Islamic Civilization Plays Significant Role in Traditional Medicine

Dr. Velayati

The head of Islamic Azad University board of founders and trustees has stated that Al-Biruni was the most comprehensive scientists in Islamic civilization.

According to an ISCA report, the press conference of Al-Biruni National Millennium Conference has been held with the presence of IAU head of board of founders and trustees Dr. Ali Akbar Velayati, head of board of directors of the Society for the Appreciation of Cultural Works and Dignitaries, Mehdi Mohaqeq and the head of Society for the Appreciation of Cultural Works and Dignitaries, Hassan Bolkhari.

In this conference, Dr. Velayati appreciated the efforts of professors Mohaqeq and Bolkhari and stated that George Sarton, the historian, describes Biruni as “one of the very greatest scientists of Islam, and, all considered, one of the greatest of all times”.

He continued that Al-Biruni had been fluent in speaking various languages such as Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, al-Khwārizmī's language and Greek and wrote many outstanding spiritual philosophical books as well. Mahmud of Ghazni decided to kill Al-Biruni but due to his great knowledge of astronomy, Ghazni changed his decision and took him to Ghazni so Al-Biruni learnt Sanskrit and wrote many valuable books then.

As Dr. Velayati declared, Muslims had been the flag bearer of the civilization and while Europeans were in darkness during the Middle Ages, Muslims had 1100 ئathematicians in the history of Islamic civilization and 14 thousand medical texts that played significant roles in medicine.

Abu Rayhan Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Biruni (Al-Biruni) is an outstanding unparalleled scholar in the history of human sciences and civilization. No doubt, he is a symbol of scientific, philosophical, cultural and social thoughts.

Biruni was born on 5 September 973 AD in Kath in the region of Khawarizm of what was then Iran (nowadays Uzbekistan) and died on 13th December 1048 AD in the city of Ghazni, the capital city of the Ghaznavid ruler. He was a visionary and highly renowned philosopher and scientist.

He contributed to the fields of science, philosophy, history, literature, culture, religion and society. His generous views and extensive efforts contributed to the historical, philosophical, scientific and inter-cultural development of a world marked by intellectuality and humanism as well as coexistence and peace.