Scholar of chemistry and medicine (B. ?- D. ?, 10th century). His full
name is Muvvaffak bin Ali el-Hirevî and his title is Ebu’l-Mansur. His birth
and death dates are unknown. It is assumed that he lived in the same age with
the Samanid Ruler Emin Mansur bin Nuh who ruled in the second half of the 10th
century between the years 961-976. Ebu’l-Mansur collected his studies and
researches about the science of chemistry rather around issues concerning
people’s daily lives and became the first scholar to use the practical results
of chemical science for the daily life. In the same time he is the author of
the oldest Persian book on medicine.
Ebu’l-Mansur heated calcium sulphate at a certain temperature and
obtained a plaster. He mixed this with albumen and used it to wrap broken
bones, thus making the knit of bones possible with ease. George Sarton in his
work about the history of science mentions this scholar as following; “Ebü’l-Mansûr was unique at his age. He
analyzed copper oxide completely and defined it scientifically. Besides he
analyzed antimony and explained its areas of usage at daily life.”
Ebu’l-Mansur Muvaffak determined during his researches on copper that a
greenish layer appeared on copper when in touch with air. He used this layer
for dyeing hairs with a shiny and black color. He knew all composites of copper
and lead and used them in various fields. He also researched about mercury and
managed to produce salicylic acid (ground substance of Aspirin). He developed
filtration and evaporation methods for medicine production. He also managed to
purify sea water through filtration.
Ebü’l-Mansur Muvaffak followed two methods in his scientific works. The
first one focused on people and consequently society. He gave lectures,
prepared medicines for daily problems and applied them. He introduced these
medicines to the market and earned the required money to buy the tools and
items he needed. In this respect, he may be regarded as the master and founder
of chemical industry.
Ebu’l-Mansur Muvaffak
aside from these scientific works went on numerous trips and benefited from
numerous scholars and masters in order to increase his scientific knowledge and
competence. His work titled “Kitâb-ul-Ebniye
fî Hakâyık-il-Edviye” reached a reputation beyond reach. In this work which
was used as the most reliable source of chemistry for centuries, he defined 585
sorts of medicines. 466 of them were extracted from plants, 75 from mines and
44 were produced from animals. The mentioned work is very important for
medicine production. The work became one of the guide books in branches of
experimental and industrial chemistry.
Ebu’l-Mansur Muvaffak’s work titled “Kitâbü’l-Ebniye”
is regarded, aside from its reputation in medicine, as one of the best samples
of Persian prose with its style, simplicity and beauty of expression. The book
which was first published in Persian was translated into German by Abdulchalig
Achundovv under the title “Die Pharmakologischen Grundsätze
des Abu Mansur Muwaffak bin Ali Harawi” using
the same text (Halle 1893, 1968). A recent publication of the work has been
made by Ahmed-i Behmenyâr and Hüseyin Mahbûbî-i Erdekânî (1346 / 1967).
REFERENCE:
Mahmûd Necmâbâdî / Târth-i Tıb der İrân
pes ez İslâm (s. 634-640, Tahran 1366), Seyyid Hüseyin Nasr / İslâm ve İlim (Çev. İlhan Kutluer, s.
187, 1989), Ali Haydar Bayat / “Ebû Mansûr el-Herevî”
(Türkiye Diyanet Vakfı İslam
Ansiklopedisi, cilt:10, s.180-181, 1994), İhsan Işık /
Ünlü Bilim Adamları (Türkiye Ünlüleri Ansiklopedisi, C. 2, 2013) - Encyclopedia
of Turkey’s Famous People (2013).
