medicine, the two fields in which he contributed most.

Ibn Sina's two most important works are The Book of Healing and

The Canon of Medicine.

The first is a scientific encyclopedia covering logic, natural

sciences, psychology, geometry, astronomy, arithmetic and music.

The second is the most famous single book in the history of

medicine.

These works were begun while he was in Hamadan. He also wrote

on psychology, geology, mathematics, astronomy, and logic.

• Discovery of contagious diseases and sexually Discovery of contagious diseases and sexually

transmitted diseases.transmitted diseases.

• Quarantine to limit the spread of infectious diseasesQuarantine to limit the spread of infectious diseases

Bimaristan hospitals were created with separate

wards for specific illness

• Ibn Sīnā is credited as being the first Ibn Sīnā is credited as being the first to correctly document the anatomy of to correctly document the anatomy of the human eye.the human eye.

• The workings of the heart as a valve The workings of the heart as a valve are describedare described

The first correct explanation of pulsation was

given by Avicenna, after he refined Galen's

theory of the pulse.

Galen theory:

"every part of an artery pulsates

simultaneously" and that the motion of the

pulse was due to natural motions (the arteries

expanding and contracting naturally) as

opposed to forced motions (the heart causing

the arteries to either expand or contract).

Galen theory that had been refined by Ibnu sina:

“Every beat of the pulse comprises two movements

and two pauses. Thus, expansion : pause :

contraction : pause. The pulse is a movement in the

heart and arteries ... which takes the form of

alternate expansion and contraction”.

examining the pulse through the examination of the

wrist

He recognized 'physiological psychology' in

the treatment of illnesses involving emotions.

Developed a system for associating pulse rate

with inner feeling.

Ibnu sina noted that, the close relationship

between emotion and physical condition – to

preserve healthy

Felt that music has physical and

psychological effect on the patient.

Described a number of neuropsychiatric

conditions, including melancholia.

Introduce medical herbs.Introduce medical herbs.

• Extended theory of temperaments Extended theory of temperaments encompass “emotional aspects, mental encompass “emotional aspects, mental

capacity, moral attitudes, self awareness , capacity, moral attitudes, self awareness ,

movement and dream”movement and dream”

Evidence Hot Cold Moist Dry

Morbid statesinflammations become febrile

fevers related to serious humour, rheumatism

lassitude loss of vigour

Functional power deficient energy deficient digestive power difficult digestion

Subjective sensationsbitter taste, excessive thirst, burning at cardia

Lack of desire for fluidsmucoid salivation, sleepiness

insomnia, wakefulness

Physical signs high pulse rate, lassitude flaccid jointsdiarrhea, swollen eyelids, rough skin, acquired habit

rough skin, acquired habit

Foods & medicinescalefacients harmful, infrigidants beneficial

infrigidants harmful, calefacients beneficial

moist articles harmfuldry regimen harmful, humectants beneficial

Relation to weather worse in summer worse in winter bad in autumn

Avicenna's four humours Avicenna's four humours and temperamentsand temperaments

Recognized cancer as a tumor. He noted that; "cancerous tumor progressively increases in

size, is destructive and spreads roots which

insinuate themselves amongst the tissue

elements." Discover about cancer treatment found a treatment known as hindiba a complex medical herb from Ibnu al-Baitar anticancer Another treatment for cancer is surgery He also recommend cauterization method to

kill germ

Discover the cause of bleeding and Discover the cause of bleeding and

hemorrhagehemorrhage

Introduce use of medical leech for medical

purposes

- It considered the application of leech to

be more useful than cupping in "letting off

the blood from deeper parts of the body."

- He also introduced the use of leech as

treatment for skin disease.

Describes the symptoms and complications Describes the symptoms and complications

of diabetes. of diabetes.

Described importance of colour in diagnosis and treatment It stated that "Color is an observable symptom of disease" and

also developed a chart that related colour to the temperature

and physical condition of the body.

His view was that:

+ red - moved the blood

+ blue or white - cooled it

+ yellow -reduced muscular pain and inflammation

The wrong colour will not give effect in certain specific disease

As an example, "he observed that a person with a nosebleed

should not gaze at things of a brilliant red color and should not

be exposed to red light because this would stimulate the

sanguineous humor, whereas blue would soothe it and reduce

blood flow."