Diseases and Epidemics among the Arabs in the Book of Animals by al-Jahiz (d. 255 AH/868 AD)

Abstract

'Necessity is the mother of invention'. From this standpoint, Arabs found it necessary to know what diseases and epidemics they face in their desert and urban lives that have a direct or indirect relationship to their lives. Since the Arabs are familiar with many animals, such as horses and dogs, for example and not limited, they use them during their homes and travels, therefore, there is a direct connection between the disease and epidemic that afflict animals and the possibility of  humans contracting that disease through inflection. We find it natural that this resulted  in the interest of quite of a few scientists who found it important to study and treat these diseases, the ways they spread and how to treat  and prevent them.

Al-Jahiz was not the first to be interested in this, because the Arabs have had their interests in the field of medicine and epidemics since ancient times. But, what recognizes al-Jahiz is his collection of most information that related to man and diseases that affected him from animals or the environment he lives in and how they are treated and how they are treated. Perhaps what confirms what we have said about Al-Jahiz's interest in man's relationship with the environment and the sickness and wellness  that afflict him from it, we find Ibn Khaldun (d.808 AH) established Al-Jahiz's idea by saying: "The origin of diseases is thick food and food mixed with various types of spices, and then, the corrupt atmosphere resulting from the crowding of people in cities, the accumulation of their waste, and then, the lack of exercise, lead to the emergence of diseases." Perhaps what draws attention to Al-Jahiz's interest in foods and the times of eating them is because he suffered from paralysis and the relationship of this, according to the Prophet's medicine, to eating fish at night. Perhaps it is one of the reasons for writing the book by the author, as it was considered one of the most wonderful encyclopedias that included literally and scientific diversity. It is clear that the source of scientific information comes from from the East and the West, and this, if it indicates anything, it indicates the scientific enrichment that distinguished Al-Jahiz in his time.