Science in a Golden Age - Al-Razi, Ibn Sina and the Canon of Medicine
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Published 2017-02-06
We explore the links between medical research in the Golden Age of Science and the modern practice of medicine today.
Standing in one of the largest neo-natal units in the world at Hamad Hospital in Qatar, you would not immediately be able to draw a link between the pioneering medical research being conducted and the work of physicists from the 9th century. In this episode of Science in the Golden Age, theoretical physicist Jim al-Khalili guides us through a journey of discovery where he highlights the links between medical research in the Golden Age of Science during the 9th and 14th centuries and the modern practice of medicine today. At Hamad Hospital, a new treatment is being trialled for babies born with a neurological disorder called neo-natal encephalopathy. Senior consultant Dr Samawal Lutfi explains how the double blind placebo control method ensures the accuracy of the study. This notion of a control group goes all the way back over a thousand years to a Persian physician by the name of Al-Razi who built the first hospitals in Baghdad. He was an early proponent of applying a rigorous scientific approach to medicine and used a control group when testing methods to treat meningitis in the 9th century. At Harefield Hospital in the UK, we meet Professor Magdi Yacoub, a pioneering transplant surgeon and one of the world's leading heart specialists. Professor Yacoub explains how the 13th century Syrian scholar Ibn al-Nafis redefined the understanding of pulmonary circulation. He challenged the commonly accepted wisdom of the Greek scholar Galen, who had said that blood passes directly between the heart's right and left ventricle through the septum, the dividing wall that separates them. Ibn al-Nafis put forward the idea that blood could not pass directly between the right and left chambers of the heart - and that the lungs had a role to play in this process. Ibn al-Nafis' description was not widely accepted at the time, and it wasn't until his manuscript was re-discovered in the 20th century that his work was universally recognised. From Al-Razi, to Ibn al-Nafis, to the 10th-century philosopher and physician Ibn Sina, Jim examines the most influential medics of the Golden Age. He shows us his personal copy of Ibn Sina's Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb ('The Canon of Medicine'), a comprehensive text which was the pinnacle of medical knowledge at that time. It was widely copied and translated, becoming a standard medical reference across the world for centuries. Jim ends his journey at the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, learning how the institute is using the latest equipment to map the human genome. The genome is the complex genetic code contained in every one of our cells and sequencing it can reveal possible diseases that are inherited. Focusing on genetic and hereditary diseases specifically affecting the Qatari population, scientists from around the world have come together to work on this ambitious project that some-what parallels Baghdad's Bayt al-Hikma (The House of Wisdom), the renowned centre of learning that played an integral role in the Islamic world's scientific advancement.
All Comments (21)
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I teach my college students here in the U.S. about the Golden Age of Islam, in particular the history of psychology at the time. They learn about Ibn Sina and many others, along with the development of hospital care, including psychiatric wards in Baghdad. The students are amazed at the knowledge developed and practiced at the time and express frustration that they’ve never learned it before. I also teach about psychology in ancient Mesoamérica, China, and India, among others. The more we know, the more we appreciate and respect.
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to all our muslim youth,we don't have to argue here, but we have to continue our heritage of science and technology researches from our grate scientists contributed to the world by muslims.
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So proud to be IRANIAN!!! we have many iconic people.
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Muslims continue to be some of the best doctors and healthcare providers in the world today.
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We need an Islamic revival on science this is what the ummah needs ulema and seekers of knowledge
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respect from China 🇨🇳
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Can't even fathom the knowledge and devotion of those early muslim scholars, they were much ahead of their time. May Allah swt bless them with Jannah
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Christians really dedicate their lifes to insult islam and it's poeple in the comments lmao. Everytime i try to enjoy a video like this there is always that one kid that goes ham on islam
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Ibn Nafees was the scientist that introduced the idea and proved the circulation of the blood through the heart and valves. William Harvey from the 1500s get the credit 🤦🏻♀️
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Ibn Sina one of the greatest Iranian scientists
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I am a proud Persian-Canadian, and I wish for a world with no racism & extremism.
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That is why we named our Institute 'Baitul Hikma', The house of Wisdom
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Proud to be Muslim and Follower of The Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W) Peace be Upon Him❤️
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I am a practitioner of the Avicenna's system of medicine and I know they were much ahead of their time different branches of Medicine and surgery.
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They were all Persian Muslim scientists, which is very interesting
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Beginning of the video — I wished I was a physician End of the video — am happy that am a botanist and am happy I learnt the skill of calligraphy
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Razi and Sina two briljant sientists from Persia, Payande Iran zamin ❤️❤️❤️
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Greetings from the heart of Persian heritage and the motherland of Abu Ali Ibn Sina from Bukhara🇺🇿🇮🇷✊ Love this documentary. Blessings upon you 😊
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That's great. Ibn Sina is widely-known for his dedication to medicine. On the other hand, Ibn Sina was a great philosopher in his era who was extremely keen on logic and metaphysics. I think what most people ignore on Ibn Sina is his contribution to the development of metaphysics in the middle ages.
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It is obvious that Ibn Sina made big contribution in the field of medicine in the world. He wrote more than 450 manuscriptions , most of which were about medicine and medical treatment. He was not only talented physician , but also writer, musician, geographer, naturalist and so on. His books are still used as main course book in Europian universities. Eminent scientist was born in Bukhara, Uzbekistan in 980, and died in Khamadan , Iran in 1037. Thanks for making good video about the scholar. With best regards, Yunusali, from Uzbekistan.
