Dear Chrizyl,
Thank you for turning in your assignment. I have graded this assignment as an: A
I apologize for being a day late this week. The holiday put all my work back one day so I am catching up today so that I can be “on schedule” again next week.
Please read my comments/corrections in your assignment below in BLUE…
Chrizyl Aquino
Islamic Healing Course
QUIZ 1.3
Muslim Scientists
Please complete this quiz and send it to me via e-mail at: . You will be given credit for the quiz after I correct it.
Essay Question 1
Islamic medicine passed through three stages. The first stage is the stage of translation of foreign sources into Arabic during the seventh and eighth centuries. The second stage is the stage of excellence and genuine contribution in which the Islamic physicians were the leaders and the source of new chapters to medicine during the ninth through thirteenth centuries. After the thirteenth century, stage three came to pass as the era of decline where medicine and other branches of science became stagnant and deteriorated.
Yes. Correct.
Many significant people contributed to the rise and decline of medicine in Islam. During the first stage, figures such as the Prophet Muhammad(saw) and Jabir ibn Haiyan supplied an introduction to Islamic medicine.
The Prophet Muhammad (saw) was the last of a chain of prophets. The religion of Islam was revealed to him which brought forth moral teachings for human beings and the way they should live their lives. Islam is a monotheistic religion that recognizes all the prophets of the past from Adam to Moses to Jesus and that the one God has no partners ascribed to Him. Within the scope of this religion came the use of herbs in medicine. The Koran is Islam’s holy book in which the Prophet Muhammad was revealed verses including, “Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you).” There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying color wherein is healing for men. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who think. (Surah An-Nahl, verse 69.) The drink of varying color is referring to honey.
Jabir Ibn Haiyan, the alchemist Geber of the Middle Ages, is generally known as the father of chemistry.He practiced medicine and alchemy in Kufa around 776 C.E. He introduced experimental investigation into alchemy, which rapidly changed its character into modern chemistry. His contribution of fundamental importance to chemistry includes perfection of scientific techniques such as crystallization, distillation, calcination, sublimation, and evaporation and development of several instruments for the same. The early development of chemistry as a distinct branch of science by the Arabs, is well-established and the very name chemistry is derived from the Arabic word al-Kimya, which was studied and developed extensively by the Muslim scientists. Apart from several contributions of basic nature to alchemy, involving largely the preparation of new compounds and development of chemical methods, he also developed a number of applied chemical processes, thus becoming a pioneer in the field of applied science.
During the second stage, muslim scientists such as Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr and Omar al-Kayyam excelled as sources for new phases of medicine.
Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr or ‘Al-Jahiz’ was an Arab poet and theologian. He was the author of works of adab, Mu’tazili theology and politico-religious argument and controversy. His major works included: Kitab al-Hayawan(Book of animals), Kitab al-Bukhala(Book of Misers or Avarice and the Avaricious), Kitab al-Bayan wa al-Tabyin(Book of eloquence and demonstration), Kitab Moufakharat al Jawari wal Ghilman(the book of Dithyramb of concubines and phebes), and Risalat Mufakharat al-sudan ‘ala al-bidan(Superiority of the Blacks to the Whites). He was called al-Jahiz because of his projecting eyes.He had authored two hundred books throughout his lifetime that discuss a variety of subjects including Arabic grammar, zoology, poetry, lexicography, and rhetoric. Of all these, only thirty books survived.
Omar al-Kayyam led a calm life devoted to the search for knowledge. Algebra would rank first among the fields to which he contributed. He made an attempt to classify most algebraic equations, including the third degree equations and, in fact, offered solutions for a number of them. This includes geometric solutions of cubic equations and partial geometric solutions of most other equations. He has been considered to be the first to find the binomial theorem and determine binomial coefficients. In 1074 he was assigned the task of determining a correct solar calendar. Khayyam introduced a calendar that was remarkably accurate, and was named as Al-Tarikh-al-Jalali. It had an error of one day in 3770 years and was thus even superior to the Gregorian calendar (error of 1 day in 3330years).
Two more muslim scientists had a significant impact during the third and last stage of medicine in Islam.
Very good transition into mentioning this stage and offering supporting context.
Both Ibn Al-Qayyim al- Jawziyya and Jalaludin Abd’Rahman ibn Abu Bakr as-Sayuti wrote on the Medicine of the Prophet.
Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya is commonly referred to as ‘the scholar of the heart’ due to his works pertaining to human behavior and ethics. He focused on the sciences of hadith and fiqh. His schooling centered around Islamic jusrisprudence, theology, and the science of prophetic traditions. Al-Jawziyya wrote a book on the Medicine of the Prophet which contained information on the customs and sayings of the Prophet as well as on herbal and medical practices. He produced a concise summary of how the Prophet’s guidance and teaching can be followed, as well as how health, sickness, and cures were viewed by Muslims in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
Jalaludin as-Sayuti, known as the son of books was a writer and teacher from Egypt. He was an orphan by the age of five and memorized the Koran by the age of eight. His education came from a large group of Shayk’s who taught fiqh and Arabic grammar. The number of teachers whom he received ijaazah (religious authorization) from, studied under, and heard from, reaches one hundred and fifty shayks. Sayuti published a book on Prophetic Medicine and divided medicine into three types: traditional, spiritual and preventive. Most of Prophetic Medicine or Tibb Nabawi is preventive medicine which is a very advanced concept given the level of scientific knowledge at the Prophet's time. As-Sayuti listed preventive medical measures such as food and exercise. Other preventive measures taught in hadith include: quarantine for epidemics (hijr sihhi), forbidding urination in stagnant water (bawl fi mai raqid), use of a tooth stick (Siwak), precautions in the house at night: fire & pests, leaving a country because of its water and climate. Study of Tibb Nabawi reveals that there are spiritual aspects of healing and recovery. Prayer, supplication, recitation of the Koran, and remembrance of our Creator play a central role.
References:
Mission Islam website
Wikipedia, internet
Encyclopedia of the Orient, internet
Muslim Philosophy website
Young Muslims website
Medicine of the Prophet by Ibn-Jawziyya
Ummah.net
Very good list of references. Keep up the good work on using more than one reference. However, please try to include the date of publication for all books and the exact weblink for all online resources.
Essay Question 2
Ibn Tufayl
Ibn Tufayl was a Spanish Muslim philosopher and physician around 1100-1185. Ibn Tufayl divides human beings into three groups which are presented in a novel, Walk On, You Bright Boy in which a boy called Hayya is brought up on isolation on an island.
Very good choice. You are the first student who has chosen this person!
All by himself, the boy investigates the universe, passing through several stages, each lasting seven years. At the highest level, the boy comes to understand the ultimate nature of universe: the emanations coming from the One that go from level to level, how spirit takes material form, and how the spirit strives to approach the One.
The boy finally returns to human world, where he grasps that his ultimate understanding is the same as the revealed religion Islam, but that not all can reach this highest form of understanding.
In the novel the three groups of humans are classified as:
- Those who can understand the highest truth by reason alone (very few).
- Those who can understand with help from religious revelation.
- Those who accept the laws coming from the symbols of religious revelation.
He tells that Hayyā tries to enlighten people, but fails, and returns to his island. The moral seems to be that each of these groups of people should accept their standing, and not strive for more.
His novel was translated into Latin, and came to inspire the British author, Daniel Defoe to write his Robinson Crusoe. Ibn Tufayl is also noted for introducing Ibn Zhur to the court of Abu Yaqub Yusuf which helped his career.
Very interesting…I did not realize Robinson Crusoe was inspired by this Arab novel.
-Encyclopedia of the Orient, internet.
- Name the three stages that Islamic medicine passed through and name two people who were significant to Islamic medicine in each of these stages. This is an essay question. Please write about one paragraph for each person.
- There are some people on the timeline that I did not provide information about. Please chose one of these people and write a paragraph about them. You can use any resource you like to find information. Please cite your sources.
Regular Questions
- For how long was Dioscorides’ Materia Medica popular? What did this document contain?
Materia Medica was the authority for medicinal plants for over 1500 years. It was a compilation of an extended listing of medicinal herbs and their virtues.
- How was Caliph Al-Mansur significant in the history of Islamic Medicine?
Caliph Al-Mansur summoned Bakhtishu to be court physician. This was the beginning of a long line of the Bakhtishu family working as physicians for the Caliphs. The Bakhtishu family played a major role in the cultural education of Arabs.
- How did Hunayn begin his career? Name two other Muslim scientists that began their career in this way or a similar manner.
Hunayn began his career as a dispenser for Yahya bin Massawayh, doctor and pupil of Gabriel bin Bakhtishu. Thabit ibn Qurra was also employed as a youth to study under the Banu Musa brothers. Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ismail al Bukhari also studied at a very early age under Imam Daakli.
- Name one important work that Hunayn translated.
Plato’s Republic
- What was Jabir’s main contribution to science? In what field? What did Max Mayerhaff say about him?
Jabir’s main contribution was the introduction of experimental investigation into alchemy into the science of modern Chemistry. Max Mayerhaff says the development of chemistry in Europe can be traced directly to Jabir.
Very good so far. Very complete and comprehensive answers.
- How did Jabir classify substances? Why was this important?
Jabir classified substances as minerals and acids. His contributions lead to the development of steel, preparation of various metals, prevention of rusting, lettering in gold, use of manganese dioxide in glass-making, dyeing of cloth and tanning of leather, varnishing of waterproof cloth, and identification of paints and greases.
- Ibn Ishaq al-Kindi’s father was of what profession?
His father was an official of Haroon al-Rashid
- Al-Kindi made contributions to many fields just as many other scientists did. What fields did he contribute to and what other Muslim scientists also contributed to multiple fields in same way (name two more)?
He contributed to philosophy, geometry, medicine, physics, astronomy, geography, and music. Abu al-Nasr al-Farabi and Abu Abdullah al-Battani also made contributions to multiple fields of study.
- Which three scientists mentioned in the articles contributed to the formation of the Arabic system of numerals?
1)Yaqub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi, 2) Mohammed bin Musa al-Khwarizmi, and 3) Thabit ibn Qurra
- What did Al-Kindi say that showed he was more of a modern “chemist” than an “alchemist”?
He discusses the system that matter, time, and movement are all finite.
- How many books did Al-Kindi write? Did anyone write more books than he did? Name one or two people who did if so.
He wrote more than 241 books. Mohammed al-Razi wrote over 200 books. Al-Biruni was said to have written almost 130 books. No other scientist on the list wrote more that Al-Kindi.
- What makes Al-Kindi standout from many of the other Muslim scientists?
He went against prevailing alchemical views.
- Al-Khawarizmi was most famous in what field? What was his most significant contribution in this field?
He was most famous in mathematics. The most significant contribution was the ‘Arabic Numerical System’
- What concept in modern science is named after him?
Algebra
- Al-Jahiz’s early life shows that not only the rich and famous were allowed to become scholars. Which other famous Muslim scientist had very humble beginnings?
Abu al-Hasan ibn as-Haytham also had a humble beginning as a civil servant.
Very good. This is one of the most difficult questions on the test.
- Who wrote the book “The Art of Keeping One’s Mouth Shut”?
Abu ‘Uthman’ Amr ibn Bahr al-Basri Al-Jahiz
- Thabit Ibn Qurra was one of the many Muslim scientists whose works were translated by
Adelard of Bath.
- Al-Tabari is often referred to by his family name. What other name is he called by in the articles of this Unit? What other Muslim scientist is referred to in this way? Why do you think this is so?
Abu al-Hasan. Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Jabir ibn Sinan al-Battani al-Harrani. It is quite possible that they are referred to by these names because they became Muslim and added a surname with Islamic meanings.
- Al-Bukhari is listed among the famous scientists in Islam, but he is famous for his collection of Hadith. Why, then did I include him in this list of scientists?
He recorded a lot of information on what the Prophet (saw) used to heal, what he ate, and the health habits he kept.
- What was Al-Bukhari famous for above all else during the time of his life?
He was famous for his memory.
- Al-Firnas is unique in what way among the Arab scholars? He became interested on one field in which no one else seemed to have much interest. What was that field? Was he successful in it?
He was a teacher of music. He became interested in the mechanics of flight. He constructed a pair of wings and a wooden frame, and attempted to fly. It is not recorded that he was successful in his attempt.
- Al-Battani’s family was not Muslim. Name two other scientists that had non-Muslim origins. Name two scientists that were not Muslim at all.
Ali ibn Rabban and Abu Abdullah al-Battani. Ibn-Maimon and Dioscorides.
- What famous discovery of Al-Battani does every person in the world use today?
The calendar.
- Al-Razi was known in Latin as Rhazes. Name four other scholars and their Arab and Latin names.
Ibn Sina: Avicenna, Abu al-Qasim: Abulcaisis, Jabir ibn Hayyan: Geber, Abdul-Waleed Muhammad ibn Rushd: Averroes
- Al-Razi recommended treatment for one disease that has been largely unchanged since his time. What disease was this?
Smallpox
- Al-Razi was also famous for his work on Hygeine. Who else provided great contributions in this area?
Ibn Maimon
- Who does one author compare Al-Razi to? Why do you think he compares him to this Muslim scientist? In what way were they similar?
Abu Marwan Abd al-Malik ibn Zhur. They both made discoveries in disease that are still practiced today and both focused mainly on medicine during a time when their contemporaries studied several subjects.
- Where was Al-Farabi’s family from originally? What other Muslim scientist came from this general area?
His family was originally of Persian descent.
- Al-Masu’di was famous for his link to the Prophet (pbuh) as well as his contributions to science. How can he be linked to the Prophet Muhammad?
He can be linked either as a descendant or by the passing down of knowledge from teacher to student.
- What befell many of Al-Masu’di’ s works? What other famous Muslim scientist suffered the same fate?
- Where did El Zahrawi live? How many names did he have in Europe?
He lived in El-Zahra, Spain and had over a dozen names in Europe.