Under the supervision of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Professor Dr. Sarmed H. Kathem Alkhateeb, the Continuing Education Unit at the University of Baghdad/ College of Pharmacy, held an in-person workshop titled “The Enlightenment of Medicine and Pharmacy in Arab Civilization: Al-Razi as a Model”, presented by Assistant Lecturer Narges Jabbar Saleh and Assistant Lecturer Sally Rabie Nada.
The workshop aimed to introduce the personality and scientific legacy of Al-Razi, understand his methodology in experimental research and its role in the advancement of medicine, analyze his major influence on the fields of medicine and chemistry and foster pride among students in the Islamic scientific heritage.
The workshop included several topics like: the reliance of European universities on Al-Razi’s works up to the 17th century, his pioneering role in establishing the experimental method in medicine, his integration of medicine, philosophy, and experimentation in his scientific approach, his emphasis on precise observation and scientific experimentation as foundations for diagnosis and treatment, his scientific writings, which remain a rich source of knowledge for researchers today and his contributions to the founding and full supervision of hospitals, from their construction to their administrative and medical organization.
The workshop concluded by highlighting the impact of the Arab environment in fostering scientific thought, as it provided support and encouragement for scholars, especially in Baghdad, which was a center of knowledge and intellectual exchange, Al-Razi’s mastery of the Arabic language, which facilitated the widespread dissemination of his works both within and beyond the Islamic world, the material and moral support provided to science and scholars, which played a critical role in achieving progress and advancement and the importance of viewing the past analytically, seeking sources of strength to identify key elements for future renaissance and development, rather than looking at it with regret or nostalgia.
