The International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

There is a consensus amongst researchers of the history of medicine that early Arab and Muslim physicians had played a very important role in the development of medical science during the renaissance of Islamic civilization, which spanned for eight centuries. This was achieved through translating earlier medical and scientific scripts and developing these sciences in the light of their clinical expertise.

Despite the above fact, it is well-known that, as yet, the full potential of the Islamic medical heritage has not been investigated in a way that shows its real role and importance in the development of modern medicine; especially its effect on the European Renaissance. So far, only a little part of this important heritage has been studied or come to light. Most of the scripts of Islamic medicine are dusting on the shelves of private and some public libraries around the world.

In the light of this, a number of physicians, scholars and historians called for reviving this heritage on an international level. This is to be achieved through organization and teamwork. And this is how the idea of the International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine emerged.

The first meeting of this society convened between 1-3 December 2000 in Doha (QATAR) and was chaired by HE Dr.H.A.Hajar Al-Binali, Minister of Health in Qatar. A number of physicians and historians have attended this meeting.

An executive council has been set up and The founding members are:
Dr. HajarA.Hajar Al-Binali, Minister of Health in Qatar, Honorary President.
Dr. Abdul Nasser Kaadan (Syria), President
Prof. Faisal Abdullatif Alnasir (Bahrain), Secretary General and Treasurer.   
Dr. Mehdi Mohaghegh (Iran), First Vice-Chairman.
Dr. Husain Nagamia (USA), Second Vice-Chairman.
Dr. Nil Sari (Turkey), Third Vice-Chairman.
Dr. Sharif Kaf Al-Ghazal (England), member.
Dr. Mostafa Shehata (Egypt), member.

The By-Laws were discussed and approved during the meeting. It was also decided that Doha would be the permanent location of the society.
Membership in the society is open to everyone who has got an interest in or would like to contribute to the study of the History of Islamic Medicine.
We look forward to receiving support and help from our fellow scholars and researchers all over the world.
We hope we will be able (Insha Allah) to achieve our aims for the benefit of mankind through bringing to light the virtues of this vast heritage.

The main objectives of the society are:

Bringing to light the contributions of Arab and Muslim physician to the history of medicine and to promote public awareness of these contributions. This is to be achieved through encouraging more research and academic studies of earlier Islamic Medicine.
Establishment of a library, which will include an index and copies of old manuscripts in addition to recently published books about the history of Islamic Medicine.
Issuing a bi-annual journal for publishing researches and articles related to history of Islamic medicine. Also issuing a quarterly newsletter.
An international conference to be held every two years (the first meeting will be held in Istanbul in 2002).
Allocating a prize to be awarded every two years for the best work on the History of Islamic Medicine.
A museum for the History of Islamic Medicine is to be established in Doha.
Cooperation with other societies and organizations having similar purposes.