1.1 Pre-Islamic period

Medicine was practiced from the start of human history. Ancient Egyptians learned a lot about the internal structure of the body and developed medical and surgical techniques because they preserved bodies of their dead. Babylonians who lived in what is modern Iraq knew how treatment of eye cataracts[i] and epistaxis[ii]. Ancient Chinese developed acupuncture[iii] and were experts in various branches of medicine[iv]. Ancient Indian surgeons were experts in several surgical operations[v], anesthetics, and poisons. Indian physicians who lived in Baghdad played a role in transferring Indian medical knowledge to Muslims[vi]. Greeks and Romans also made many contributions to medicine[vii]

1.2 Islamic period

The prophet’s teachings gave a big impetus to medicine. He taught disease prevention, personal and environmental hygiene. He practiced medicine and urged his companions to seek cures for their diseases. Prophetic medicine, tibb nabawi, refers to words and actions of the Prophet with a bearing on disease, treatment of disease, and care of patients. In the Omayyad and Abassid periods many medical books were translated into Arabic. Muslim physicians carried out research on new treatments and added to medical knowledge. Medical schools[viii] and hospitals[ix] were established. Many of the textbooks used in ancient Muslim medical schools were translated into Latin and were used in European universities until recently. Muslims developed nursing[x]. Muslims made many discoveries in anatomy[xi], physiology[xii], infectious diseases[xiii], public health[xiv], blood circulation[xv], allergy, dietetics, pharmaceuticals[xvi], ophthalmology[xvii], and general surgery, wound treatment, urology[xviii], gastro-enterology[xix], otorhinolaryngology[xx], plastic surgery[xxi], dentistry[xxii], and neurosurgery[xxiii]. Out of concern for proper medical education, Khalifah al Muqtadiri ordered in 319 H that nobody would be allowed to practice medicine unless examined by Sinan bin Thaabit bin Qurra.

1.3 Transfer of medical knowledge to Europe

While Muslim medicine was flourishing in West Asia, Europe was in the ignorance and decline of its middle ages. Modern European medicine owes its origins to the knowledge transferred from the Muslim world to Europe. Constatine Africanus (d. 1087 M) translated the most important medical books from Arabic into Latin. This gave new life to the Salerno (Italy) school of medicine. After him more books were translated and were used in European medical schools. Europeans came to study at Muslim institutions in Andalusia and took back the knowledge to Europe.

2.0 MOTIVATION FROM ANCIENT PHYSICIANS

2.1 All-rounded medical professionals

Ancient Muslim physicians were encyclopedic in knowledge, all-rounded, motivated, hardworking, and productive. They excelled in medicine as committed Muslims because Islam is compatible with science. Their achievements are a motivator for today’s medical students and physicians.

2.2 West Asia

Abubakr Al Razi (251-313H),  wrote more than 100 books (the most famous being al Hawi al Kabir), investigated diseases (gynecological, obstetrical, hereditary, eye, small pox, and measles), discovered surgical sutures, used anesthetics, used ammonia to control diarrhea, considered psychological factors in disease treatment, and was director of hospitals in Baghdad and Rayy. Ibn Sina (370-428H) wrote many books (the most famous being al Qanuun fi al Tibb), recognized that TB was contagious, accurately described the symptoms of diabetes mellitus, discovered ancylostomiasis, and contributed to science, mathematics, chemistry, and philosophy. Ibn Al Nafees (d. 686H) described blood circulation before William Harvey and authored Sharh tashriih al qanuun in which he explained pulmonary circulation.

2.3 Andalusia

Al Zahrawi (d. 404H) had interest in surgery, pharmacology, and anatomy. He designed over 200 surgical instruments. His book Kitaab al tasriif, became a standard textbook of surgery. He was an expert in cancer surgery and tooth extraction. Ibn Zuhr (d. 487H), lived in Andalusia and Morocco and authored the book al Taysir translated into Latin and used in Europe. Ibn Rushd (d. 595H) was a philosopher and a medical practitioner. His book al Kulliyat translated in Europe. He made the observation that smallpox infected only once.

3.0 WHAT DO DOCTORS DO

3.1 Clinical Medicine

People who study medicine carry out a wide variety of activities in the following main areas: hospital care, public health, and medical research. Physicians who work in hospitals provide clinical care which includes diagnosis (finding out the type and cause of disease) and treatment (using drugs, surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and others). Investigation can be by taking a sample of blood, urine, or stool and examining in the laboratory. It may also be by using x-rays, CT scan or MRI to visualize internal body structures. Sometimes instruments have to be inserted inside the body for better visualization. For example an esophagoscope can be used to look inside the esophagus and a gastroscope can be used to look inside the stomach.

Treatment is determined by the diagnosis. Physicians can treat using medicine that are either swallowed through the mouth, are injected in the muscles or blood vessels, or are given through the anus. Treatment also can be by surgery in which the body is opened using special instruments in order to remove diseased parts or correct structures. Sometimes powerful energy sources like irradiation or laser are used in surgery to cut away or destroy structures that are diseased.

3.2 Public Health Medicine

Public health physicians also investigate and prevent diseases at the community level. They undertake immunization, control the environment, and other activities of disease prevention and health promotion.

3.3 Medical Research

Some physicians choose to work in research to advance medical knowledge. They may work in laboratories or may work in hospitals. Thos in a hospital setting usually test new drugs to see whether they are effective against disease.

3.4 Other forms of medical practice

There are other specialized functions that physicians undertake such as forensic physicians who examine patients or carry out post-mortem examinations to look for evidence required in a court of law. Sports physicians treat injuries of sportsmen and ensure that players are in good health.

4.0 HOW DO YOU BECOME A DOCTOR

4.1 Basic education

Medicine is both a science (academic study) and an art (apprenticeship learning on the job). Language skills (literacy) and mathematical skills (numeracy) learned in primary schools are the foundation on which future learning is laid. Sciences are very important in secondary school. In some countries students leaving high school enter directly into a medical school and graduate as doctors 5 years later. In other countries they need to obtain a bachelor of science degree before they enter a medical school as postgraduate students.

4.2 University education

The medical curriculum is divided into a pre-clinical phase (study of basic medical sciences) and a clinical phase (study by examining actual patients). On graduation young doctors work for 1 year under supervision before being registered as independent general practitioners.

4.3 Postgraduate training

Some may choose to become specialists in which case they enter a hospital based training program that lasts 3-4 years. When they acquire the necessary experience and pass the examinations they can then become specialists who are experts in a given branch of medicine.

5.0 MEDICINE AS COMMUNITY SERVICE and LEADERSHIP

Medicine is a service, khidmat, for the community. It is a form of mutual social support, takaful. It is social responsibility, amanat. The best physician should be a social activist who goes into society and gives leadership in solving underlying social causes of ill-health. The physician as a respected opinion leader with close contact with the patients must be a model for others in moral values, attitudes, akhlaq, and thoughts. He must give leadership in preventing or solving ethical issues arising out of modern biotechnology. He must understand the medical, legal, and ethical issue involved and explain them to the patients and their families so that they can form an informed decision. He should also provide leadership in advocating for the less privileged and advocacy for human rights.

6.0 COMPENSATION