Al-Ruhawi

Ishāq bin Ali al-Rohawi (Arabic: إسحاق بن علي الرهاوي) was a 9th-century author of the first medical ethics book in Arabic medicine.[1]

His Ethics of the Physician contains the first documented description of a peer review process, where the notes of a practising Arab physician were reviewed by peers and the physician could face a lawsuit from a maltreated patient if the reviews were negative.[2]

Al-Rohawi was probably from Al-Ruha, modern-day Şanlıurfa in Turkey, close to the border with Syria, which is often simply known as Urfa.[3] not much is Know about Al-Rahawi, Levey was introducing in his book that Al-Rahawi was a Christian, Burgel, writes Al-Rahawi was a Jewish, but Non of the authors give any evidence, It was their interpretation. But Clearly, Al-Rahawi begin his book with the words "In the name of Allah" This is a very typical introduction of Muslim writer, Furthermore, he use the word 'Allah' hundred of time in His works, There is another part of the text that leaves no doubt about the religious affiliation of al-Ruhawi. He writes in the introductory part of the first chapter that; "The first thing in which a physician must believe is that all in this world has only one able creator who performs all deeds willfully. The second article of faith in which a physician must believe is that he have credence in the great Allah with a firm affection, and is devoted to Him with all his reason, soul, and free will. The third faith which a physician must posses is that Allah sent His messengers to mankind to teach them what is good since the mind alone is not sufficient. Thus, without His apostles, it is not enough for man...... In all these matters, the physician must truly believe since all the holy books and ancients affirm them. No believer can deny them." As it is apparent, al-Ruhawi summarizes exactly the five pillars of Islam.[4]

Works

Al-Rohawi's most celebrated work is Adab al-Tabib ("Practical Ethics of the Physician" or "Practical Medical Deontology"), the earliest surviving Arabic work on medical ethics. Al-Rohawi regarded physicians as "guardians of souls and bodies". The work was based on Hippocrates and Galen and consisted of twenty chapters on various topics related to medical ethics.[3]

He also wrote the following books:[5]

  • A compilation of first four books of Alexandrian Canons
  • Introduction to Dialectics for Beginners
  • On Examination of Physicians

He compiled two works based on Galen.[3]

References
  1. Prioreschi, Plinio (2001). A History of Medicine: Byzantine and Islamic medicine (1st ed.). Omaha, NE: Horatius Press. p. 394. ISBN 1-888456-04-3.
  2. Spier, Ray (August 2002), "The History of the Peer-Review Process", Trends in Biotechnology, 20 (8): 357–358, doi:10.1016/S0167-7799(02)01985-6, ISSN 0167-7799, PMID 12127284.
    Al Kawi, M. Zuheir (1997), "History of Medical Records and Peer Review" (PDF), Annals of Saudi Medicine, 17 (3): 277–278, doi:10.5144/0256-4947.1997.277, PMID 17369721.
  3. Levey, Martin (1967). "Medical Ethics of Medieval Islam with Special Reference to Al-Ruhāwī's "Practical Ethics of the Physician"". Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. New Series. American Philosophical Society. 57 (3): 1–100. doi:10.2307/1006137. ISSN 0065-9746. JSTOR 1006137.
  4. ARKSOY, Shanin. "The Religious Tradition of Ishaq ibn Ali al-Ruhawi". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. Aksoy, Sahin (2004). "The Religious Tradition of Ishaq ibn Ali Al-Ruhawi : The Author of the First Medical Ethics Book in Islamic Medicine" (PDF). Journal of the International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine. 3 (5): 9–11.
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