Ali ibn al-'Abbas al-Majusi

Ali ibn al-'Abbas al-Majusi (d. circa 994-95)%3B Kitab Kamil al-Sana'ah al-Tibbiyyah, signed Abu Sa'id 'Abd al-Rahman bin Abi'l-Fawaris bin Ghanim bin Muhammad al-Kazaruni, Iran, dated January-February 1194

Ali ibn al-'Abbas al-Majusi (also known as Haly Abbas) was a Persian physician and psychologist who lived during the 10th century. He is best known for his comprehensive medical encyclopedia, the Kitab al-Maliki (Complete Book of the Medical Art), which was one of the most influential medical texts of the medieval Islamic world.

Biography

Ali ibn al-'Abbas al-Majusi was born in Ahvaz, in the region of Khuzestan, in present-day Iran. He was a prominent figure during the Buyid dynasty, serving as a physician to the Buyid ruler Adud al-Dawla. His work and contributions to medicine were highly regarded, and he was considered one of the leading medical scholars of his time.

Kitab al-Maliki

The Kitab al-Maliki is a comprehensive medical encyclopedia that covers a wide range of medical knowledge, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and surgery. The book is divided into two main sections: the theoretical part, which deals with the principles of medicine, and the practical part, which provides detailed descriptions of various diseases and their treatments.

Theoretical Part

The theoretical part of the Kitab al-Maliki includes discussions on the humoral theory, the structure and function of the human body, and the principles of diagnosis and prognosis. Al-Majusi's work was heavily influenced by the writings of earlier scholars such as Hippocrates and Galen, but he also introduced his own observations and theories.

Practical Part

The practical part of the Kitab al-Maliki provides detailed descriptions of various diseases, their symptoms, and treatments. Al-Majusi emphasized the importance of clinical observation and the use of empirical evidence in the practice of medicine. He also included sections on surgery, obstetrics, and gynecology, making the Kitab al-Maliki a comprehensive reference for medical practitioners.

Influence and Legacy

Ali ibn al-'Abbas al-Majusi's Kitab al-Maliki was widely used and respected in the Islamic world and was later translated into Latin and other languages. It served as a key reference for many medieval European physicians and contributed to the development of medical knowledge in both the Islamic and Western worlds.

See also

• Islamic medicine
• Avicenna
• Rhazes
• Galen
• Hippocrates