The Canon of Medicine

work by Avicenna

Also known as: “Al-Qānūn fī al-ṭibb”

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June 23, 2026

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The Canon of Medicine is a seminal medical encyclopedia written by the Persian physician and philosopher Avicenna (Ibn Sina) in the early 11th century. It is considered one of the most important texts in the history of medicine.12

The Canon is divided into five books and covers a vast range of medical knowledge, including anatomy, etiology, symptoms, hygiene, and pharmacology. It synthesized existing Greek, Roman, and Indian medical knowledge with Avicenna's own observations and theories.23

This work served as a standard medical textbook in Europe until the mid-17th century, influencing medical education and practice significantly. Avicenna's systematic approach and comprehensive coverage made the Canon a cornerstone of medical learning for centuries.132

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history of medicine
Arabian medicine
…work, Al-Qānūn fī aṭ-ṭibb (The Canon of Medicine), became a classic and was used at many medical schools—at Montpellier, France, as late as 1650—and reputedly is still used in the East.
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…work, Al-Qānūn fī aṭ-ṭibb (The Canon of Medicine), became a classic and was used at many medical schools—at Montpellier, France, as late as 1650—and reputedly is still used in the East.
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Western philosophy
Arabic thought
His Al-Qānūn fī al-ṭibb (Canon of Medicine) was authoritative on the subject until modern times. The Maqāṣid al-falāsifah (1094; “The Aims of the Philosophers”) of the Arabic theologian al-Ghazālī (1058–1111; known in Latin as Algazel), an exposition of Avicenna’s philosophy written in order to criticize it, was read as…
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His Al-Qānūn fī al-ṭibb (Canon of Medicine) was authoritative on the subject until modern times. The Maqāṣid al-falāsifah (1094; “The Aims of the Philosophers”) of the Arabic theologian al-Ghazālī (1058–1111; known in Latin as Algazel), an exposition of Avicenna’s philosophy written in order to criticize it, was read as…
Read More