Canon of Medicine

About the book:

The Canon of Medicine (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb) is a monumental medical encyclopedia authored by the Persian polymath Ibn Sina (Avicenna) in the early 11th century. Structured into five comprehensive books, the Canon presents a systematic and encyclopedic approach to medical knowledge, combining the empirical insights of Greek, Roman, Indian, and Islamic traditions. It covers foundational principles of medical theory, pharmacology, pathology, diagnosis, and therapeutics, including an extensive pharmacopoeia of simple and compound drugs. Revered for its clarity, organization, and scientific rigor, the Canon served as the primary medical reference in both the Islamic world and Europe for over six centuries. Its influence shaped the curriculum of medieval medical schools and established standards in clinical practice, health preservation, and drug formulation. This edition is copied from the 1877 Bulaq (al-'Āmira) edition, and it was reviewed by professors of Arabic literature and contemporary Islamic studies in 2025. This series consists of 5 volumes in the Arabic language.

About the Author:

Ibn Sina (980-1037 CE), known in the Latin West as Avicenna, was a Persian philosopher, physician, and scientist whose contributions profoundly impacted the development of both Islamic and European intellectual history. Regarded as one of the most significant thinkers of the Islamic Golden Age, he authored over 450 works across a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, medicine, astronomy, logic, and mathematics. His most celebrated works, The Canon of Medicine and The Book of Healing, reflect a synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy with empirical scientific inquiry. Ibn Sina's methodical approach to diagnosis, experimentation, and ethical medical practice marked a turning point in the history of medicine. His legacy endures not only in the annals of medical science but also in the broader tradition of rational thought and humanistic scholarship.