The Contributions of Islamic Civilization to Medicine: The Past and the Pre The Past and the Present

This is a wonderful, informative collection of essays tracing the roots of modern medicine back to an Islamic Golden Age. It opens with an insightful, contextualizing essay by Georgetown's Distinguished University Professor, Dr. John Esposito. With that one exception, the essayists are neither historians nor historiographers. Rather, they are contemporary Muslim scientists and physicians, whose expertise and point of view uniquely qualify them for the task. The fellow physician who inspired their work, Dr. Hussain Nagamia, is no longer with us, but his personal passion for the topic permeates these pages. His essay, near the start of the book, frames everything that follows.

Through rare texts and global travel, Dr. Nagamia spent decades pursuing a cohort of medieval physicians and scholars working in the long millennium of Islamic civilization. The era began eight centuries before the European Renaissance and ended overlapping it. Working in centers of learning like Baghdad and Cairo, these scholarly practitioners translated, critiqued, transcended, and transformed the early works of classical medical authorities, including Hippocrates and Galen, and quickly surpassed them.

Much of this origin story is recounted in the book's multi-part Introduction by Dr. Mahmood Hai, a noted urologist and friend of Dr. Nagamia's. His well-ordered segments synthesize thousands of factoids into a readable, digestible, thoroughly illuminating presentation of a group of tireless physicians and medical philosophers who, between the 7th and 15th centuries, established a practice of medicine based on observation and the scientific method. It focuses on thirty-one groundbreaking exemplars, whose names, based on their accomplishments, ought to be household words today.

Presented in thumbnail bio-sketches, these medieval explorers laid the groundwork for accurate diagnoses of thousands of maladies, for a pharmacopeia to treat them, for a mathematical understanding of optics, an imaginatively precise vision of human anatomy, of pulmonary circulation, and the proposition of an overall regimen designed to maintain health and restore it from weakness. Building on each others' insights over time, they successfully developed an approach to public health that led to the world's first real hospitals, and to the development of life-saving surgeries— all based on a single, prophetic principle, in essence an article of faith: that no disease exists for which there is not also a cure.

This able Introduction for the general reader paves the way for five further essays, three of them focused in greater detail on philosophical and ethical topics, including an exploration of the principles of hygiene, a study of the origins of modern medical ethics, and an examination of medieval contributions to the psychology of medicine and its practice. The fourth essay supplies a long-awaited study of Muslim female physicians and healthcare providers in Islamic History. The final essay, continuing a millennial trajectory of revolutionary thought and invention, introduces readers to a representative handful of modern Muslim medical professionals and their innovative contributions to various domains of medicine today.

Dr. Mahmood Abdul Hai, MD, MS, FICS was born in India and completed his early education at St. Xavier's High School graduating in the First Division of Cambridge University level A. He earned his medical degree with distinction in Anatomy and Surgery from the Prince of Wales Medical College in 1969. In 1973 he completed his Masters in Surgery (MS) degree from Patna University and proceeded to USA for higher studies.
Dr. Hai did a two-year Surgical residency in the combined Harvard, Tufts and Boston University program and then completed his Urology residency from Wayne State University in Detroit in 1978. He was in the practice of Urology for 42 years in Michigan and is known as a leading expert in the field of prostatic diseases. He is internationally known for his pioneer work on the GreenLight laser devices. Having done the initial clinical trials, he received FDA approval for this technology in 2000. Dr. Hai has been very active in teaching this procedure and has trained many physicians nationally and internationally. He has been often called upon and has performed surgery on various diplomats, celebrities and world leaders. He has been an expert witness for medico-legal and patent cases.
Dr. Hai has a long list of publications, presentations and achievements. He was awarded Fellowship by the International College of Surgeons and an Honorary Fellowship to the Association of Surgeons of India. In 2007, he received the Distinguished Award for Philanthropy from the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding for his philanthropic contributions towards building understanding and commitment to positive social change. In 2012, at their Golden Anniversary, Dr. Hai was awarded the Distinguished Xaverian Award by his Alma Mater, for his long-term research, teaching and services to the community.
In 2015, the American Urological Association awarded the prestigious Dr. Edwin L. Thirby award for the best presentation at the North Central section meeting.
He has been on the advisory board of Endo Pharma, American Medical Systems, Boston Scientific Corporation, Storz Corporation, Bayer Pharmaceutical, Photocure, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. He has served as Chairman of the Board at Unity Productions Foundation, Founder member of Michigan Educational Council, Board member at the Islamic Institute of Medicine, Art and culture and many other organizations.
In 2019, Dr. Hai published a book 'WISDOM COMES' which has gained popularity both among professionals and non-professional. Under the wise guidance of Dr. Husain Nagamia and Dr. John Esposito, he edited and compiled 'THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ISLAMIC CIVILIZATION TO MEDICINE: The Past and The Present' which was published in December, 2023.
Dr. Hai retired from active practice as Senior Urologist with Comprehensive Urology, a division of Michigan Healthcare Professionals. He recently retired as President and Executive Director of the Surgical Institute of Michigan. Being a community activist, he is involved in many projects and organizations involved in serving the community for the betterment of humanity. He is a happy family member with his wife Annette, four children and nine grandchildren. Later Later