Haly Abbas

Haly Abbas
Born	c. 930 Ahvaz, Persia
Died	994 Baghdad, Abbasid Caliphate
Occupation	Physician, Scholar
Notable work	Kitab al-Maliki

Haly Abbas (c. 930 – 994), also known as Ali ibn al-Abbas al-Majusi, was a prominent Persian physician and scholar during the Islamic Golden Age. He is best known for his comprehensive medical encyclopedia, the Kitab al-Maliki (Complete Book of the Medical Art), also known as the Royal Book.

Biography

Haly Abbas was born around 930 in Ahvaz, Persia, during the Buyid dynasty. He was of Zoroastrian descent, which is reflected in his surname "al-Majusi". He later converted to Islam, which was common during the time as the Islamic Caliphates expanded.

Haly Abbas studied medicine in Baghdad, which was a major center of learning and culture during the Abbasid Caliphate. He became a renowned physician and served as a court physician to the Buyid ruler Adud al-Dawla.

Contributions to Medicine

Haly Abbas's most significant contribution to medicine is his comprehensive medical encyclopedia, the Kitab al-Maliki. This work is divided into two main sections: theoretical and practical medicine. It covers a wide range of topics, including anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and surgery.

Theoretical Medicine

The theoretical section of the Kitab al-Maliki includes detailed discussions on the principles of medicine, the nature of the human body, and the causes of diseases. Haly Abbas emphasized the importance of understanding the balance of the four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile, which was a prevalent theory in medieval medicine.

Practical Medicine

The practical section provides detailed descriptions of various diseases and their treatments. Haly Abbas included numerous case studies and practical advice for physicians. He also discussed surgical techniques and the use of various medicinal plants and compounds.

Legacy

Haly Abbas's Kitab al-Maliki was highly influential in both the Islamic world and in Europe. It was translated into Latin in the 12th century by Constantine the African, which helped disseminate his ideas throughout medieval Europe. The work served as a standard medical text for centuries and influenced many later physicians, including Avicenna and Rhazes.

Also see

• Avicenna
• Rhazes
• Islamic Golden Age
• History of medicine
• Buyid dynasty