Ibn al-Nafis: A Renaissance Man of Medicine

Born in 1213 A.D. in Damascus, Ala-al-Din Abu al-Hasan Ali Ibn Abi al-Hazm al-Qarshi al-Dimashqi, better known as Ibn al-Nafis, commenced his extensive education at the Medical College Hospital (Bimaristan Al-Noori), established by Noor al-Din Al-Zanki. Alongside mastering medicine, he delved into jurisprudence, literature, and theology, fostering expertise in the Shafi'i School of Jurisprudence and gaining recognition as a skilled physician.

Relocating to Egypt in 1236, Ibn al-Nafis found success in his medical career. He began at Al-Nassri Hospital before transitioning to Al-Mansouri Hospital, ultimately ascending to the positions of chief of physicians and personal physician to the Sultan. Upon his passing in 1288 A.D., he magnanimously bequeathed his residence, library, and clinic to the Mansuriya Hospital, ensuring a lasting legacy for future generations.

A prolific writer, Ibn al-Nafis embarked on ambitious projects such as "Al-Shamil fi al-Tibb," an encyclopedia intended to span 300 volumes. Though unfinished at his demise, the manuscript remains housed in Damascus. His groundbreaking contributions to ophthalmology and his renowned work "Mujaz al-Qanun" (The Summary of Law), alongside various commentaries, attest to his profound impact on medical knowledge. Commentaries on works by Hippocrates, Ibn Sina, and Hunayn Ibn Ishaq further showcase his deep engagement with medical discourse.

Among his original works, "Kitab al-Mukhtar fi al-Aghdhiya" stands out for its exploration of diet's influence on health, reflecting Ibn al-Nafis's holistic approach to medicine. However, his most significant contribution lies in the discovery of pulmonary circulation, a revelation only rediscovered by modern science centuries later. Ibn al-Nafis's accurate descriptions of lung structure, bronchial interactions, and the role of coronary arteries in heart function demonstrate his pioneering insights into cardiac and pulmonary physiology.

Ibn al-Nafis's enduring impact extends beyond the medical realm, shaping broader intellectual discourse. His interdisciplinary approach, coupled with seminal discoveries, underscores his indelible legacy. His life and work exemplify the rich intellectual tradition of the Islamic Golden Age, which continues to influence modern science and medicine.
Ibn al-Nafis: A Renaissance Man of Medicine

Discovery history of pulmonary circulation

Until Ibn al-Nafis, the standard explanation of heart anatomy and function was from Galen who believed that blood move from the right ventricle to the left through a series of pores or passageways between the two sides.

In the thirteenth century, Ibn Nafis was practicing physician who studied medicine in Damascus. He was attached to the Mansuri Hospital in Cairo.

In his commentary on Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine, Ibn al-Nafis clearly describes the pulmonary circulation, although there is still reference to blood mixing with air to become ‘purified’.

Ibn al-Nafis clarified all that when he studied the heart lung blood circulation, observed through many surgeries and possibly disection. I

Ibn al-Nafis’ description of the lesser circulation was brought to light in 1924, by Muhyi ad-din at-Tatawi, who found it while examining some Arabic manuscripts in Berlin and presented it before the medical faculty of Freiburg as part of his doctoral thesis.

It wasn’t until 1553, that a clear description of pulmonary circulation was published in the West, in Christianismi Restitutio, written by Michael Servetus (1511-53), a polymath physician and Humanist.
Discovery history of pulmonary circulation