When I need a prescription filled, I have my choice of pharmacies to fill it at--Meijer, CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, or the local one around the corner. I know that wherever I go, the same dose will contain exactly the same amount of medicine, and 100mg at Walker Street Pharmacy will be the same weight as 100mg at Walgreens. Safeguards protect me from contaminated medicines.
All these aspects of modern pharmacies appear in Muslim cities such as Baghdad near the ninth century. During this time period, Saydalah, Islamic pharmacy, developed as a separate field from general medical studies, and cities began to have multiple privately-owned pharmacies. In addition to those open to the general public, hospitals had pharmacies attached to formulate the large amounts of medicine needed for their patients. Public health was protected by a Al-Mutasib, who inspected pharmacies to make sure they used standard weights and measures and to inspect the purity of their prescriptions, similar to the manner in which the Food and Drug Administration regulates the pharmaceutical industry in the modern United States. Would-be pharmacists had access to manuals on medical materials, instructions for remedies, and pharmacy management, while today aspiring pharmacists spend several years in college obtaining a degree.
The medical and chemical knowledge possessed today were not all available to the Muslim pharmacists; they built the foundation on which our knowledge is now built. Two important pharmacy scholars were Abu Hasan 'Ali Af-Taban and Hunayn bin Is'haaq. Af-Taban wrote several books and set examples for future pharmacists on using only the best samples, describing procedures precisely, and applying particular remedies to particular ailments rather than broadly. bin Is'haaq translated the works of Greek philosophers and scientists into Arabic and Syriac, making them available to pharmacists of the Islamic world. He also published ten books on the treatment of eyes and eye medication.
Although they didn't have all the advancements and innovations in pharmacy science that are available now, Muslim pharmacies in Baghdad and other cities had a wide base of knowledge and vigorous standards. We have learned much from them, and still imitate many of their inventions and discoveries.
Source: Muslims: Pioneers of Pharmacology
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Islam vs. Christianity
There are many differences between Christianity and Islam, however there are many similarities as well. Both are considered "salvation religions", meaning they offers believers and followers a light of salvation at the end of there lives. They offer an afterlife or redemption of sins. They are both monotheistic, meaning their followers believe in only one God. The other religions that are included in these salvation religions include; Buddhism and Hinduism.
Christianity was founded quite a long time before Islam and today has the leading number of followers of the two, however Islam is not to far behind them in numbers. Christianity believes in the holy trinity which includes, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all making up one holy God and church. They follow the guidelines for life from the Holy Bible written by many prophets and is known as the words for God and Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus, Gods one and only son, came down from heaven and was born from a the Virgin Mary. They believe he came down to save people on Earth from sins and death. He was crucified under Pontius Pilot and on the third day rose and destroyed death for all mankind. The Christians have many guidelines to follow, such as the ten commandments and the words given from God in the Bible. Those that choose to believe in this religion many times will go to church, however, there are many Christian denominations such as Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican. These sects are similar in using the Bible and in many ways of following the Christian way of life. The reason for these sects in Christianity is the way of believing. Each has broken away from the Catholic church, starting with the Reformation as a way of practicing their faith differently. This religion accepts many and has many followers.
Islam, on the other hand, is similar in the ways of using a sacred text, called the Qu'ran, which written in Arabic has guidelines on how to be a faithful Muslim as well as stories and explanations of the faith. Because of this similarity, Christianity and Islam are known as the "People of the Book" religions. Islam unlike Christianity, started with the prophet Muhammad. He is there only prophet and is also known as the Seal of the Prophet because they found him to be the last prophet to reveal the messages of God. The Muslim's worship the God Allah and there is no other God besides him. Unlike Christianity, Muslims believe that there is only God. He had no sons or daughters, or family of any kind. They believe that there are five things that one must do to be a Muslim. These are called the 5 Pillars of Islam. They also believe in the Articles of Faith which are similar to the Ten Commandments in Christianity. Islam, unlike Christianity, spread very rapidly throughout much of Asia, Africa and southern Europe. Christianity was not accepted in the vast Roman Empire until Emperor Constantine and the Edict of Milan. Before that, many Christians were persecuted. Also, Islam was not just the religion of a vast area, it became the political structure. Christianity created the Holy Roman Empire however, it really had little political ties to government. It was more of what people grasped on to when their empire was collapsing.
Because of there similarities and differences, each religion has been accepted in different parts of the world. It is interesting to learn about each and its great impact on the history of the world.
Christianity was founded quite a long time before Islam and today has the leading number of followers of the two, however Islam is not to far behind them in numbers. Christianity believes in the holy trinity which includes, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all making up one holy God and church. They follow the guidelines for life from the Holy Bible written by many prophets and is known as the words for God and Jesus. Christians believe that Jesus, Gods one and only son, came down from heaven and was born from a the Virgin Mary. They believe he came down to save people on Earth from sins and death. He was crucified under Pontius Pilot and on the third day rose and destroyed death for all mankind. The Christians have many guidelines to follow, such as the ten commandments and the words given from God in the Bible. Those that choose to believe in this religion many times will go to church, however, there are many Christian denominations such as Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican. These sects are similar in using the Bible and in many ways of following the Christian way of life. The reason for these sects in Christianity is the way of believing. Each has broken away from the Catholic church, starting with the Reformation as a way of practicing their faith differently. This religion accepts many and has many followers.
Islam, on the other hand, is similar in the ways of using a sacred text, called the Qu'ran, which written in Arabic has guidelines on how to be a faithful Muslim as well as stories and explanations of the faith. Because of this similarity, Christianity and Islam are known as the "People of the Book" religions. Islam unlike Christianity, started with the prophet Muhammad. He is there only prophet and is also known as the Seal of the Prophet because they found him to be the last prophet to reveal the messages of God. The Muslim's worship the God Allah and there is no other God besides him. Unlike Christianity, Muslims believe that there is only God. He had no sons or daughters, or family of any kind. They believe that there are five things that one must do to be a Muslim. These are called the 5 Pillars of Islam. They also believe in the Articles of Faith which are similar to the Ten Commandments in Christianity. Islam, unlike Christianity, spread very rapidly throughout much of Asia, Africa and southern Europe. Christianity was not accepted in the vast Roman Empire until Emperor Constantine and the Edict of Milan. Before that, many Christians were persecuted. Also, Islam was not just the religion of a vast area, it became the political structure. Christianity created the Holy Roman Empire however, it really had little political ties to government. It was more of what people grasped on to when their empire was collapsing.
Because of there similarities and differences, each religion has been accepted in different parts of the world. It is interesting to learn about each and its great impact on the history of the world.
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