İslam Dünyasında Hekim Andı Uygulaması ve Hippokrat
Andı’nın İzleri
Physician’s Oath in Islamic World and Traces of Hippocratic
Oath
İLGİLİ ÖNDER*, ŞAHİNOĞLU Serap*, ACIDUMAN Ahmet*, TUZCU
Kemal**, ŞEMS Şehriyar***
e-mail:Onder.Ilgili@medicine.ankara.edu.tr
*Ankara Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Tıp Tarihi ve Etik Anabilim Dalı
** Ankara Üniversitesi, Dil Tarih Coğrafya Fakültesi, Doğu Dilleri ve
Edebiyatları Bölümü
***Bağımsız Araştırmacı
Özet
Bilinen ilk yazılı hekim andı Mısırlı hekim İmhotep’in (MÖ. 3000) yazmış
olduğu metindir. Yine de insanlarda çoğu zaman hekim andı Hippokrat (MÖ 459-
355) andını çağrıştırmaktadır. Hippokrat Andı olarak anılan en eski metnin ortaya
çıkış tarihi MÖ IV. yy olarak kabul edilmektedir. Yazarı hakkında kesin bir bilgi
bulunmamaktadır. Batı Tıbbı’nın babası olarak kabul edilen Hippokrates’e atfed-
ilmektedir. Hippokrat Andı’nın İslam Dünyası’nda dokuzuncu yüzyıldan itibaren
uyarlamalarına rastlanmaktadır. Hippokrat Andı’nın Abu Süleyman tarafından
Arapça’ya Kitâbü’l-‘Ahd adıyla çevrildiği İbnü’l-Kifti’nin eserinde belirtilmekte-
dir. Çeviriler yapılmış, antlaşmalar ve tıp etiğiyle ilgili kitaplar yayınlanmıştır.
Bu çalışma İslam Dünyası’nda hekim andı uygulamalarını Hippokrat Andı’nın
İslam Dünyası’ndaki etkisi yönünden incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaçla
Hippokrat Andı’nın İslam Tıp yazınında rastlanan İbn Ebî Usaybiya’nın (ö. 1269)
‘Uyûnü’l-Enbâ fî Tabakâti’l-Etibbâ adlı eserindeki Arapça tercüme, Prof. Uzluk’un
hazırlamış olduğu kitapçıkta yer alan Arapça, Farsça, Türkçe örnekler derlenerek
içerik incelemesi yapılacaktır. Hippokrat Andı’ın Yunanca metninin tercümeleri ile
karşılaştırılarak metnin katkı ve eksikliklerin saptanmasına çaba gösterilecektir.
İslam Dünyası’nda daha yakın tarihlerde hekim andı uygulamalarında kullanılan
metinler, Şah Rıza (1923-1941) döneminden sonra Tahran Üniversitesi Tıp
Fakültesi’nde kullanılan and, 1925 yılında Türkiye’de kullanılan and, “Müslüman
Hekimin Andı” (Kuzey Amerika İslam Tıp Derneği, Islamic Medical Association
Of North America, 1977), Tıp Bilimleri Islam Örgütü Kuveyt Bildirgesi’nde yer
alan “Doktorun Andı” (Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences, 1981), gibi
metinler tarihsel gelişim ve etkiler açısından değerlendirilecektir. Son olarak alan
yazın ışığında İslam Dünyası’nda hekim andı uygulamalarına bütünlüklü bir bakış
sunulacaktır.
Hakim Ajmal Khan: a Renowned Physician of
Indian Subcontinent
Anis Ahmad ANSARI
Prof(Retd), Department Of Kulliyat, Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College Aligarh
Muslim University Aligarh-202001-India
Summary
Masihul Mulk Hakim Ajmal Khan was the scion of family of physicians, he was
not only a genius physician but vigorously advocated the cause of upliftment of
Indian Systems of Medicine i.e. Unani Tibb and Ayurveda. Besides this the Ajmal
Khan was an acclaimed physician, a statesman of National status, a poet of great
sentiments, an orator and educationist at the same time Hm. Ajmal Khan was born
in Delhi on 17 Shawwal 1284 A.H. (1863 A.D.) in a very distinguished family of
physicians who came in India from Kashghar (Turkishi an) during the period of
Mughal King Babur.
As a physician Hakim Ajmal Khan enjoyed worldwide fame as a physician. He had
an absolute command over the Unani theory and practice. Besides this, his strong
will power and spiritual force too, played an important role in his miraculous
healing power for which he was famous. A well-known anecdote of curing a French
lady whose legs contracted due to spasms accompanied by acute pain in the stom-
ach, carried his fame far and wide. This incident occurred in Paris, where a Doctor,
who spoke in derogatory manner about the Unani system challenged Hakim Ajmal
Khan to diagnose the case of a lady patient where all attempts, including the X-ray,
failed to reveal the actual nature of the disease. Ajmal Khan questioned the lady
about her hobbies and what games she played. It was found that the women played
tennis and went riding. After a thoughtful pause Hakim Sahib produced a medicine
and asked the lady to take it in butter every morning. After about two weeks she was
perfectly cured, and this resulted in the Doctor’s acceptance of the superiority of the
Unani system. For Ajmal Khan, medicine was an indivisible whole, and his
approach towards its problems and their solutions was an integrated one. He had
recognized the merits of different medical systems and tried to take good things
from each one. In his review of Dr. Ghulam Jilani’s book which was written with
the object of brining Unani medicine and modern medicine closer to each other, he
expressed his views thus:
“I und erstand that this collection may serve as a useful medium for a dialogue
between Unani Tabibs and Allopathic doctors and reduce the prejudices which are
there due to mutual ignorance of each other’s system. Some people might have
heard the story of three persons who knew only their own languages and wanted to
purchase grapes. Each of them named grapes in his own language which others
could not understand. The ignorance of each other’s language led them to differ-
ences which were resolved only when a passer-by incidentally he knew all the three
languages – brought grapes for them and this satisfied each one of them. In Tabibs
and the Allopathic doctors and now it is upto them to make use of them or not.”
Ajmal Khan’s thirst for knowledge was unquenchable there. He also visited the
India office library which contained a treasure of knowledge in hand written manu-
scripts which are not to be found in India. He also visited the Oxford and Cambridge
Universities. His meeting with the famous orientalist, Prof. E.J. Brown proved to be
very interesting. Ajmal Khan was greatly impressed by the progress made in
England. During his visit to England he visited the hospitals and medical colleges.
It was during this visit that friendship was struck between Hakim Sahib and Dr.
M.A. Ansari, Dr. Ansari was house surgeon in very prestigious charry Cross Hospi-
tal. He introduced Dr. Stanley Boyd, a very senior surgeon in the hospital to Hm.
Ajmal Khan. Hakim Shaib was invited by Dr. Boyd, as an expert in the indigenous
systems of medicine, to his Clinical Surgery class where practical demonstration
was given to the medical students. Dr. Boyd was diagnosing the patient before the
students and also requested Hakim Sahib to diagnose him. After examining the
patient, Hakim Sahib declared that the patient had an ulcer in the upper part of the
intestines but Dr. Boyd held a different view. In his opinion
there was a swelling in
the gall bladder of the patient and advised surgical operation. The operation, how-
ever, endorsed the Hakim Ajmal Khan opinion. Dr. Boyd congratulated Hakim
Ajmal Khan on his correct diagnosis and that too by simply feeling the pulse and
examining his urine.
On his way back from England, Ajmal Khan visited Paris, Berlin and several other
European cities and studied their systems of medicine in hospitals and medical
colleges.
Hakim Ajmal Khan visualized very early the need of use of modern medical
sciences and scientific research in Indian systems of Medicine instead of following
the old prescriptions and knowledge blindly. He set up a Majles Tehqiqat Ilami
(Research Committee ) on 2nd July 1926, comprising on best of experts available
on that point of time to have the Indian systems of medicine updated.
Hakim Ajmal Khan as author also contributed the valuable books which are still
considered as resource books in the field of teaching and research of Unani tib these
are:
He for the first time institutionalized the Indian systems of Medicine and estab-
lished on Ayurvadic and Unani Tibbiya College in Delhi with a degree course with
a integration of modern medical subjects like Anatomy and Physiology etc. with
intensive practical trainings in various practical labs and Hospital.
In view of extra ordinary services rendered by him prestigious physician Hm.
Ajmal Khan was honored with a very prestigious award. “Haziqul Mulk” by the
British Govt. in 1908, again in 1919 the British Govt. awarded “Qaiser Hind” gold
medal to Hm. Ajamal Khan.
But Hakim Ajmal Khan joined freedom struggle against British rule in India and
in protest he returned both the title “ “ and gold medal ( ) to Brit-
ish Govt. The people of India were having so much of respect and love to Hakim
Ajmal Khan that they bestowed the title of “ Masihul Mulk” to Hakim Ajmal in
1921 which he accepted.
Hakim Ajmal Khan having very much command on Arabic language and literature
that and academy ………………………………..in Damishq (Syria) had declared
honry member of this academy it is worthy to mention that since the starting of this
academy from 1919 the total seven Indian
scholar have been the Hon,y member and
Hakim Ajmal Khan was the first Indian scholar to the member of this academy
As recognition of his memorable services in the field of health and Nation building.
The ministry of communication Govt. of India issued a commemorative stamp in
honor of Masihul Mulk Hm Ajmal Khan on 13th Feb. 1987.
There are people who accomplish several great feats in their lifetime. And there
are, whose life becomes a great feat in itself, But Ajmal Khan lived a life that was
both full of several great achievements and great national achievement in itself.
P.V.
NARASIMHA RAO
Minister of Human Resource Development and Health Minister Govt.
of India
New Delhi
Summary
The first written physician’s oath was written by Egyptian Physician Imhotep (BC.
3000). However most of the time physician’s oath brings Hippocratic Oath to mind
for many people. Hippocratic Oath widely accepted as composed in the 4th century
BC. The writer of the oath isn’t exactly known but the oath attributed to Hippocrates
(BC. 459-355) who is referred to as the father of Western Medicine. Hippocratic
Oath converted to different versions in Islamic World after the 9th century. In
writings of Ibn al-Qifti it’s expressed that Hippocratic Oath has been translated by
Abu Suleyman as Kitāb al-‘Ahd. There are works as translations, treatises and
books on medical ethics.
Objective of this study is to investigate the physician’s oath ceremonies in Islamic
World and determine the effect of Hippocratic Oath. Contents of one of the earliest
Arabic translation of Hippocratic Oath in İbn Ebī Usaybiya’s (d. 1269) work ‘Uyūn
al-Anbā fi Tabakāt al-Atibbā, Arabic, Persian, Turkish translations in booklet by
Prof. Uzluk will be analyzed. Additional and missing points will be specified in
comparison with the translations of The Greek Hippocratic Oath text.
More contemporary samples of oaths that used in Islamic World as, the oath used in
1925 in Turkey, the oath used in University of Tehran since Reza Shah (1923-1941)
period, “The Oath of A Muslim Physician” (Islamic Medical Association Of North
America, 1977) and “The Oath of The Doctor” in Islamic Code of Medical Ethics
Kuwait Document (Islamic Organization for Medical Sciences, 1981) will be evalu-
ated from historical point of view. At last a comprehensive view will be shared in
the light of literature on physician’s oaths in Islamic World.
48
The Achievements of Albucasis in Neurosurgery
Abdul Nasser KAADAN *
* Prof.Dr.MD.Ph.D ,The President of ISHIM (www.ishim.net).
Chairman, History of Medicine Department, Aleppo University, Aleppo -
Syria
Consultant in Orthopedic Surgeory
P.O. Box: 7581, Aleppo, Syria
E-mail: ankaadan@gmail.com
Summary
Albucasis has lived in Andalus (Spain), and died there in 1013. He is considered
one of the most celebrated surgeons during the Middle Ages. The influence of his
book (Kitab al-Tasrif) in the field of surgery development in general and neurosur-
gery in particular was tremendous. Guy de Chauliac, the “restorer of Surgery”
quotes Albucasis more than 200 times. The arrangement of the work, the clear
diction, and lucid explanations, all contributed to its great success. It soon became
an authority quoted by medieval European physicians and surgeons more frequently
than Galen himself. Albucasis describes some neurosurgical operative procedures
and instruments which do not appear in extant classical writings and which may be
regarded as his own. In the chapter related to Hydrocephalus treatment, Albucasis
says: “If the humidity is beneath the bone, and the sign of that is that you will see
the sutures of the skull gaping on all sides, you should make three incisions in the
middle of the head, in this pattern. After incising, drew out all the humidity, then
bind up the incision with pads and bandages, and over the bandages foment with
wine and oil till the fifth day”. To remove the depressive fracture in the skull, he
says: “As to the manner of perforation round the fractured bone, you apply the drill
to the bone and revolve it with your fingers until you know that the bone is pierced,
then you transfer the drill to another place, making the distance between the perfo-
rations about the thickness of a probe. Then with the chisels cut out the bone
between the perforations, using the utmost delicacy, as we have said. Then take out
the bone, either with your hand or with some other instrument we have ready for the
purpose, such as forceps or fine tongs. You will have to observe the utmost caution
that neither drill nor chisel touch any part of the membrane”.
The aim of this work is to shed light on Albucasis neurosurgery, to reveal his
accomplishment and contribution in this field of surgery.
Hakim Ajmal Khan: a Renowned Physician of
Indian Subcontinent
Anis Ahmad ANSARI
Prof(Retd), Department Of Kulliyat, Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College Aligarh
Muslim University Aligarh-202001-India
Summary
Masihul Mulk Hakim Ajmal Khan was the scion of family of physicians, he was
not only a genius physician but vigorously advocated the cause of upliftment of
Indian Systems of Medicine i.e. Unani Tibb and Ayurveda. Besides this the Ajmal
Khan was an acclaimed physician, a statesman of National status, a poet of great
sentiments, an orator and educationist at the same time Hm. Ajmal Khan was born
in Delhi on 17 Shawwal 1284 A.H. (1863 A.D.) in a very distinguished family of
physicians who came in India from Kashghar (Turkishi an) during the period of
Mughal King Babur.
As a physician Hakim Ajmal Khan enjoyed worldwide fame as a physician. He had
an absolute command over the Unani theory and practice. Besides this, his strong
will power and spiritual force too, played an important role in his miraculous
healing power for which he was famous. A well-known anecdote of curing a French
lady whose legs contracted due to spasms accompanied by acute pain in the stom-
ach, carried his fame far and wide. This incident occurred in Paris, where a Doctor,
who spoke in derogatory manner about the Unani system challenged Hakim Ajmal
Khan to diagnose the case of a lady patient where all attempts, including the X-ray,
failed to reveal the actual nature of the disease. Ajmal Khan questioned the lady
about her hobbies and what games she played. It was found that the women played
tennis and went riding. After a thoughtful pause Hakim Sahib produced a medicine
and asked the lady to take it in butter every morning. After about two weeks she was
perfectly cured, and this resulted in the Doctor’s acceptance of the superiority of the
Unani system. For Ajmal Khan, medicine was an indivisible whole, and his
approach towards its problems and their solutions was an integrated one. He had
recognized the merits of different medical systems and tried to take good things
from each one. In his review of Dr. Ghulam Jilani’s book which was written with
the object of brining Unani medicine and modern medicine closer to each other, he
expressed his views thus:
“I und erstand that this collection may serve as a useful medium for a dialogue
between Unani Tabibs and Allopathic doctors and reduce the prejudices which are
there due to mutual ignorance of each other’s system. Some people might have
heard the story of three persons who knew only their own languages and wanted to
purchase grapes. Each of them named grapes in his own language which others
could not understand. The ignorance of each other’s language led them to differ-
ences which were resolved only when a passer-by incidentally he knew all the three
languages – brought grapes for them and this satisfied each one of them. In Tabibs
and the Allopathic doctors and now it is upto them to make use of them or not.”
Ajmal Khan’s thirst for knowledge was unquenchable there. He also visited the
India office library which contained a treasure of knowledge in hand written manu-
scripts which are not to be found in India. He also visited the Oxford and Cambridge
Universities. His meeting with the famous orientalist, Prof. E.J. Brown proved to be
very interesting. Ajmal Khan was greatly impressed by the progress made in
England. During his visit to England he visited the hospitals and medical colleges.
It was during this visit that friendship was struck between Hakim Sahib and Dr.
M.A. Ansari, Dr. Ansari was house surgeon in very prestigious charry Cross Hospi-
tal. He introduced Dr. Stanley Boyd, a very senior surgeon in the hospital to Hm.
Ajmal Khan. Hakim Shaib was invited by Dr. Boyd, as an expert in the indigenous
systems of medicine, to his Clinical Surgery class where practical demonstration
was given to the medical students. Dr. Boyd was diagnosing the patient before the
students and also requested Hakim Sahib to diagnose him. After examining the
patient, Hakim Sahib declared that the patient had an ulcer in the upper part of the
intestines but Dr. Boyd held a different view. In his opinion there was a swelling in
the gall bladder of the patient and advised surgical operation. The operation, how-
ever, endorsed the Hakim Ajmal Khan opinion. Dr. Boyd congratulated Hakim
Ajmal Khan on his correct diagnosis and that too by simply feeling the pulse and
examining his urine.
On his way back from England, Ajmal Khan visited Paris, Berlin and several other
European cities and studied their systems of medicine in hospitals and medical
colleges.
Hakim Ajmal Khan visualized very early the need of use of modern medical
sciences and scientific research in Indian systems of Medicine instead of following
the old prescriptions and knowledge blindly. He set up a Majles Tehqiqat Ilami
(Research Committee ) on 2nd July 1926, comprising on best of experts available
on that point of time to have the Indian systems of medicine updated.
Hakim Ajmal Khan as author also contributed the valuable books which are still
considered as resource books in the field of teaching and research of Unani tib these
are:
He for the first time institutionalized the Indian systems of Medicine and estab-
lished on Ayurvadic and Unani Tibbiya College in Delhi with a degree course with
a integration of modern medical subjects like Anatomy and Physiology etc. with
intensive practical trainings in various practical labs and Hospital.
In view of extra ordinary services rendered by him prestigious physician Hm.
Ajmal Khan was honored with a very prestigious award. “Haziqul Mulk” by the
British Govt. in 1908, again in 1919 the British Govt. awarded “Qaiser Hind” gold
medal to Hm. Ajamal Khan.
But Hakim Ajmal Khan joined freedom struggle against British rule in India and
in protest he returned both the title “ “ and gold medal ( ) to Brit-
ish Govt. The people of India were having so much of respect and love to Hakim
Ajmal Khan that they bestowed the title of “ Masihul Mulk” to Hakim Ajmal in
1921 which he accepted.
Hakim Ajmal Khan having very much command on Arabic language and literature
that and academy ………………………………..in Damishq (Syria) had declared
honry member of this academy it is worthy to mention that since the starting of this
academy from 1919 the total seven Indian scholar have been the Hon,y member and
Hakim Ajmal Khan was the first Indian scholar to the member of this academy
As recognition of his memorable services in the field of health and Nation building.
The ministry of communication Govt. of India issued a commemorative stamp in
honor of Masihul Mulk Hm Ajmal Khan on 13th Feb. 1987.
There are people who accomplish several great feats in their lifetime. And there
are, whose life becomes a great feat in itself, But Ajmal Khan lived a life that was
both full of several great achievements and great national achievement in itself.
P.V. NARASIMHA RAO
Minister of Human Resource Development and Health Minister Govt. of India
New Delhi
49