Journal of Research on History of Medicine

Journal of Research on History of Medicine

The Role of Physician Salih Ibn Sallum al-Halabi in Ottoman Medicine

Document Type : Conference Paper

Authors
Nafise Shaabani 1
Baran Gholinejhad 2
Faranak Alembizar 1
1 Department of History of Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of History of Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
10.30476/rhm.2025.109046.1380
Abstract
During a period of relative scientific decline in the Islamic world, Anatolia emerged as a hub for scholars. In this context, Ibn Sallum rose to the position of Chief Physician of the Ottomans and, through his works such as Ghayat al-Itqan, played a pioneering role in introducing modern European medical science to the region. Nearly two centuries before the physicians of Muhammad Ali Pasha’s era in Egypt, he introduced Paracelsus’s revolutionary theories of chemical medicine to the Arab world, serving as a bridge between Eastern medical traditions and emerging Western advances in medicine. This review highlights Salih Ibn Sallum Al-Halabi (Ibn Sallum), a prominent 17th-century physician who served as Chief Physician of the Ottoman Empire, highlighting his significant contributions and works.
Keywords
History of Medicine
Ottoman Empire
Salih Ibn Sallum al-Halabi
Turkey
Physicians
  1. Ibn sallum, S., 1998. The New Chemical Medicine. Syria: Aleppo University; Institute of Arabic Scientific Heritage. [in Arabic]
  2. Ibn sallum, S. 1766. Ghayat Al-Bayan fi Al-Tadbir Al-Badan Al-Insan.[Manuscript]. Held at: Istanbul: Soleymaniye Library. [in Turkish]
  3. Ibn sallum, S., 2009. Ghayat Al-Itqan fi Al-Tadbir Al-Badan Al-Insan. Tehran: Iran University of Medical Sciences.[in Arabic]
  4. Mohebi, M.A., n.d. Kholasat Al-Athar fi Aʼyan Al-Qarn Al-Hadi Ashar. Vol. 4. Beirut: Dar Sader. [in Arabic]
  5. Uzun, H., and Haghi, E., 1998. Ottoman History. Vol. 1. Tehran: Keyhan. [in Persian]

 

Journal of Research on History of Medicine
Volume 14, Suppl. 1
The 2nd History of Medicine Meeting: Entangled Histories: Contribution of Iran and Türkiye to the Development of Medical Sciences; 2025 Oct 7-10; Shiraz, Iran
October 2025
Pages 81-84