.The Islamic Golden Age (spanning 700 C.E. to the 1400's C.E.) saw many great advances in science, as Islamic scholars gathered knowledge from across the known world and contributed their own findings.
One of these important fields was Islamic medicine in which the medical practices begin to resemble our modern systems. Certainly, this period of medical history was centuries ahead of Europe, still stagnant in the Dark Ages. Belief in the Qur'an and Hadiths were central to Islamic medicine, which stated that Muslims had a duty to care for the sick and this was often referred to as "Medicine of the Prophet." According to the sayings of the Prophet Muhammed, he believed that Allah had sent a cure for every ailment and that it was the duty of Muslims to take care of the body and spirit. |
Bimaristans
A major contribution of the Islamic Age to the history of medicine was the establishment of hospitals, paid for by donations known as Zakat tax.
It was the state's responsibility to care for the Bimaristans. The senior physicians were aware of establishing work rules and bases to teach the students who came to learn medicine from everywhere.
Therefore, medicine schools were established in the Islamic world, in which teaching was performed by two methods: (1) The theoretical method in the medical schools, and (2) a practical method for training and practice where students gathered around the doctor in chief to see and examine the patients and the treatment he prescribed. When the students finished the studying period they applied for an exam, took an oath and got their certificates.
When they started to practice medicine, they always worked under the
state's supervision. This means of course that bimaristans were institutes for teaching medicine and to complete the study for junior doctors.
From a practical point of view, the professors prescribed the treatment for the patients, examined them in the presence of the students. They performed these
instructions in an organized way and they did a follow up to the patients and hence they acquired the
necessary practical experience for a medical student. ( Dr. Sharif Kaf Al-Ghazal)
There is evidence that these hospitals were in existence by the 8th Century and they were soon widespread across the Islamic world.
These hospitals, as well as providing care to the sick on site, sent physicians and midwives into the poorer, rural areas, and also provided a place for physicians and other staff to study and research.
These hospitals varied in role, some aimed at serving the general population, with others providing specific services, such as the care of lepers, the disabled and the infirm.
A major contribution of the Islamic Age to the history of medicine was the establishment of hospitals, paid for by donations known as Zakat tax.
It was the state's responsibility to care for the Bimaristans. The senior physicians were aware of establishing work rules and bases to teach the students who came to learn medicine from everywhere.
Therefore, medicine schools were established in the Islamic world, in which teaching was performed by two methods: (1) The theoretical method in the medical schools, and (2) a practical method for training and practice where students gathered around the doctor in chief to see and examine the patients and the treatment he prescribed. When the students finished the studying period they applied for an exam, took an oath and got their certificates.
When they started to practice medicine, they always worked under the
state's supervision. This means of course that bimaristans were institutes for teaching medicine and to complete the study for junior doctors.
From a practical point of view, the professors prescribed the treatment for the patients, examined them in the presence of the students. They performed these
instructions in an organized way and they did a follow up to the patients and hence they acquired the
necessary practical experience for a medical student. ( Dr. Sharif Kaf Al-Ghazal)
There is evidence that these hospitals were in existence by the 8th Century and they were soon widespread across the Islamic world.
These hospitals, as well as providing care to the sick on site, sent physicians and midwives into the poorer, rural areas, and also provided a place for physicians and other staff to study and research.
These hospitals varied in role, some aimed at serving the general population, with others providing specific services, such as the care of lepers, the disabled and the infirm.
Types
Mental Disease Bimaristan
Muslims realized the importance of the care for mentally affected patients.
They frequently added to the big bimaristans special places isolated by iron bars, specially for patients with mental diseases to avoid the aggression of these patients on the others.
Muslim physicians knew that psychiatric and mental diseases required a special type of care and that the
physician must be acquainted with the etiology of the disease from which the patient is suffering.
Leprosy Bimaristan
This was built specially for patients with leprosy. The cause of
interest in such a disease arises from the Muslim's idea of isolating the patients who had communicable diseases from the rest of the society. We find the same behavior with the doctors of today towards such diseases.
Road Bimaristan
Arabs knew this type of bimaristans and they realized its importance, because the pilgrimage to Mecca and
the Holy places or the commercial caravans that traveled for long distances required care for the travelers,
such as treating wounded persons or saving a person asking for help.
Road Bimaristans were conducted by a wise director who knew how to give treatment: The rich people, who had
the ability to equip the caravans with medical missions supported these bimaristans financially.
Prison Bimaristan
To preserve the humanity of those incarcerated, Muslims believed it necessary to provide prisoners with the same medical care as the general populous.
The Mobile Bimaristan
This type of bimaristan visited villages, peripheries and cities caring for the health of people who lived away from the state capital and allowed the state services to reach anyone who needed treatment in the state.
Mental Disease Bimaristan
Muslims realized the importance of the care for mentally affected patients.
They frequently added to the big bimaristans special places isolated by iron bars, specially for patients with mental diseases to avoid the aggression of these patients on the others.
Muslim physicians knew that psychiatric and mental diseases required a special type of care and that the
physician must be acquainted with the etiology of the disease from which the patient is suffering.
Leprosy Bimaristan
This was built specially for patients with leprosy. The cause of
interest in such a disease arises from the Muslim's idea of isolating the patients who had communicable diseases from the rest of the society. We find the same behavior with the doctors of today towards such diseases.
Road Bimaristan
Arabs knew this type of bimaristans and they realized its importance, because the pilgrimage to Mecca and
the Holy places or the commercial caravans that traveled for long distances required care for the travelers,
such as treating wounded persons or saving a person asking for help.
Road Bimaristans were conducted by a wise director who knew how to give treatment: The rich people, who had
the ability to equip the caravans with medical missions supported these bimaristans financially.
Prison Bimaristan
To preserve the humanity of those incarcerated, Muslims believed it necessary to provide prisoners with the same medical care as the general populous.
The Mobile Bimaristan
This type of bimaristan visited villages, peripheries and cities caring for the health of people who lived away from the state capital and allowed the state services to reach anyone who needed treatment in the state.
References
Al-Ghazal, Dr. Sharif Kaf. The Origin of Bimaristans (Hospitals) in.2007.
Attewell, G. (2003). Islamic Medicines: Perspectives on the Greek Legacy in the History of Islamic Medical Traditions in West Asia, In Selin, H. (Ed.). Medicine Across Cultures: History and Practice of Medicine in Non-Western Cultures, pp325-350. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers
Ede, A. & Cormack, L.B. (2012). A History of Science in Society: From the Ancient Greeks to the Scientific Revolution, North York, Ontario, Canada: University of Toronto Press
Meri, J.W. (2006). Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Taylor and Francis
"Arab Science - A Journey of Innovation." Arab Science - A Journey of Innovation. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.
Al-Ghazal, Dr. Sharif Kaf. The Origin of Bimaristans (Hospitals) in.2007.
Attewell, G. (2003). Islamic Medicines: Perspectives on the Greek Legacy in the History of Islamic Medical Traditions in West Asia, In Selin, H. (Ed.). Medicine Across Cultures: History and Practice of Medicine in Non-Western Cultures, pp325-350. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers
Ede, A. & Cormack, L.B. (2012). A History of Science in Society: From the Ancient Greeks to the Scientific Revolution, North York, Ontario, Canada: University of Toronto Press
Meri, J.W. (2006). Medieval Islamic Civilization: An Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Taylor and Francis
"Arab Science - A Journey of Innovation." Arab Science - A Journey of Innovation. Web. 01 Dec. 2015.