22. Ibn Ridouane
(389-453H/998-1061AD)

Distinguished Egyptian physician, he was the doctor of the Caliph Al Hakim bi Amr Allah and the dean of Cairo’s physicians.

His full name is Abu al-Hasan al-Masri Ali Ibn Ridouane Ibn Ali Ibn Jaâfar. He was born in 998 in Jizzah, near Cairo, where he lived until his death between 1061 and 1067 AD(135). He was a physician, a mathematician, an astrologer and one of the outstanding Muslim philosophers(136).

Little is known about Ibn Ridouane’s life. Some say that his father was a baker or water carrier. Ibn Ridouane had to start work at an early age in order to have the necessary money to buy the books he needed.

Scientific Contributions

Ibn Ridouane gave great importance to observing his patients and recognizing the disease through the observation of the patient’s body parts, skin and face and examining visible and non-visible parts, the patient’s way of walking, talking and seeing, his heart’s beats and his mood and by asking him some questions(137).

Ibn Ridouane stated that a physician must treat his enemies and friends with the same degree of devotion and keenness.

He corresponded with Ibn Batlan, the physician of Baghdad, about small birds and other subjects, in particular the learning of Greek medicine.

Major Works

Ibn Ridouane wrote several books on medicine, among the most famous of which :

-"Kitab fi Dafîa Madar al-Abdan bi Ardi Missra". Max Mayrhuf translated a part of this book in his "Study of Climate and Health in Ancient Egypt" (1923).

-"Sharh Assinaâ Assaghira li Galion’s". This book became very well known and Gerard of Cremonia translated it into Latin. It was edited in Venice in 1494.

-"Sharh al Makalat al Arbaâ fi al Kadaya bi Annujum li Batlimus".

-"Kifayat Attabib fi ma Sahha Ladaya mina Attajarib"

-"Al Kitab Annafiî fi Taâlumi Sinaâti Attib". This book presents Ibn Ridouane’s ideas and those of his colleagues about ancient Greek medicine, its evolution, value, and the way to acquire it(138).