The Book of Healing (
Arabic الشفاء
Al-Shefa,
Latin Sanatio) is a
scientific and
philosophical encyclopedia written by the great
Islamic polymath Abū Alī ibn Sīnā (Avicenna) from Asfahana, near
Bukhara in
Greater Persia (now
Uzbekistan). Despite its English title, it is not in fact mainly concerned with medicine the Latin title
Sanatio is a mistranslation of
Shifa, which, even though means 'healing', has the secondary meaning of "satiation" the meaning most likely intended by Ibn Sīnā. This book is Ibn Sina’s major work on
science and
philosophy. He probably began to compose the
al-Shifa in 1014, completed it around 1020,
[1] and published it in 1027.
[2]The book covers nine volumes on Avicennian logic; eight on the natural sciences (including Earth science, Islamic geography and Islamic physics); four on the quadrivium of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy and music; and the remaining volumes on Avicennian philosophy, metaphysics and psychology.[2] It is further subdivided into smaller categories such as Islamic ethics and politics. It was influenced by ancient Greek philosophers such as Aristotle, Hellenistic thinkers such as Ptolemy, and earlier Persian and Muslim scientists and philosophers such as Al-Kindi (Alkindus), Al-Farabi (Alfarabi) and Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī.
Critical editions of the Arabic text have been published in Cairo, 1952-83, originally under the supervision of I. Madkour; some of these editions are given below.)[1]
In astronomy, the book came up with the theory that Venus is closer to Earth than the Sun. The study of astrology was also refuted by Avicenna. His reasons were both due to the methods used by astrologers being conjectural rather than empirical and also due to the views of astrologers conflicting with orthodox Islam. He also cited passages from the Qur'an in order to justify his refutation of astrology on both scientific and religious grounds.[3]
