‘Father of modern day surgery’ was an Andalusian Muslim

For centuries, Muslims have been at the helm of medicinal and scientific advancements. As a community, we are still making headway in these fields.

This is why the constant media messaging targeting Muslims specifically as not taking up COVID vaccines seems awry.

In this vain, I want to further reflect on the Muslim role of advancement in the medicinal field, and the influence and legacy they imparted on modern medicine.

In Jason Webster‘s book: ‘Violencia’, about the history of Spain, he talks about Muslims in Andalusia having a huge influence on medicine as we know it today.

An Andalusian Muslim, Al-Zahrawi (Abulcasis in Latin), from Cordoba, born in 936 AD, is renowned as the ‘father of surgery.’ He wrote the first book and illustrated guide to surgical techniques. This became the standard textbook on surgery in western universities and hospitals for 500 years. Even modern surgeons still use instruments that he invented, including the scalpel, forceps, surgical needle and retractor, and the speculum.

Jason Webster states: “Al-Zahrawi was a master of his art: he developed neurosurgical methods to cure head injuries and migraines, he was an accomplished dentist, and made important advancements in childbirth techniques. He was also the first person to recognise haemophilia as a hereditary disease.”

150 years after Al-Zahrawi died, there was another accomplished Andalusian Muslim medic: Abu Marwan Ibn Zuhr. He was a pioneer of dissection, and developed further Al-Zahrawi’s theories on tracheotomies. He also wrote books which have had a big influence on western medicine and thinking.

Let us also not forget the geniuses behind the development of the Pfizer COVID vaccine as well. They are a Turkish Muslim couple, Ugur Sahin and Ozlem Tureci.

So reading these histories and talking to Muslims on the ground who have all taken the COVID vaccine when offered (even if hesitant) makes you wonder about current media reporting. And let’s face it - loads of people from all backgrounds are hesitant. I just saw a clip of a massive (non-socially distanced) anti-vaccine protest - mainly white people from what I could see.

It’s good to know your history and always read in-between the lines.