Ali Sahl Rabban Tabri
A-Tabari was the author of Firdous al-Hikama, which is counted among the earliest encyclopaedic works on medical science. It was the first comprehensive medical book in Islam. It was written about 1200 years ago.
Abul Hassan Ali ibn Sahl Rabban al-Tabari was born at Marw, near Tehran in Iran in a prominent Christian or Jewish family. His father Sahl was a high-ranking government official under the caliph of Baghdad. In his adult life, al-Tabari embraced Islam and wrote one of his famous book al-Din wal Dawla to defend Islam against the Jewish and Christian criticism. He was called Tabari because he lived at Tabaristan. Later in life, he worked as a counsellor to the Governor of Tabaristan. There is uncertainty about his date of birth and death. It is believed that he was born in 158AH/775C.E.
Al-Tabari had an extensive education in religion, philosophy, medicine, natural sciences, anatomy and mathematics. He knew Arabic Syriac and, probably Greek and Hebrew. After his education, he practised medicine for a while before becoming a counsellor to the Governor of the Tabaristan.
Al-Tabari went to Baghdad in 840 C.E. where he served three caliphs al-Mutasim (d.840), al-Wathiq and al-Mutawakkil (d.861); al-Mutwakkil included him in his companions. Al-Tabari dedicated his two famous books Firdous al-Hikama and Din wal Dawla to al-Mutwakkil. Probably he died during the last years of al-Mutwakkil, or soon after his death in 247AH/861CE.
It is quoted that al-Tabari has authored 14 books on the various subjects. The most important books that made him famous in the galaxy of education are Firdous al-Hikamah, al Din wal dawla and Hifz al Sihha. Firdous al-Hikamah is the most important of all his writings. It got huge attention of readers. This book basically deals with medicine. The book is divided in 360 chapters (abwab) and 14 volumes which contain the various aspects of medicine of Greek, Syriac, Indian and Islamic Medical systems as practised in his time. This book comprises the ancient and contemporary medical science and personal observation and commentary of al-Tabari.
Some of the subjects covered in volumes I, 2 & 3 are a general philosophical idea, nature, metamorphosis, genesis, decay, embryology, and climate in relation to health. Volume 4, 5, 6 & 7 deals with pathology and treats the following topics: pathology in general, sign and symptoms, principles of therapeutics, disease of the head, disease of the eye, ear, nose, mouth, nervous diseases, including spams, paralysis, disease of the throat, chest, vocal organ,, disease of the stomach, disease of the liver, disease of the heart, lungs, gall bladder, spleen, disease of intestine, urinary and genital organ, fevers, pleurisy, small pox, rheumatism, gout, sciatica, leprosy, cancer, plague, phlebotomy (cutting vein) baths, pulse, urine. Under the disease of the head, he also treats epilepsy, headaches, vertigo, amnesia, nightmare, etc. It also gives a summary of ancient Indian medicine.
The contribution of Tabari to the field of medicine is considered a milestone. Tabari is still quoted in various books and research papers.