The Role of Muslims in the Formation and Development of Sciences (Part 12)
The Role of Imam Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi in the Field of Medicine
Another prominent figure in the field of medicine was Imam Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi, also known as Khālif ibn ʿAbbās. He lived in the fifth century AH and was born in a part of the city of Cordoba, Andalusia (present-day Spain). This area of the city was renowned as “Al-Zahra,” which is why he is often referred to by this name. He is considered a leading figure in the science of medicine and dedicated most of his life to the study and practice of this field, gaining immense fame and popularity in medicine.
Al-Zahrawi was a European Muslim who studied medicine and pharmacy in his homeland, where he demonstrated remarkable talent from a young age. Thus, he became a knowledgeable physician, well-versed in both medicine and pharmacology.
He is regarded as one of the greatest Muslim surgeons and was a student of “Hakim al-Mujiriti” (Madridi), from whom he acquired a significant portion of his medical knowledge and culture. Alongside his focus on medicine, he also delved deeply into Islamic science and civilization, eventually achieving great renown in both areas. He is often mentioned as one of the three geniuses in medicine, alongside Abu Bakr al-Razi and Ibn Sina.
Throughout his biography, it is evident that he never left Andalusia, spending his entire life in that land. He learned medicine there and gained fame as a physician, working in the courtyard of the citadel of Abd al-Rahman al-Dakheli, the founder of the Umayyad state in Andalusia. Al-Zahrawi performed numerous surgical operations and was often the first to lead in various innovative procedures. He was known for his courage and ingenuity in the medical field, as well as for the precise use of existing tools and instruments.
His Innovations and Discoveries
Al-Zahrawi was a pioneer in several areas of surgery and medicine, including the following:
– Suturing Techniques: He was the first to sew veins and arteries with silk threads to prevent bleeding.
– Tracheostomy: He successfully performed a complicated surgical operation on the breathing tube (Naysanabi or Nayberry) and was able to remove the tonsils, known today as tracheostomy.
– Breast Cancer Treatment: He was the first to successfully treat breast cancer.
– Hemostasis: He pioneered the use of heat to stop bleeding.
– Bladder Stone Removal: He introduced a method for removing stones from the bladder of women via the vagina.
– Internal Wound Suturing: He developed a method for suturing internal wounds with threads that would leave no trace, employing cat intestines for this purpose. He also innovated a technique using two needles with one thread.
– Ectopic Pregnancy: Al-Zahrawi was the first to document and discuss ectopic pregnancy and how to break the amniotic sac during delivery to facilitate childbirth.
– Instruments for Delivery: He invented forceps for dilating the uterus and designed a special speculum for examining the uterus.
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