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Abstract
Abul-Hasan al-Tabari was a 10th century Persian physician born in Tabaristan. He was a creative and innovative physician who avoided emulating treatments without investigating and examining them. Tabari was an encyclopedist and had a holistic view to medicine. Investigation of the views of this great Persian scholar indicated that his scientific and moral characteristics contain: paying adequate attention to philosophy and medical ethics, citing other scholars' works, attention to the necessity of clinical and hospital training, emphasizing indigenous therapy and scientific and responsible treatment with medical faults and discovery of Sarcoptes scabiei. Tabari has written valuable articles on different medical sciences; however, he is especially famous for authoring the al-Mu'alajat al-Buqratiya (Hippocratic Treatments) - an important medical encyclopedia. Several of Al-Tabari's succeeding scholars and physician have referred to the al-Mu'alajat al-Buqratiya in their medical articles. The aim of this study is further introduction of this great physician and assessment of his theories and key works.
Keywords: Al-Mu'alajat al-Buqratiya, clinical training, medical ethics Tabari, Sarcoptes scabiei,
Cite this article as: Ghaffari F, Naseri M, Asghari M, Naseri V. Abul- Hasan al-Tabari: A Review of his Views and Works. Arch Iran Med. 2014; 17(4): 299 - 301.
Introduction
Abul Hasan Ahmad ibn Muhammad Tabari was a 10th century Persian physician born in Toranja of Tabaristan (located in northern Iran).1-2 Al-Birflni 3-4(973-1048 C.E.) and Hakim Jorjani5-6 (1042-1137 C.E.) named him Toranji in their works. He is supposed tp have died between 985-995 C.E.7 Najm Abadi states that his birth and death were between 916-986 AD.8 For the most part, no detailed biography of Abul-Hasan al-Tabari is found in history books.9 His biography can be found to some extent from his treatises, particularly the book al-Mu'alajat alBuqratiya.
In his youth, Tabari served al-Baridi (an Abbasid ruler 928-949 C.E.) together with his teacher Abü Mahir Shirazi.10 When Baridi passed away, Tabari served Rukn al-Dawla (a Buyid ruler 932-976 C.E.).11
Despite learning from teachers like Ibrahim ibn Bakus (a great physician who taught at 'Azodi Hospital in Baghdad),12 Tabari only mention Abü Mahir Shirazi as his teacher, whom he respected highly. In fact, it can be said that Tabari's clinical medicine education was specifically learned from Abü Mahir (a 3rd and 4th AH century Persian physician, well versed...