Ibn al-Wafid facts for kids

ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥusayn ibn al-Wāfid al-Lakhmī was a famous Arab scientist from Al-Andalus (which is now Spain). He was born around 1008 in Toledo, Spain, and passed away in 1074. In Europe, people knew him by his Latin name, Abenguefith.

Ibn al-Wāfid was a very important pharmacologist and physician. This means he studied medicines and treated people. He also served as a vizier (a high-ranking advisor or minister) for Al-Mamun of Toledo, who was a ruler at that time.

Ibn al-Wāfid's Work with Medicines

Ibn al-Wāfid was mainly a pharmacist in Toledo. He was very skilled at finding and preparing medicines. He used special techniques, some of which were similar to alchemy. Alchemy was an old practice that combined science and magic.

Discovering New Medicines

Using these methods, Ibn al-Wāfid managed to discover and extract at least 520 different kinds of medicines. These medicines came from various plants and herbs. His work helped people understand more about how natural ingredients could be used to treat illnesses.

His Most Famous Book

His most important book was called Kitāb al-adwiya al-mufrada. This Arabic title means "Book of Simple Medicines." It was later translated into Latin as De medicamentis simplicibus. This book became very important for doctors and pharmacists for many years. It shared his knowledge about different medicines and how to use them.

His Student and Botanical Knowledge

Ibn al-Wāfid also had a talented student named Ali Ibn al-Lukuh. This student wrote a famous book about plants called ʿUmdat al-Ṭabīb fī Maʿrifat al-Nabāt li kulli Labīb. This book was like a dictionary of plants. It helped people learn about different plants and their uses. This shows how Ibn al-Wāfid's knowledge was passed on and continued to grow through his students.

See also

• In Spanish: Ibn Wafid para niños