Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi

Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi was a Persian physician, philosopher and alchemist who lived during the Islamic Golden Age. He was born in Ray, Iran in 865 CE, and showed remarkable intelligence and talent from an early age. He initially studied music, jewelry making and alchemy, but later turned to medicine after his eyesight was damaged by working with chemicals. He studied medicine in Baghdad, the center of learning at the time, and became the director of the Mu'tadid Hospital. He also traveled to other cities and regions, such as Ray, Khorasan, Transoxiana and India, to practice medicine and teach his students. Al-Razi was a prolific writer and authored over 200 books and treatises on various subjects, such as medicine, chemistry, philosophy, logic, astronomy and theology. His most famous works include Al-Hawi (The Comprehensive Book), a large medical encyclopedia that compiled the knowledge of ancient and contemporary physicians; Kitab al-Mansuri (The Book for Mansur), a concise medical handbook dedicated to the Samanid ruler Mansur ibn Ishaq; Kitab al-Muluki (The Book for Kings), a practical guide for royal physicians; Kitab al-Judari wa al-Hasbah (The Book of Smallpox and Measles), the first treatise on these diseases that described their symptoms, causes and treatments; Kitab al-Qalb (The Book of the Heart), a monograph on cardiology; Kitab al-Asrar (The Book of Secrets), a manual on alchemy and chemistry; Kitab al-Shukuk 'ala Jalinus (Doubts about Galen), a critical examination of Galen's anatomy and physiology; and Kitab al-Sirr al-Maktum (The Book of the Hidden Secret), a philosophical treatise on metaphysics and ethics. Al-Razi was a pioneer in many fields of medicine and science. He was the first to use alcohol as an antiseptic agent; he discovered sulfuric acid and refined the process of distillation; he invented several chemical instruments and apparatuses; he performed experiments to test his hypotheses and recorded his observations; he introduced the method of clinical teaching and rounds in hospitals; he diagnosed and treated various diseases such as kidney stones, meningitis, abscesses, cancer, diabetes and hemorrhoids; he performed surgical operations such as cataract extraction, lithotomy and cauterization; he advocated for ethical medical practice and humanistic values; he defended rationalism and free inquiry against dogmatism and superstition. Al-Razi was revered as one of the greatest physicians and scientists of his time and of all time. He was given the titles of Imam al-Hukama (Leader of the Wise), Hakim Bimaristan (Physician of the Hospital) and Ustad Jami' al-Funun (Master of All Sciences). He influenced many later scholars and thinkers in both the Islamic world and Europe. His works were translated into Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, Latin and other languages. He died in 925 CE at the age of 60 in Ray. His exact burial place is unknown.²