Ibn al-Akfani

Summary

Muhammad ibn Ibrāhīm ibn al-Akfani (Arabic: ابن الأكفاني, 1286-ca. 1348–49) was a Kurdish Cairene encyclopedist and physician.[1]

Life edit

Ibn al-Akfani was born in Sinjar, Iraq and lived in Cairo, Egypt. He worked at Al-Mansuri Hospital. He died in either 1348 or 1349 of the bubonic plague.[2]

Work edit

He wrote at least 22 books.[3] Most of his books were science related, including logic, gemology, mathematics, medicine and astronomy.[2] Specific subjects include bloodletting, slavery and ophthalmology.[4]

His most famous work was a science encyclopedia called Iršād al-qāsid ilā asnā' al-maqāsid.[2] The encyclopedia examines 60 subjects with bibliographies and a glossary of terms.[3] His book, Kitāb nuhab al-dahā'ir fī ahwāl al-jawāhir, is about gemstones, with a focus about jacinth.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ al-Ḥamawī, Ibn Wāṣil (2022). El-Rouayheb, Khaled (ed.). Commentary on the Jumal on Logic by Khūnajī. Brill. p. 8.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Selection of Treasures Regarding Precious Stones". World Digital Library. 1700–1800. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
  3. ^ a b William Charles Brice (1981). An Historical Atlas of Islam [cartographic Material]. BRILL. p. 381. ISBN 978-90-04-06116-3. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Bio-Bibliographies". Islamic Medical Manuscripts. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 14 July 2013.