10 Most Influential Iranian Doctors Throughout History

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Heritage Digest

12 min readFeb 24, 2024

Iran, with its rich history of scientific and medical achievements, has been home to some of the world’s most influential doctors. These physicians made groundbreaking contributions to the field of medicine and left an indelible mark on the history of healthcare. Their innovative approaches and discoveries continue to influence modern medicine. Here’s a list of some of the most influential Iranian doctors throughout history:

Rhazes (Al-Razi) (864 or 865–925 or 935)
Avicenna (Ibn Sina) (980–1037)
Haly Abbas (930–982 or 994)
Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi (Abulcasis) (936–1013)
Zayn al-Din Gorgani (1040–1136)
Abu-Mansur Muwaffaq (10th Century)
Alavi Shirazi (1670–1747)
Jalal al-Din Muhammad al-Isfahani (19th Century)
Mohammad Gharib (1909–1975)
Burhan-ud-din Kermani (15th Century)

1. Rhazes (Al-Razi) (864 or 865–925 or 935)

Abū Bakr al-Rāzī, also known as Rhazes, was born in a Persian family around 864 or 865 CE in Ray, near Tehran, Iran. His early life is somewhat obscure, but it’s evident that he was immersed in an environment rich in cultural and intellectual exchange, given Ray’s prominence on the Silk Road. This exposure possibly sparked his diverse interests in various fields, including medicine.

Al-Rāzī’s education and medical training primarily occurred in Baghdad, the center of intellectual activity during the Islamic Golden Age. He worked and studied at the local bimaristan (hospital), honing his skills under the guidance of other eminent scholars. His reputation as a skilled physician led to his invitation back to Ray, where he headed a local hospital. Later, his medical prowess earned him the position of chief physician in Baghdad and Ray hospitals, a testament to his extraordinary skill and knowledge.

Rhazes made several groundbreaking contributions to medicine, distinguishing him as a luminary in the field. He was the first to differentiate between smallpox and measles, providing detailed descriptions of both diseases. His approach to medicine was remarkably systematic and based on observation and experience, a method later adopted widely in Europe. His works, particularly “Al-Mansuri” and “A General Book on Therapy,” were incorporated into medical studies in Western universities, profoundly influencing medical education. Al-Rāzī’s legacy in pediatrics, obstetrics, and ophthalmology and his recognition of the pupil’s reaction to light marks him as a pioneer in these areas. Sadly, he suffered from glaucoma later in life, leading to his eventual blindness. He died around 925 or 935 CE, leaving a lasting impact on medicine.

2. Avicenna (Ibn Sina) (980–1037)

Avicenna, also known as Ibn Sina, was born around 980 CE in Afshana, near Bukhara in present-day Uzbekistan, into a Persian family. His father, Abd Allah, was an official in the Samanid administration, which provided Avicenna with a socio-political environment conducive to intellectual development. From a young age, Avicenna showed a remarkable ability to learn, and by the age of ten, he had memorized the Quran. His education was comprehensive, including study in various fields such as logic, medicine, mathematics, and astronomy.

Avicenna’s contributions to the field of medicine are monumental. By his late teens, he had gained fame as a physician and found favor in the court of the Samanid rulers. His most significant work, “The Canon of Medicine”, became a cornerstone of medical education in the Islamic world and Europe for centuries. This encyclopedia of medicine consolidated medical knowledge from both the Greek and Islamic worlds, systematizing it and adding his observations.

Avicenna’s medical theories and practices, particularly in pharmacology, physiology, and infectious diseases, influenced subsequent generations of Islamic and European scholars. His method of clinical trials testing the effectiveness of medical drugs and treatments was particularly revolutionary. Avicenna’s death in June 1037 was a significant loss to the Islamic intellectual world. His enduring legacy in philosophy and medicine attests to his towering intellect and profound impact on the development of science and medicine.

3. Haly Abbas (930–982 or 994)

Haly Abbas, also known as ‘Ali ibn al-’Abbas al-Majusi, was born into a Persian family in Ahvaz, southwestern Persia. His early upbringing occurred in an era marked by significant intellectual development, particularly in the Islamic Golden Age. Haly Abbas’s educational journey was under the guidance of Shaikh Abu Maher Musa ibn Sayyār, and he showed a profound interest in medicine from a young age. His father, Abbas, indicates a generational transition to Islam, suggesting that Haly Abbas grew up in a family that valued traditional Persian culture and the emerging Islamic scholarly world.

As a physician, Haly Abbas became renowned for his expertise, ascending to become one of the three most distinguished physicians of the Eastern Caliphate during his lifetime. He served as a physician to Emir ‘Adud al-Daula Fana Khusraw of the Buwayhid dynasty, an era that saw great advancements in medical sciences. Haly Abbas worked in the Al-Adudi Hospital in Baghdad, a significant medical center of the time. His major contribution to medicine is his comprehensive work, the “Kitab al-Maliki” or “Complete Book of the Medical Art,” which became a cornerstone in medical education and practice.

Haly Abbas’s “Kitab al-Maliki” is notable for its systematic approach and practical focus, bridging the gap between theory and practice in medical science. This work, completed around 980 CE, was divided into two main sections, one dealing with medical theory and the other with practical medicine. His discussions on various medical topics like dietetics, the capillary system, and clinical observations were ahead of their time. Haly Abbas’s work was highly influential in Europe, especially after being translated and becoming a foundational text at the Schola Medica Salernitana in Salerno. His insights into medical ethics and research methodology and his contributions to neuroscience and psychology underscore his role as a pioneering figure in early medical science. Haly Abbas died between 982 and 994, leaving a legacy as a key figure in the history of medicine.

4. Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi (Abulcasis) (936–1013)

Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi, better known as Al-Zahrawi and Latinized as Albucasis was born in Azahara, near Cordoba, Andalusia, after 936 AD. His upbringing in this intellectually vibrant region, particularly during the Islamic Golden Age, likely influenced his future pursuits. Al-Zahrawi’s educational journey in Cordoba, a hub for scholars, played a crucial role in shaping his medical expertise. His lineage, indicated by the nisba Al-Ansari, suggests ancestral connections to the Medinian tribe of Al-Ansar, pointing to a heritage rooted in the Arabian Peninsula.

Renowned for his medical expertise, Al-Zahrawi became a prominent physician, surgeon, and chemist in al-Andalus, serving as a court physician to the Andalusian caliph Al-Hakam II. His tenure at the court provided extensive knowledge and resources, enabling him to pioneer various surgical techniques and instruments. Al-Zahrawi’s most significant contribution to medicine is his 30-volume encyclopedia, “Kitab al-Tasrif,” encompassing a comprehensive range of medical practices. His work on surgery in this encyclopedia was particularly influential, becoming a foundational text in Europe for centuries.

Al-Zahrawi’s contributions to medicine are vast and varied. He was the first to use catgut for internal stitches, a practice still used today. His groundbreaking work in identifying the hereditary nature of haemophilia and describing an abdominal pregnancy marked significant advancements in medical understanding. Moreover, he developed surgical devices for Caesarean sections and cataract surgeries. His innovative approach to medical challenges and his development of new surgical instruments demonstrate his profound impact on the field of medicine, which continues to be felt in both the East and the West. Al-Zahrawi’s life, dedicated entirely to medical advancement, particularly in surgery, ended around 1013, two years after the sacking of his birthplace, Azahara.

5. Zayn al-Din Gorgani (1040–1136)

Zayn al-Din Sayyed Isma’il ibn Husayn Gorgani, born around 1040 in Gorgan, Iran, was a distinguished physician of the 12th century. His early life in Gorgan, a region known for its rich cultural and intellectual heritage, likely played a significant role in shaping his interests in medical and pharmaceutical sciences and theological, philosophic, and ethical domains. Gorgani’s education under prominent figures like Ibn Abi Sadiq and Ahmad ibn Farrokh gave him a comprehensive foundation in various scientific fields.

In 1110, Gorgani, at a mature age, joined the court of Khwarazm-Shah Qutb al-Din Muhammad I in the Persian province of Khwarazm. His expertise and experience earned him the position of court physician, a prestigious role that allowed him to further practice and develop his medical knowledge. Gorgani’s tenure at the court continued under Qutb al-Din’s successor, Ala al-Din Atsiz. During this period, he composed his most comprehensive and influential work, the “Zakhirah-i Khvarazm’Shahi,” a Persian medical encyclopedia dedicated to the Khwarazm-Shah.

Gorgani’s “Thesaurus of the Shah of Khwarazm,” written after he moved to Khwarazm at 70 lunar years old, is a testament to his profound knowledge and innovative contributions to medicine. This ten-volume work encompasses various medical fields, including endocrinology, where Gorgani notably associated exophthalmos with goitre, a connection later recognized by Caleb Parry and others. His recommendations for lice control, which involve cleanliness and using specific botanicals with insecticidal properties, reflect his holistic approach to medical treatment. Gorgani’s death occurred in Merv, the capital of the Seljuq Sultan Sanjar, at nearly 100 lunar years of age, marking the end of an era in Islamic medical history.

6. Abu-Mansur Muwaffaq (10th Century)

Abū Manṣūr Muwaffaq Harawī, a 10th-century Persian physician, was born in the historical region of Herat, now part of modern-day Afghanistan. His upbringing in this culturally rich area under the Samanid dynasty likely influenced his medical and pharmacological studies interest. The environment of Herat, known for its intellectual and cultural vibrancy during the Samanid era, would have provided an ideal backdrop for his scholarly pursuits.

Muwaffaq’s educational journey was marked by extensive travels across Persia and India, a testament to his dedication to acquiring comprehensive knowledge in his field. These travels were instrumental in gathering vast information on materia medica, contributing significantly to his expertise. His quest for knowledge in diverse geographical regions underscores his commitment to understanding various medical practices and substances.

Muwaffaq’s major achievement was the compilation of his seminal work, “Kitab al-Abniya ‘an Haqa’iq al-Adwiya” (Book of the Remedies), between 968 and 977 C.E. This groundbreaking book, a cornerstone in the history of pharmacology, is notable for being the oldest prose work in New Persian. It classifies over five hundred remedies derived from plants, minerals, and animals into four groups based on their physiological action. Muwaffaq’s work is distinguished by its synthesis of knowledge from diverse cultures, including Arab, Greek, Syrian, and Ayurvedic sources. The survival of this text, with the oldest copy transcribed by the renowned poet Asadi Tusi in 1055, underscores its historical significance and Muwaffaq’s lasting impact on medicine.

7. Alavi Shirazi (1670–1747)

Hakim Muhammad Hashim Muslim ibn Hakim Muhammad Hadi Qalandar ibn Muzaffar al-Din ‘Alavi Shirazi, also known as Alavi Khan Nawwab Mu‘tamad al-Muluk, was born in 1670 in Shiraz, Persia. His early life in Shiraz set the foundation for his future career as a royal physician. In 1699, Alavi Khan moved to India and joined the Mughal court, where he served as a physician to Prince Muhammad Azam. Recognized for his medical expertise, he was soon appointed physician by the Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah, who reigned from 1707 to 1712 and was granted the title ‘Alavi Khan.

Alavi Khan’s career flourished under the patronage of Muhammad Shah (ruling from 1719 to 1748), the Mughal ruler in Delhi, who elevated him to the rank of Shash-Hazari and bestowed upon him the prestigious title of Mu‘tamad al-Muluk. His medical acumen gained further recognition when Nadir Shah, the Persian ruler, conquered Delhi and took Alavi Khan back to Persia as his chief physician, Hakim-Bashi. This period marked a significant chapter in Alavi Khan’s life, working closely with one of the most powerful rulers of the time.

Alavi Khan’s contributions to medicine were not limited to his practice; he was also a prolific writer, authoring four medical treatises in Arabic and another four in Persian. His pharmacopeia, Jami‘ al-javami‘-i Muhammad-Shahi, dedicated to Muhammad Shah, served as a primary source for his nephew Hakim Muhammad Hadikhan’s comprehensive work on remedies. Alavi Khan’s pilgrimage to Mecca and subsequent return to Delhi in 1743 marked his final years before passing away in the city around 1747. His legacy in medicine, particularly within the Mughal and Persian realms, remains significant.

8. Jalal al-Din Muhammad al-Isfahani (19th Century)

Jalal al-Din Muhammad al-Isfahani was a Persian physician born in the 19th century in the historical city of Isfahan. His upbringing in this culturally rich environment likely influenced his medical journey. While specific details about his family background and early education are not widely documented, it is evident that he pursued a career in medicine, developing a profound understanding of therapeutics.

Al-Isfahani is notably recognized for his comprehensive Arabic treatise on therapeutics, meticulously organized to address medical concerns from head to foot. This significant work, completed on December 9, 1828, highlights his expertise in the medical field. A copy of this treatise is preserved at the University of California at Los Angeles Biomedical Library, showcasing his contributions to medical literature. Additionally, he authored the Persian treatise “Dastur-i Jalali,” presumed to be a translation of his original Arabic work, further emphasizing his bilingual proficiency and commitment to making medical knowledge accessible.

His other noted work, “Hifz-i sihhat-i badan al-insaniyah,” a treatise on the preservation of health in the human body, suggests his interest in preventive medicine and public health. However, there is some ambiguity regarding the timeline of his works. This treatise was dedicated to the ruler Abu al-Muzaffar Shah Sulayman al-Safawi al-Musawi Bahadur Khan, who reigned from 1666 to 1694, presenting a chronological conflict with the therapeutic treatise’s completion date. This discrepancy leaves certain aspects of al-Isfahani’s life and works open to further research and interpretation.

9. Mohammad Gharib (1909–1975)

Mohammad Gharib, born on July 5, 1909, in Tehran, Iran, is renowned as the father of pediatrics in Iran. His family hailed from Tafresh, a detail that perhaps influenced his early life and cultural perspective. Gharib’s childhood, spent in Tehran, laid the foundation for his eventual venture into the medical field, nurtured by the intellectual environment of his family.

After completing high school in 1927, Gharib’s educational journey led him to Reims, France, and subsequently to the prestigious Paris University Medical School. His time in France was marked by academic excellence, evidenced by his success in highly competitive examinations. Gharib’s education in Paris, culminating in an M.D. degree in 1937, shaped his medical expertise, particularly in pediatrics. His training under Professor Ribadeau-Dumas at Salpêtrière Hospital further honed his skills.

Gharib’s return to Iran saw him rise to prominence in the medical community. Appointed as the first professor of pediatrics at Tehran University, he became a pivotal figure in establishing pediatrics as a recognized medical field in Iran. His authorship of the first Persian textbook on children’s diseases and numerous publications in various medical journals underscored his scholarly prowess. Gharib’s legacy as an educator, clinician, and the “Father of Iranian Pediatrics” is cemented by his students, who continued to propagate his teachings and practices in the medical field. His contribution to Iranian pediatrics was profound, influencing generations of medical professionals and the healthcare landscape in Iran. Gharib passed away in Tehran on January 20, 1975, due to a recurrence of cancer.

10. Burhan-ud-din Kermani (15th Century)

Burhan-ud-Din Kermani, also known as Burhān al-Din Nafīs ibn ‘Iwad al-Kirmanī, was a distinguished 15th-century Persian physician from Kerman. Born into a family of renowned physicians, Kermani was immersed in the field of medicine from a young age. His father and ancestors’ involvement in medicine undoubtedly influenced his path, providing a rich educational environment that fostered his early interest and eventual expertise in the field.

Kermani completed his medical education in Kerman, where he initially practiced as a physician. His medical skills and knowledge rapidly gained recognition, leading to his appointment as the court physician to Ulugh Beg, the Timurid ruler and grandson of Tamerlane in Samarqand. This position marked a significant achievement in his career, allowing him to influence medical practices at one of the most prestigious courts of his time. While in Samarqand, Kermani authored several medical texts, including commentaries on Najib al-Din al-Samarqandi’s compendium and Avicenna’s “The Canon of Medicine,” which further solidified his reputation as a leading medical authority.

Kermani’s works were highly regarded, with his commentary on al-Samarqandi’s treatise being particularly influential, even prompting subsequent commentaries on his work. His adaptation of CPR, involving strong movements for breathing induction and chest compression for cardiac support, was groundbreaking and highlighted his innovative approach to medicine. Kermani’s death in 1449 marked the end of a remarkable career, but his legacy continued, significantly influencing Persian medicine and the Naficy/Nafisi/Nafissi family lineage, to which he belonged. His contributions to medicine, especially in the area of CPR, remain a testament to his skill and ingenuity as a physician.