By Prof. Dr. Faid Mohammed Said
Introduction
Ibn Sina was a polymathic physician-philosopher who left remarkable scientific imprints in medicine, philosophy, logic, and physics.
Biography
His full name was Abu Ali al-Husayn ibn Abdullah ibn al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Sina, known in the West as Avicenna. He was born in Afshana, near Bukhara, in 370 AH / 980 CE, and passed away in Hamadan in 428 AH / 1037 CE.
He was a physician, philosopher, logician, astronomer, and chemist, and is considered one of the most prominent figures of the Islamic Golden Age of science.
His Upbringing and Environment
Ibn Sina grew up in the region of Transoxiana (Greater Khorasan), one of the most intellectually and culturally prosperous regions of the Islamic world at the time.
He was raised in a scholarly household — his father was a follower of the Ismaili da‘wah. From an early age, he mastered jurisprudence, language, logic, medicine, and philosophy.
His proximity to Bukhara, the capital of the Samanid state, gave him access to vast libraries and a wealth of knowledge.
Key Influences in His Life
- The rich intellectual environment of Khorasan and Bukhara.
- Early exposure to Greek works and translations, especially those of Aristotle, Plato, and Galen.
- The cultural and religious openness of the Samanid state, which encouraged exploration of diverse sciences.
- His relationship with political courts, where he served as minister and physician to rulers, granting him freedom for research and writing.
His Teachers
- Sheikh Ismail al-Zahid, a scholar in jurisprudence and hadith.
- Al-Naili, in logic and mathematics.
- Abu Abdullah al-Naili, who introduced him to Aristotelian philosophical terminology.
He surpassed his teachers at an early age, and was already teaching medicine and logic before the age of twenty.
His Students
- Abu Ubayd al-Juzjani: his most prominent and devoted student, who accompanied him in his travels.
He also influenced scholars in al-Andalus and the eastern Islamic world, and was himself influenced by, and influential to, scholars such as Ibn Rushd (Averroes), al-Razi, and Fakhr al-Din al-Razi.
Scientific, Political, and Economic Context
Ibn Sina lived during the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate and the rise of independent dynasties such as the Samanids and Buyids. Although this fragmentation caused frequent relocation, the support of certain rulers enabled him to write and teach freely.
The Samanid state in Bukhara provided a fertile intellectual climate, promoting translation and authorship. It was his springboard to fame.
Major Contributions
Medicine
- “The Canon of Medicine” (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb): a vast medical encyclopaedia that remained Europe’s primary medical reference until the 17th century.
- He described pulmonary circulation, treated diseases such as tuberculosis, diabetes, and meningitis, and differentiated between infectious and non-infectious diseases, emphasising prevention and nutrition.
Philosophy and Logic
- Major works: The Book of Healing, Deliverance, and Pointers and Reminders.
- He sought to reconcile philosophy and religion, following in the footsteps of al-Farabi, although some of his views conflicted with Islamic creed.
- He was among the first to articulate the concept of necessary and possible existence, which influenced Scholastic philosophy in the West.
Natural Sciences and Astronomy
- He wrote on gravity, motion, space, and time, rejected the idea of a vacuum, and anticipated aspects of Newton’s laws of motion.
Language, Jurisprudence, and Music
- He authored works on language, psychology, and music theory.
Muslim Scholars’ Opinions
- Medical scholars like Ibn al-Baytar and Ibn al-Nafis praised him, but he faced severe criticism in matters of creed and belief from major scholars such as al-Ghazali, Ibn Taymiyyah, and Ibn al-Qayyim, due to philosophical deviations.
- Ibn Taymiyyah said: “Ibn Sina was not one of the imams of Muslims, but rather closer to the esoteric philosophers.”
Western Orientalists’ Views
- Edward Browne called him “the greatest medical intellect in Islam.”
- De Boer said: “Ibn Sina is the mastermind of Arab rationalism.”
His works were relied upon in European universities for over six centuries.
In Western Research Centres
His books are still studied in medical and philosophical faculties to this day. His manuscripts are preserved in the Bodleian Library, the Vatican Library, and the British Museum. A statue of him stands at UNESCO headquarters, recognising him as a symbol of human heritage. Conferences on his medical and philosophical legacy have been held in Paris, Tehran, and Oxford.
Are There MA and PhD Theses on Him?
Yes, countless.
- PhD – University of Oxford: Avicenna’s Concept of Soul in Islamic Psychology.
- MA – Cairo University: Critical Edition of the Philosophical Section of Avicenna’s “The Book of Healing”.
- Recent research at universities such as Berlin, Sorbonne, and the American University of Beirut.
What Did Ibn Sina Contribute to Human Civilisation?
- He founded theoretical and clinical medicine as an independent science.
- He was the bridge between Greek and modern medicine.
- He moved philosophy from rhetorical style to a systematic, logical method.
- He influenced medieval Europe, especially thinkers of the Renaissance like Thomas Aquinas and Ramon Llull.
Conclusion
Ibn Sina was one of the encyclopaedic minds of Islamic civilisation. He left behind a tremendous scientific legacy that influenced humanity for centuries.
In presenting his biography, we do not endorse his philosophical methodology or theological views, and we disavow any statements of his that contradict the message of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
However, we highlight his service to humanity in medicine and science, believing that Islamic civilisation was built upon knowledge and beneficial action, and that serving humanity was considered a noble aim.
Notes and References
- Ibn Sina, The Canon of Medicine, ed. al-Barzi, Dar Sader, Beirut.
- Ibn Sina, The Book of Healing, ed. Amin al-Khouli, Egyptian General Authority.
- Ibn Taymiyyah, Refutation of the Logicians.
- Al-Ghazali, The Incoherence of the Philosophers.
- Donald Campbell, Arabian Medicine and Its Influence on the Middle Ages, London, 1926.
- Gutas, D., Avicenna and the Aristotelian Tradition, Brill, 2001.
- Edward G. Browne, A Literary History of Persia, Cambridge University Press.
- PhD Dissertation, University of Oxford, 2016: Avicenna and Medieval European Thought.
- Encyclopaedia of Islam, entry: Avicenna.
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