Islamic history is filled with a litany of great scientists and academics. Names like Al-Khwarizmi, Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and Ibn Rushd (Averroes) are quick on the tongue of many but there are those who are lesser known but whose impact on the world was just as eventful. One such person goes by the name of Ibn Zuhr or his full name Abu Marwan Abdul Malik ibn Abu al-Ala’ Zuhr or known in Europe (due to the corruption/Latinisation of his name) as Avenzoar.

Ibn Zuhr was a physician, surgeon and poet in the city of Seville in Al-Andalus (Islamic Spain) under the rule of the Almoravid Dynasty (Al-Murabitun) and then the Almohad Dynasty (Al-Muwahhidun). Ibn Zuhr was in fact a contemporary of Ibn Rushd and Ibn Tufail al Andalusi and is known as one of the most foreknown physicians in medieval Islamic times; some historians have even declared him the greatest among Muslim physicians since Al Razi (Rhazes) of Baghdad whilst others have declared him the greatest physician since Galen of the Ancient Roman Empire.

His Life

Ibn Zuhr was born and died in the city of Seville in then Islamic Spain/Al-Andalus in the Iberian Peninsula in the years 1094 and 1162 respectively. He was from the Banu Zuhr family who were of the Arab tribe of Iyad/Eyad and who were a very notable and great family having produced countless physicians and scholars since the early 10th century; they are considered by many as the greatest medical family in the history of Muslim Spain.

Like many others in medieval Islamic societies, Ibn Zuhr started learning literature and Islamic theology at a young age; he later went on to study medicine with his father Abu Al-Ala where he was introduced to the works of Hippocrates and Galen. Like his father, he then went on to serve the Al-Murabitun/Almoravid Dynasty and served in Marrakesh, Morocco at the palace of the Sultan: Ali ibn Yusuf ibn Tashfin. After a misunderstanding with the Sultan, Ibn Zuhr was removed from his post and thrown into prison. This left a bad taste in his mouth and after he was released he let his feelings be known in his writings.

After the fall of the Al-Murabitun Dynasty, came to power the Al-Muwahhidun Dynasty under the leadership of Abu Muhammad Abd’al Mumin who not only welcomed Ibn Zuhr but appointed him as the chief physician and as a counselling vizier.

During this later period of his life, Ibn Zuhr gained a lot of wealth and prestige and became close friends with the famous Ibn Rushd (or Averroes) to whom he dedicated arguably his best piece of work: Kitab al-Taysir fi’l-Mudawat wa’l-Tadbir (Book of Simplification Concerning Therapeutics And Diet).

His Most Famous Work

Ibn Zuhr made several breakthroughs as a physician being the first to test different medicines on animals before administering them to humans. He was regarded as the first parasitologist and his work on medicine and experimental surgery are still heralded to this day as he was able to discuss many diseases and their treatments not ever described before him.

Moreover, some of his writings are actually known (though some are no longer in existence) with his most famous book being the aforementioned Kitab al-Taysir fi’l-Mudawat wa’l-Tadbir (translated as The Book of Simplification Concerning Therapeutics And Diet);

This appears to be the last book that Ibn Zuhr produced before his death. As mentioned prior, this was written in dedication to his friend Ibn Rushd; it was written to act as a compendium to Ibn Rushd’s medical encyclopedia al-Kulliyat/Colliget in Latin (The Collection) which mainly focused on general topics of medicine. Both were later translated to Hebrew and English where they were presented as a single book and remained popular until at least the late 18th century.

Other Works And Writings

In his encyclopaedic work ‘Uyun al-Anba fi Tabaqat al-Atibba’, the famous 13th century medical historian Ibn Abi Usaybiah mentions some of Ibn Zuhr’s other works:

• Kitab al-Iqtisad (translated as The Book of Foods): This was a manual on foods and regimen which contained guidelines for a healthy life. Ibn Zuhr wrote this book a short while after being released from prison for the aforementioned Abu Muhammad Abd’al Mu’min, the leader of the Al-Muwahiddun (Almohad Dynasty)

• Kitab al-Tiryaq al-Sabini (On Antidotes).

• Fi Illat al-Kila (On Diseases of the Kidney).

• Fi Illat al-Baras wa al-Bahaq (On Leprosy and Vitiligo)

One other book was the Kitab al-Aghdhiya (translated as “The Book of Moderation”): This was written by Ibn Zuhr in his youth for the Almoravid/Al-Murabitun prince Ibrahim ibn Tashfin. It was a summary of various different diseases, therapeutics and general hygiene.

Conclusion

Contrary to the prevailing practice at the time amongst Muslim physicians where they worked in many fields of study, Ibn Zuhr confined his work solely to medicine but by doing so he was able to make many original and long-lasting contributions which impacted the world of medicine for centuries to come.

As mentioned prior, he was not as well known as others in Islamic history but he has impacted and influenced some of these more well known personalities like Ibn Rushd. He even had a significant influence on the famous Jewish philosopher and scholar Moosa bin Maimun/Moses ben Maimon (more commonly known as Maimonides) who frequently quoted him in his medical texts and who described him as “unique of his age and one of the great sages.” 

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