Ibn al-Nafis | |
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Personal | |
Born | c. 1210-1213 |
Died | 17 December 1288 |
Religion | Islam |
Era | Islamic Golden Age |
Region | Syria and Egypt |
Jurisprudence | Shafi'i[2] |
Creed | Ash'ari[1] |
Main interest(s) | |
Notable work(s) | Al-Durra Sharh 'Aqa'id al-Nasafi (Arabic: الدرة شرح عقائد النسفي),[3][4] Commentary on Anatomy in Avicenna's Canon |
Muslim leader | |
Influenced by | |
Influenced |
ʿAlāʾ al-Dīn Abū al-Ḥasan ʿAlī ibn Abī Ḥazm al-Qarashī (Arabic: علاء الدين أبو الحسن عليّ بن أبي حزم القرشي ), known as Ibn al-Nafīs (Arabic: ابن النفيس), was an Arab polymath whose areas of work included medicine, surgery, physiology, anatomy, biology, Islamic studies, jurisprudence, and philosophy. He is known for being the first to describe the pulmonary circulation of the blood.[5] The work of Ibn al-Nafis regarding the right sided (pulmonary) circulation pre-dates the later work (1628) of William Harvey's De motu cordis. Both theories attempt to explain circulation. The 2nd century Greek physician Galen's theory about the physiology of the circulatory system remained unchallenged until the works of Ibn al-Nafis, for which he has been described as "the father of circulatory physiology".[6][7][8]
As an early anatomist, Ibn al-Nafis also performed several human dissections during the course of his work,[9] making several important discoveries in the fields of physiology and anatomy. Besides his famous discovery of the pulmonary circulation, he also gave an early insight of the coronary and capillary circulations.[10][11] He was also appointed as the chief physician at al-Naseri Hospital founded by Sultan Saladin. Due to his discoveries, he has been described by some as “the second Avicenna”.[12]
Apart from medicine, Ibn al-Nafis studied jurisprudence, literature and theology. He was an expert on the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence and an expert physician.[13] The number of medical textbooks written by Ibn al-Nafis is estimated at more than 110 volumes.[14]
In addition to his medical studies, Ibn al-Nafis learnt Islamic religious law, and became a renowned expert on Shafi'i school of jurisprudence (Fiqh). He lectured at al-Masruriyya School in Cairo. His name was included in a book on "Great Classes of Shafi'i Scholars (Tabaqat al-Shafi'iyyin al-Kubra) by Taj al-Din al-Subki indicating his fame in religious law.
Haddad
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