7 Reasons Ibn Sina is the ultimate Scholar-crush!

IBN SINA/ AVICENNA

As a Biomedical Sciences Graduate, if you ask me about my favorite Medical figure in history, I would confidently say Ibn Sina. Some may ask, why? There are thousands of Physicians and Pharmacists who contributed to medicine throughout history, so why Avicenna?

Well, Let me fan-girl a bit in the following paragraphs!

“Ibn Sina is a part of our thinking mind. If we neglect him, we neglect ourselves.”

Omer Turker, an Islamic philosophy professor at Istanbul’s Marmara University (interview with Anadolu Agency).

As named by Europeans “Prince of Physicians”, and by his students and followers as “Al Shaikh Al Ra’ees” a.k.a the master wise man; he was a prominent figure in his era as a thinker and represented the culmination of Islamic renaissance. Ibn Sina was described as having the mind of Goethe and the genius of Leonardo da Vinci¹ .

1- Father of Early Medical Psychology

If you know what my blog is about (and read the about us page), you’ll get an idea about my deep interest and passion for psychology, and this man, loved it just as much as I do. Ibn Sina, besides excelling in physical medicine, explored mental health and the links between psychology and physical health, which makes him a pioneer in holistic medicine. He was ahead of his time, considering the impact of emotions on health.

In a time when many misconceptions were spread, Ibn Sina was the genius to notice every detail about the real being of the human. How he knew that the soul, mind and body are connected, put it to test and treated using psychological methods is just REVOLUTIONARY! Now, I am not saying that he came up with the entire thing. I know that there has been ancient civilizations and religions that mentioned the connection, but he established a more scientific/medical approach to it and practiced, studied it thoroughly and kept academic records about it (as it is claimed).

2-Scientist with a Philosophical Soul

If there is one school subject I never wanted its class to end, it’s philosophy. The subject I was always eager to study (and still am), the one I had so much joy and fulfillment in reading, discussing and sitting for an exam. My love for philosophy is the reason I am curious about the world, ideas and deep concepts. The implicit reason why I went for scientific majors. Seeking what we called “The Truth”. Ibn Sina was a real philosopher.

He is often referred to as a Philosopher and physician due to his extensive emphasize on philosophy in his writings. In fact, his philosophical approach to certain concepts was unique and marked him as a scientist with a philosophical soul who tried to see deep into things. One of his most famous and influential work in this field is The Book of Healing, an extensive philosophical and scientific encyclopedia, whereas The Canon of Medicine, is a  medical encyclopedia.

Ibn Sina (Avicenna) made significant contributions to philosophy, particularly in the areas of metaphysics, logic, and the philosophy of mind. One of his central ideas in philosophy was his concept of God as the “necessary existent,” a foundational principle in his metaphysics. This idea posits that God is the only being whose essence and existence are identical, meaning that God’s existence is a necessity, unlike all other beings whose existence is contingent.

Ibn Sina’s interpretation of Aristotle’s works also had a profound impact on European Scholasticism. He developed a sophisticated system of thought that integrated Greek philosophy with Islamic teachings, influencing later medieval philosophers in both the Islamic world and Europe. His ideas on the nature of reality, the relationship between the soul and the body, and the processes of reasoning and knowledge formation were groundbreaking for his time (I’m a big fan of this part!). His philosophical works influenced great thinkers like Thomas Aquinas and Descartes—so yeah, he shaped both the East and the West!

3-The Original Renaissance Man

Ibn Sina was the ultimate polymath, mastering medicine, philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and even poetry. He made groundbreaking strides in each of these fields long before the European Renaissance even kicked off.

In Astronomy, he refined the Ptolemaic model, influencing later developments in observational astronomy contributing to more accurate celestial event predictions. In Mathematics, he applied principles to solve physics problems, laying the groundwork for algebra and geometry advancements.

He critiqued mystical aspects in Alchemy, emphasizing scientific processes, leading towards modern chemistry. As for his Geographical contribution, he provided hypotheses on landscape formations and explained natural phenomena like mountains and earthquakes scientifically in contribution to Geology.

And perhaps my favorite contribution is in Psychology and Islamic theology. In psychology, Ibn Sina explored the link between mental and physical health, contributing to early psychosomatic concepts. His work in Islamic theology harmonized Greek philosophy with Islamic teachings, influencing later theological debates. His advancements in logic refined Aristotelian principles and introduced new methods that shaped scientific and philosophical inquiry. He even shaped a new school of thought called Avicennism.

Ibn Sina’s contributions to physics were groundbreaking, especially his theories on motion and force, which were precursors to modern concepts of inertia. His poetry intertwined philosophical and mystical themes, showcasing his ability to communicate complex ideas through a beautiful blend of art and intellect.

4-Ibn Sina is a Medical Genius Extraordinaire

His magnum opus, The Canon of Medicine, was the medical textbook in both the Islamic world and Europe for approximately 6 centuries (remained until 1650, knowing that he was born in 980 and died in 1037). It systematized medical knowledge and introduced concepts like the contagious nature of diseases, which was revolutionary.

Among his discoveries and studies, here is what breakthroughs he brought to us:

He gained interest in medicine at the age of 16! Then, he not only learned medical theory but also gained practical experience by attending to patients without charging them. According to his own account, he discovered new methods of treatment.

By the age of 18, the teenager had fully established himself as a qualified physician! Can you imagine! He found that ‘medicine is not as difficult and thorny as mathematics and metaphysics, so he made rapid progress; eventually becoming an excellent doctor and began treating patients using established remedies.’

What is more impressive is that the young physician’s reputation quickly spread, and he treated many patients without asking for any payment.

In The Canon of Medicine, he compiled both the knowledge from ancient medicine and the theories he developed and the diseases he discovered. Ibn Sina researched various illnesses, focusing on conditions like stroke, meningitis, organic paralysis, paralysis resulting from brain damage ³.

5-Adventurous Life

He lived an almost legendary life—treated royalty, escaped political enemies, and wrote over 450 books. If that doesn’t make him your scholar-crush material, I don’t know what will!

Ibn Sina’s life was full of drama and intrigue, resembling the kind of adventures you’d find in epic tales. Born in a politically turbulent era, his skills as a physician quickly caught the attention of royals and rulers. He was summoned to treat the rulers of various regions, including the Samanid ruler Nuh II of Bukhara, whom he famously cured of an illness no other physician could diagnose.

His success led to immense respect and favor at the courts, which opened doors for him to access some of the most valuable libraries of the time. However, this position of privilege was not without its risks, as his influence sometimes made him a target in political disputes.

Ibn Sina’s life was not just about fame and royal favor; it was also filled with episodes of danger and exile. Political instability in the regions he lived in often forced him to flee from one city to another. During these times, he was imprisoned on at least one occasion due to his involvement in the political affairs of the courts.

His captivity didn’t deter his scholarly pursuits; in fact, it is said that while in prison, he continued to write and research, showing his undying dedication to knowledge. His resilience in the face of such challenges made his life not just a tale of scholarly achievements but also of survival and courage.

Despite these hardships, Ibn Sina’s output was nothing short of prolific. He authored over 450 books and treatises, covering diverse subjects like I mentioned before. The sheer volume of his work, produced amid a life of political turmoil, travel, and even imprisonment, is a proof of his extraordinary intellect and determination.

His adventurous life and relentless pursuit of knowledge truly make him one of the most admired scholars of all time.

6-Hands-On Healer

Ibn Sina wasn’t just writing theories—he was personally treating patients, inventing surgical techniques, and even concocting medicines. He wasn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves for science.

Ibn Sina wasn’t the type to stay cooped up in a study, just writing theories from the comfort of his desk. He was out there, rolling up his sleeves, diagnosing real patients, and getting involved in the messy, unpredictable world of medicine. His hands-on approach set him apart from many of his contemporaries, who often kept their noses in books while he got his hands dirty with practical treatment.

One of the most impressive aspects of Ibn Sina’s work was his innovative surgical techniques. He was one of the first to develop procedures that are still the basis of modern surgical practices today. His commitment to directly applying his medical knowledge meant he was often inventing and refining techniques to improve patient care on the spot. Imagine a medieval surgeon who was both inventing and implementing the latest advancements—all without today’s fancy tools!

Not to mention, he was a pioneer in pharmacology, mixing up his own concoctions to treat ailments. Ibn Sina personally experimented with herbal remedies and chemical compounds, developing over 760 types of medicines that were revolutionary for his time. His creative blend of hands-on healing with practical science turned him into a true medical innovator—definitely someone you’d want as your doctor-crush in any era!

7-Charmingly Prolific

Seriously, who else could write about physics and metaphysics in one breath, then whip out a book on how to fix a dislocated shoulder in the next?

What fascinates me the most is that he was a nerdy kid. During his teen years, for a whole year and a half, he studied philosophy, which presented challenges. It is said that he read Aristotle’s Metaphysics forty times until the words were imprinted in his memory.

However, its meanings remained desperately obscure until one day he found the clue in a small commentary by al-Farabi, which he bought from a library for the small sum of three dirhams. He was overjoyed at the discovery, which came with the help of a work he had expected to be even more obscure. Afterward, he gave charity to the poor in gratitude.

Ibn Sina’s versatility as a writer was absolutely charming. He could tackle the most abstract philosophical debates about metaphysics one moment, and then, with the flick of his quill, produce a guide on a new surgical technique. It’s like he was the multitasking genius of his time, making the complex look effortless.

His writings were not just about quantity but also quality. While most scholars would struggle to master even one field, Ibn Sina was casually producing groundbreaking work in areas like physics, logic, ethics, and even astronomy. He had this uncanny ability to jump from the cosmos to the human body without missing a beat, proving that his intellectual curiosity knew no bounds. It’s as if his mind had a “genre-hopping” superpower!

He was the scholar who could heal with both his words and his hands, leaving you with no choice but to marvel at how he turned science into a kind of poetic wizardry.