Medicine and religion in the life of an Ottoman sheikh : al-Damanhūrī's "Clear statement" on anatomy

In 1768, Aḥmad al-Damanhūrī became the rector (shaykh) of al-Azhar, which was one of the most authoritative and respected positions in the Ottoman Empire. He occupied this position until his death. Despite being a prolific author, whose writings are largely extant, al-Damanhūrī remains almost unknown, and much of his work awaits study and analysis. This book aims to shed light on al-Damanhūrī’s diverse intellectual background, and that of his contemporaries, building on and continuing the scholarship on the academic thought of the late Ottoman Empire. The book investigates the intersection of medical and religious knowledge in eighteenth-century Egypt. It takes as its focus a manuscript on anatomy by al-Damanhūrī (d. 1778), entitled The Clear Statement on the Science of Anatomy ( al-Qawl al-Ṣarīḥ fī ʿIlm al-Tashrīḥ ). The book includes an edited translation of The Clear Statement , which is a well-known but unstudied and unpublished manuscript. It also provides a summary translation and analysis of al-Damanhūrī’s own intellectual autobiography. As such, the book provides an important window into a period that remains deeply understudied and a topic that continues to cause debates and controversies. This study, therefore, will be of keen interest to scholars working on the “post- Classical” Islamic world, as well as historians of religion, science, and medicine looking beyond Europe in the Early Modern period. In 1768, Aohmad al-Damanhaurai became the rector (shaykh) of al-Azhar, which was one of the most authoritative and respected positions in the Ottoman Empire. He occupied this position until his death. Despite being a prolific author, whose writings are largely extant, al-Damanhaurai remains almost unknown, and much of his work awaits study and analysis. This book aims to shed light on al-Damanhaurai's diverse intellectual background, and that of and his contemporaries, building on and continuing the scholarship on the academic thought of the late Ottoman Empire. The book specifically investigates the intersection of medical and religious knowledge in Eighteenth-Century Egypt. It takes as its focus a manuscript on anatomy by al-Damanhaurai (d. 1778), entitled "The Clear Statement on the Science of Anatomy (al-qawl al-osaraioh fai ilm al-tashraioh), ". The book includes an edited translation of The Clear Statement, which is a well-known but unstudied and unpublished manuscript. It also provides a summary translation and analysis of al-Damanhaurai's own intellectual autobiography. As such, the book provides an important window into a period that remains deeply understudied and a topic that continues to cause debates and controversies. This study, therefore, will be of keen interest to scholars working on the "post-Classical" Islamic world, as well as historians of religion, science, and medicine looking beyond Europe in the Early Modern period In 1768, Aḥmad Al-damanhūrī Became The Rector (shaykh) Of Al-azhar, Which Was One Of The Most Authoritative And Respected Positions In The Ottoman Empire. He Occupied This Position Until His Death. Despite Being A Prolific Author, Whose Writings Are Largely Extant, Al-damanhūrī Remains Almost Unknown, And Much Of His Work Awaits Study And Analysis. This Book Aims To Shed Light On Al-damanhūrī's Diverse Intellectual Background, And That Of And His Contemporaries, Building On And Continuing The Scholarship On The Academic Thought Of The Late Ottoman Empire. The Book Specifically Investigates The Intersection Of Medical And Religious Knowledge In Eighteenth-century Egypt. It Takes As Its Focus A Manuscript On Anatomy By Al-damanhūrī (d. 1778), Entitled The Clear Statement On The Science Of Anatomy (al-qawl Al-ṣarīḥ Fī ʿilm Al-tashrīḥ), . The Book Includes An Edited Translation Of The Clear Statement, Which Is A Well-known But Unstudied And Unpublished Manuscript. It Also Provides A Summary Translation And Analysis Of Al-damanhūrī's Own Intellectual Autobiography. As Such, The Book Provides An Important Window Into A Period That Remains Deeply Understudied And A Topic That Continues To Cause Debates And Controversies. This Study, Therefore, Will Be Of Keen Interest To Scholars Working On The Post-classical Islamic World, As Well As Historians Of Religion, Science, And Medicine Looking Beyond Europe In The Early Modern Period. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 9 Introduction 12 PART I Al-Damanhūrī’s life and career 20 1 Al-Damanhūrī: the life of a scholar 22 2 The education of Aḥmad al-Damanhūrī 54 3 Medicine and religion in al-Damanhūrī’s Clear Statement 107 Postscript: Al-Damanhūrī in anticipation: writing postcolonially 146 PART II The Clear Statement – a translation 158 A note on translation 160 The Clear Statement – a translation 163 Bibliography 223 General Index 234 Medical and Anatomical Terms Index 236 Teachers and Authors Index 239 Introduction -- Part I: The study of al-Damanhuri's life and career: 1. al-Damanhuri: the life of a scholar -- 2. The education of Ahmad al-Damanhuri -- 3. Medicine and religion in al-Damanhuri's Clear statement -- Postscript al-Damanhuri in anticipation: Writing postcolonially -- Part II: The Clear Statement: a translation: A note on translation -- The Clear Statement: translation -- Bibliography -- Index