Research Article

Bridging Medieval and Modern Medicine: An Analytical Study of Ibn al-Nafis’s Risâlât al-A‘Ḍā

Volume: 16 Number: 3 September 28, 2026
TR EN

Bridging Medieval and Modern Medicine: An Analytical Study of Ibn al-Nafis’s Risâlât al-A‘Ḍā

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to analyze Risâlât al-A‘ḍā by Ibn al-Nafis, one of the prominent physicians of the 13th-century Islamic world, within its historical, medical, and scientific context, and to evaluate its position between medieval Islamic medicine and modern biomedical sciences. Methods: A qualitative approach was adopted, integrating textual analysis, comparative historical research, and modern biomedical evaluation. The original text of Risâlât al-A‘ḍā was examined, and its anatomical and physiological descriptions were compared with both classical Islamic medical literature and contemporary medical knowledge. Results: The findings demonstrate that Ibn al-Nafis developed an advanced understanding of pulmonary circulation based on empirical observation, which was highly innovative for his time. The treatise presents a holistic perspective on organ functions, reflecting an integrative approach that aligns with modern systemic and holistic medicine. Furthermore, Ibn al-Nafis critically evaluated earlier authorities such as Galen and Avicenna, contributing original insights to medical science. Conclusion: Risâlât al-A‘ḍā is a significant work for understanding both the development of medieval Islamic medicine and the historical foundations of modern medical science. Ibn al-Nafis’s empirical and systematic approach can be considered an early precursor of modern scientific methodology. The work continues to hold relevance in both the history of medicine and contemporary biomedical discourse.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

Ethical Statement

This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. This study does not require an ethical approval.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 28, 2026

Submission Date

April 4, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 7, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 16 Number: 3

APA
Dinç, F., & Güneş, S. (2026). Bridging Medieval and Modern Medicine: An Analytical Study of Ibn al-Nafis’s Risâlât al-A‘Ḍā. Lokman Hekim Dergisi, 16(3), 715-723. https://doi.org/10.31020/mutftd.1922778
AMA
1.Dinç F, Güneş S. Bridging Medieval and Modern Medicine: An Analytical Study of Ibn al-Nafis’s Risâlât al-A‘Ḍā. Lokman Hekim Dergisi. 2026;16(3):715-723. doi:10.31020/mutftd.1922778
Chicago
Dinç, Fasih, and Sümeyye Güneş. 2026. “Bridging Medieval and Modern Medicine: An Analytical Study of Ibn Al-Nafis’s Risâlât Al-A‘Ḍā”. Lokman Hekim Dergisi 16 (3): 715-23. https://doi.org/10.31020/mutftd.1922778.
EndNote
Dinç F, Güneş S (September 1, 2026) Bridging Medieval and Modern Medicine: An Analytical Study of Ibn al-Nafis’s Risâlât al-A‘Ḍā. Lokman Hekim Dergisi 16 3 715–723.
IEEE
[1]F. Dinç and S. Güneş, “Bridging Medieval and Modern Medicine: An Analytical Study of Ibn al-Nafis’s Risâlât al-A‘Ḍā”, Lokman Hekim Dergisi, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 715–723, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.31020/mutftd.1922778.
ISNAD
Dinç, Fasih - Güneş, Sümeyye. “Bridging Medieval and Modern Medicine: An Analytical Study of Ibn Al-Nafis’s Risâlât Al-A‘Ḍā”. Lokman Hekim Dergisi 16/3 (September 1, 2026): 715-723. https://doi.org/10.31020/mutftd.1922778.
JAMA
1.Dinç F, Güneş S. Bridging Medieval and Modern Medicine: An Analytical Study of Ibn al-Nafis’s Risâlât al-A‘Ḍā. Lokman Hekim Dergisi. 2026;16:715–723.
MLA
Dinç, Fasih, and Sümeyye Güneş. “Bridging Medieval and Modern Medicine: An Analytical Study of Ibn Al-Nafis’s Risâlât Al-A‘Ḍā”. Lokman Hekim Dergisi, vol. 16, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 715-23, doi:10.31020/mutftd.1922778.
Vancouver
1.Fasih Dinç, Sümeyye Güneş. Bridging Medieval and Modern Medicine: An Analytical Study of Ibn al-Nafis’s Risâlât al-A‘Ḍā. Lokman Hekim Dergisi. 2026 Sep. 1;16(3):715-23. doi:10.31020/mutftd.1922778

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                                                                  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

  

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