Sterility of Muslim Civilisation

From time to time, as a form of apologetics, Muslims state that Islam possess a rich heritage far in advance of Christian civilisation. They point to the peaceful era and the intellectual activity found in such dynasties as that of the Abbassids and the rule of Islam in Cordova. This article investigates the truth of such claims.

Medicine The same absence of invention is found in respect of medicine. From the third century AD, Greek physicians had found their way into Persia, where they founded the celebrated school of  Gundeshapur, which soon became the rival of Alexandria. They taught especially the doctrines of Aristotle, Hipparchus and Hippocrates, which the Persians readily assimilated. Masawayh , one of their pupils of Persian origin became physician to Harun-al-Rashid and three other Caliphs. He composed in imitation of Hippocrates a considerable number of Arabic medical monographs, on topics including fevers, leprosy, melancholy, dietetics, eye diseases, and medical aphorisms. The works of Galen of Pergamon under the name of  ‘Pandects of Medicine’ were compiled and translated into Syriac by Aaron, a Christian priest who lived in Alexandria. This Syriac version was translated into Arabic in 685, becoming a major source used by Arab physicians, most notably Serapion, Avicenna, Albucasis, and Averroes.

The only Muslim who introduced anything new into medicine was Razi who was a Persian. He introduced the use of mild purgatives and chemical preparations into pharmacy. The philosopher, Maimondes, is sometimes wrongly considered an Arab doctor. He  was a Jew who was born in Cordova in 1135. When the Almohads (Berber-Muslim dynasty) conquered Cordova in 1148 the life for the Jews changed considerably. Many were forced to convert or to wear humiliating, identifying clothing. Maimondes’s family, along with most other Jews, chose exile, though Muslim sources maintain the family did undergo forced conversion. For the next ten years they moved about in southern Spain, avoiding the conquering Almohades, but eventually settled in Morocco. During this time, he composed his acclaimed commentary on the Mishnah. His Aphorisms of Medicine were translated into Latin in 1409.  

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