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Book/Printed Material The Facilitator of Utility on Medicine and Wisdom.

About this Item

Title

  • The Facilitator of Utility on Medicine and Wisdom.

Summary

  • This manuscript copy is a 15th-century work by a Yemeni author, Ibrāhīm ibn 'Abd al-Raḥmān ibn Abū Bakr al-Azraq, or Azraqī. It is a book of remedies dealing with medicinal uses of seeds, grains, and other foods and their nutritional value. The material is based in part on two earlier works: Shifā' al-ajsām (The curing of bodies) by Muḥammad ibn Abū al-Ghayth al-Kamarānī, and Kitāb al-raḥmah (The book of mercy) by Ṣubunrī. Included at the end is yet another work, Burʼ al-sāʻah (Speedy recovery), a short treatise by the renowned Persian polymath Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn Zakarīyā al-Rāzī (also known by Latinized versions of his name, Rhazes or Rasis, circa 865-925). In the introduction, al-Azraq writes: "In the words of the Prophet . . . there are two classes [of persons] that people will always need, doctors for their bodies and the ulamā for their religion." Al-Azraq further drew on additional works, namely Laqṭ al-manāfi' (The picker of benefits) by al-Jawzī (circa 1116-1201) and Al-tadhkirah (The reminder) by al-Suwaydī (circa 1203-91). He arranged the book so that he would cite Ṣubunrī first, followed by al-Kamarānī and then his own commentary. An addendum at the end provides a glossary defining the seeds, foods and other substances mentioned in the book. Al-Azraq claims he included in his work only the medicinal foods that were known and available to his fellow Yemenis at that time, a claim that could have interesting research implications if proven. According to a note at the end of the main work, this manuscript was copied for a scholar friend by the name of Abdullāh ibn Muḥammad ibn Jumuʻa al-Būsa'īdī, on Rabia al-Akhar 20, 1200 AH (February 19, 1786). The Facilitator of Utility is listed in the bibliographic encyclopedia of Kātip Çelebi (1609-57), but despite this and the appearance of several modern printings, little is known about al-Azraq.

Names

  • Azraqī, Ibrāhīm ibn ʻAbd al-Raḥmān, active 15th century Author.
  • Ibn al-Jawzī, Abū al-Faraj ʻAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʻAlī, approximately 1116-1201 Associated Name.
  • Ibn al-Suwaydī, Ibrāhīm ibn Muḥammad, 1203 or 1204-1291 Associated Name.
  • Kamarānī, Muḥammad ibn Abū al-Ghayth, died 1453? Associated Name.
  • Ṣubunrī, Mahdī ibn ʻAlī, died approximately 1412 or 1413 Associated Name.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 1786-02-19.

Headings

  • -  Yemen
  • -  1400 to 1499
  • -  Arabic manuscripts
  • -  Diseases
  • -  Medicine, Arab
  • -  Medicine, Medieval
  • -  Nutrition

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 730 pages ; 22 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: Sultan Qaboos University Library.
  • -  Content in Arabic.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021667311

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

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Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Azraqī, Ibrāhīm Ibn ʻAbd Al-Raḥmān, Active 15Th Century Author, Abū Al-Faraj ʻAbd Al-Raḥmān Ibn ʻAlī Ibn Al-Jawzī, Ibrāhīm Ibn Muḥammad Ibn Al-Suwaydī, Muḥammad Ibn Abū Al-Ghayth Kamarānī, and Mahdī Ibn ʻAlī Ṣubunrī. The Facilitator of Utility on Medicine and Wisdom. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, -02-19, 1786] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667311/.

APA citation style:

Azraqī, I. I. ʻ. A., Ibn Al-Jawzī, A. A. ʻ. A. I. ʻ., Ibn Al-Suwaydī, I. I. M., Kamarānī, M. I. A. A. & Ṣubunrī, M. I. ʻ. (1786) The Facilitator of Utility on Medicine and Wisdom. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, -02-19] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667311/.

MLA citation style:

Azraqī, Ibrāhīm Ibn ʻAbd Al-Raḥmān, Active 15Th Century Author, et al. The Facilitator of Utility on Medicine and Wisdom. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, -02-19, 1786] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021667311/>.