Soltan Ali Gonabadi (16th Century AD): Biography and Contributions to Medicine and Ethics

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

3 Traditional Medicine and History of Medical Sciences Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

4 Research Center for Traditional Medicine and History of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

5 Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

6 Mizaj Health Research Institute (MHRI), Tehran, Iran

7 Medical Ethics and Law Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

8 School of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.30476/rhm.2025.105824.1288

Abstract

The Safavid period (907-1135 AH/1501-1736 AD) is considered one of the most important periods in the history of Iranian medicine. One of the famous Iranian physicians in the early Safavid period is Sultan Ali Gonabadi. The purpose of this research is to examine the description of Sultan Ali Gonabadi’s scientific works in the medical knowledge and medical ethics of the Safavid period. This research is a descriptive-analytical study. In this research, data collection was done based on the library method and by studying historical texts and sources. The results show that Gonabadi was one of the great physicians at the beginning of the Safavid and also during the Uzbek period, and he authored valuable works such as Dastur al-Elaj, Introduction to Dastur al-Elaj, and the Book of Crisis. Gonabadi’s works, especially Dastur al-Elaj, have been known as a valid source in the field of medicine in Iran and different parts of the world for several centuries. He, in addition to using the opinions of other scientists and paying attention to the basics of treating diseases, pays attention to the principles of professional medical ethics, including faith in God, medical honor, respect for the rights of patients, compliance with the rules of treatment, and compliance with humility. Sultan Ali Gonabadi, a prominent Safavid physician, was not only a medical scientist but also a medical ethicist, whose works, particularly “Dastur al-Elaj,” contributed to the development of Iranian medical knowledge and raised ethical principles.

Highlights

Zahra Aghabeiglooei (Google Scholar)

Farzaneh Ghaffari (Google Scholar)

Keywords

References

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Journal of Research on History of Medicine
Volume 15, Issue 1
February 2026
Pages 27-40

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