Ibn Abi Usaybi'a

Ibn Abi Usaybi'a (1203–1270), full name Abu al-Abbas Ahmad ibn al-Qasim ibn Khalifa ibn Abi Usaybi'a, was a Syrian physician, historian, and biographer who made significant contributions to the history of medicine. He is best known for his encyclopedic work Uyun al-Anba fi Tabaqat al-Atibba (Sources of Information on the Classes of Physicians), which is an invaluable source for the history of medicine in the Islamic world up to the 13th century.

Life

Ibn Abi Usaybi'a was born in Damascus, then part of the Ayyubid Empire. He came from a family of physicians, which allowed him early exposure to the medical profession. He received his education in Damascus, studying under several prominent physicians of his time. Ibn Abi Usaybi'a later served as the chief physician at the Nuri Hospital in Damascus and held a similar position in Cairo, reflecting the high regard in which he was held as a medical practitioner.

Works

The most significant of Ibn Abi Usaybi'a's contributions is his biographical encyclopedia of physicians, Uyun al-Anba fi Tabaqat al-Atibba. This work covers the lives and achievements of over 400 physicians, starting from the time of Adam and including Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian, and Arab physicians up to his contemporaries. The encyclopedia is not only a collection of biographies but also includes anecdotes, poetry, and personal observations, providing a rich cultural context.

Ibn Abi Usaybi'a's methodology in compiling his encyclopedia was meticulous. He drew upon a wide range of sources, including earlier biographical dictionaries, medical texts, and his personal communications with other physicians. His work provides insights into the medical knowledge and practices of his time, as well as the social status of physicians in the Islamic world.

Legacy

Ibn Abi Usaybi'a's Uyun al-Anba remains a crucial source for historians of medicine, offering a unique window into the medical and intellectual life of the medieval Islamic world. His detailed accounts of medical practices, as well as the biographical information on physicians, have been invaluable in understanding the development of medical science in the Islamic Golden Age.

His work has been translated into several languages and continues to be studied by scholars interested in the history of medicine, the history of science, and Islamic history. Ibn Abi Usaybi'a's contributions extend beyond his historical writings; his life and work reflect the rich tradition of medical scholarship in the Islamic world and its influence on both the East and West.

See Also

• History of medicine
• Islamic Golden Age
• Medical literature