Medical knowledge was one subject that the Islamic scholar was concerned with. Early pharmacopoeias in the Islamic world, which list the various herbs, their healing properties, and methods of preparation, were based on the work of 1st century Greek physician Dioscorides. Islamic physicians expanded these lists over time including new herbs and drugs found beyond the Mediterranean. Usually such manuscripts would list the medicines either alphabetically or by function. In this book, it is listed alphabetically, with mention of the properties and methods of preparation. Aside from medicine based on Greek learning, the sick had access to other forms of medical care. These included the cures and medicine mentioned in the Qur’an and those used during Prophet Muhammad’s lifetime. This is generally known as Prophetic medicine.
