Ibn Hindu and the science of medicine
Authors: M Nasser, A Tibi
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2006)

Ibn Hindu (Abu al-Faraj 'Ali ibn al-Husayn) flourished during the second half of the 10th century CE (4th century AH), and probably died in 1019 CE (410 AH).1. Like al-Razi a century earlier,2 Ibn Hindu was a native of Rayy, near Tehran. He was taught medicine by Abu al-Khayr ibn al-Khammar, and philosophy by Abu al-Hasan 'Ali al-'Amiri. Ibn Hindu became a well known medical scholar, and was also a skilful calligrapher and accomplished poet.1

Ibn Hindu was known particularly for his teaching ability, and students came to attend his classes from different parts of Persia, attracted by the clear style of writing in his Treatise encouraging the study of philosophy (al-Risala al-Mushawwiqa fi al-madkhal ila al-falsafa).3 Ibn Hindu introduces the treatise featured in the James Lind Library—The Key to the Science of Medicine and the Students' Guide (Miftah al-Tibb wa-minhaj al-tullab)—by noting that he had written it at the request of his students because they had admired his earlier treatise.

Ibn Hindu explains in the book that the task of the physician is to help his patients to gain and maintain health, but not until they have learned proper methods for doing this. His treatise is divided into ten chapters with the following titles:



On encouraging the study of skills in general, and of the science of medicine in particular


On the validity of the science of medicine


On the definition of the science of medicine


On the nobility of the science of medicine


On the various branches of the science of medicine


On the various schools of the science of medicine


On the methods by which the science of medicine has been derived


On the enumeration of the sciences which a physician must know in order to be perfect in his profession


On the stages a student has to go through in his study of medicine, and a classification of the books written on the subject


On medical expressions and definitions






After noting that medicine consists of theoretical and practical elements (p. 30), Ibn Hindu divides the theoretical elements into three branches: (i) ‘the science of natural phenomena, as found in the human body’; (ii) ‘the science of causes’; and (iii) ‘the science of symptoms and indications’. He adds that:


‘... everything has a cause and a beginning, and is made of components; you can find the truth only by understanding these things.’


Ibn Hindu then divides causes into two categories (pp. 37-38):


‘... the first inevitably affects the body and includes the surrounding atmosphere; movement and stillness; foods and drinks; sleep and wakefulness; diarrhoea and constipation; and emotions, such as grief, joy, anger, rage and fear. The second category affects the body but can be avoided, such as the sword, the lion, fire, and the like.’


But he makes clear that this knowledge of theory must be supported by empirical observations. Chapter VII—On the methods by which the science of medicine has been derived—contains the passages of text reproduced in the James Lind Library (pp. 49-52). In this chapter Ibn Hindu suggests that the science of medicine is derived in four main ways.