Who Was Ibn-e-Sena and What Was His Influence?
Get to know the Persian scholar, scientist, and philosopher Ibn-e-Sena. Learn about his contributions to the fields of medicine, musicology, and mathematics.
Who Was Ibn-e-Sena?
Ibn-e-Sena, often referred to as Avicenna in the West, was a Persian scholar, scientist, and philosopher of the 10th century.
He is noted for his contributions to numerous fields including mathematics, geometry, astronomy, musicology, medicine, and pharmacology. His works on these subjects have been widely studied and continue to influence future generations of scholars.
Among the galaxy
of Muslim scientists, one shining star was Abu Ali Hussain Ibn-e-Abdullah Ibn-e-Sina.
He was born in 980 AD at Afsana near Bukhara (Central Asia) and died in Hamdan in 1047. He is a true product of Muslim civilization in its climax of
scientific growth. His contribution to the world of science was enormous.
of Muslim scientists, one shining star was Abu Ali Hussain Ibn-e-Abdullah Ibn-e-Sina.
He was born in 980 AD at Afsana near Bukhara (Central Asia) and died in Hamdan in 1047. He is a true product of Muslim civilization in its climax of
scientific growth. His contribution to the world of science was enormous.
It was just around the time
of ibn Sina’s birth and in the subsequent years that Islamic Arabic culture
reached its peak.
of ibn Sina’s birth and in the subsequent years that Islamic Arabic culture
reached its peak.
Since the Arabic language was the accepted vehicle for the
transmission of knowledge in this era, Ibn-e-Sina studied Arabic under Abu
Baker Ahmad bin. Muhammad al-Baraqi al-Khwarizmi. As soon as he had mastered
Arabic (his mother tongue was Persian), his father arranged for him a teacher
of the Qur’an and other literature.
transmission of knowledge in this era, Ibn-e-Sina studied Arabic under Abu
Baker Ahmad bin. Muhammad al-Baraqi al-Khwarizmi. As soon as he had mastered
Arabic (his mother tongue was Persian), his father arranged for him a teacher
of the Qur’an and other literature.
The young pupil learned quickly from
his two teachers, and before he was 10 years old, he knew the Qur’an and a
considerable amount of literature. Next, he developed a leaning toward
philosophy, geometry, and mathematics. He was then attracted by medical science and devoted himself to it for a brief time until he surpassed all the scholars
of his age in this science.
his two teachers, and before he was 10 years old, he knew the Qur’an and a
considerable amount of literature. Next, he developed a leaning toward
philosophy, geometry, and mathematics. He was then attracted by medical science and devoted himself to it for a brief time until he surpassed all the scholars
of his age in this science.
Nuh bin Mansur Samani was
the ruler of Bukhara at that time. He was affected by a disease that physicians
failed to cure.
the ruler of Bukhara at that time. He was affected by a disease that physicians
failed to cure.
Ibn-e-Sina was by then a well-known scientist and physician.
The Physicians mentioned him to Nuh bin Mansur as a skillful physician and
asked to call Ibn-e-Sina to the court.
The Physicians mentioned him to Nuh bin Mansur as a skillful physician and
asked to call Ibn-e-Sina to the court.
Ibn-e-Sina visited Nuh bin
Mansur and contributed to his treatment, and since then he became very close to
the ruler of Bukhara.
Mansur and contributed to his treatment, and since then he became very close to
the ruler of Bukhara.
Ibn-e-Sina asked Nuh bin Mansur to give him permission to
enter his great, well-known libraries. The ruler gave him permission, and
Ibn-e-Sina found many great books there some of which he even had never heard
of.
enter his great, well-known libraries. The ruler gave him permission, and
Ibn-e-Sina found many great books there some of which he even had never heard
of.
He started reading the books
and learned a lot from them. At this time Ibn-e-Sina was 18 years old and had
learned all branches of knowledge at this time. He later said, “I had a better
memory then; my stock of knowledge now is still the same, but my knowledge
is now more exact”.
and learned a lot from them. At this time Ibn-e-Sina was 18 years old and had
learned all branches of knowledge at this time. He later said, “I had a better
memory then; my stock of knowledge now is still the same, but my knowledge
is now more exact”.
Ibn Sina’s most famous works
ate those on philosophy and medicine. His philosophical views have engaged the
attention of Western thinkers over several centuries, and his books have been
among the most important sources in philosophy.
ate those on philosophy and medicine. His philosophical views have engaged the
attention of Western thinkers over several centuries, and his books have been
among the most important sources in philosophy.
What Did Ibn-e-Sena Contribute to Medicine?
In medicine, his great work, al-Qanun
(The Canon), was translated into Latin towards the end of the twelfth century
and became a reference source for medical studies in the universities of Europe
until the end of the seventeenth century.
(The Canon), was translated into Latin towards the end of the twelfth century
and became a reference source for medical studies in the universities of Europe
until the end of the seventeenth century.
Ibn-e-Sina, the great
scientist of his time, has some original contributions to his credit, he for the
first time detected the contagious nature of tuberculosis and diseases spread
by water and the close relationship between psychology and health. This man further
added a feather to his cap by doing work on anatomy and child health.
scientist of his time, has some original contributions to his credit, he for the
first time detected the contagious nature of tuberculosis and diseases spread
by water and the close relationship between psychology and health. This man further
added a feather to his cap by doing work on anatomy and child health.
He was a pioneer scientist in describing the minute and graphic descriptions of different
parts of the body. His other great work, “Kitab-Al-Shifa”, a philosophical encyclopedia
cannot be overlooked. This book has covered a wide range of fields like
philosophy, science, physics, mathematics, metaphysics, ethics, economics, and
politics.
parts of the body. His other great work, “Kitab-Al-Shifa”, a philosophical encyclopedia
cannot be overlooked. This book has covered a wide range of fields like
philosophy, science, physics, mathematics, metaphysics, ethics, economics, and
politics.
He is remembered for his discoveries in physics. He discussed the inter-relationship between time and motion.
His contribution to the fields
of geography and chemistry has great importance as well.
of geography and chemistry has great importance as well.
How Did Ibn-e-Sena Influence Musicology?
In addition to his contributions to the medical field, Ibn-e-Sena was a keen musicologist. He wrote on the subject in two books, Ihyaa `Ulum al-Din and Risala fi al-‘Islam wa al-Mustaqbal al-Dimiqraaty.
His writings analyze musical instruments and melodies popular at the time as well as their effects on listeners. He spoke about music therapy, claiming that certain musical compositions could induce divine love in listeners or restore balance to those experiencing mental distress.
Ibn-e-Sena’s ideas were widely disseminated throughout the Islamic world and beyond, making him an influential figure in musicology even today.
What Was Ibn-e-Sena’s Impact on Mathematics?
Ibn-e-Sena was highly influential in the development of mathematics, making contributions to virtually all areas of the field. He wrote a treatise on mathematics titled al-Majmu’, which contains hundreds of problems in a variety of mathematical fields.
He used geometric principles such as trigonometry and geometry to calculate things like the circumference of the earth, the size of the sun, and the moon’s position. His treatises were used by Islamic scholars for centuries after he died, cementing his place as one of history’s most influential mathematicians.
How Has Ibn-e-Sena’s Legacy Been Preserved?
The legacy of Ibn-e-Sena has been preserved by generations of admirers. His work has been translated into numerous languages and is still studied in primary and secondary schools around the world. Furthermore, there are statues in several cities that depict him as a symbol of perseverance and innovation.
In addition to his work in mathematics, he is also remembered for his contributions to science, astronomy, and medicine.