unani physician and there contributionBy editor, on November 5th, 2010

hippocrate, FATHER OF MEDICINE

Name of Physician Period ContributionAsclepius Greek 600 B.C. God of Health, First Physician,

Ilhami (Spritual) Physician, Student of Hurmus (Hazrat Idris Alaihis Salam), His daughter Hygeia is know as Goddess of Health

Hippocrates Greek 460 – 377 B.C. Proposed Trimatter Theory, Humoral Theory, Physic Theory, know as father of medicine.

Aristotle Greek 384 – 322 B.C. Described the role of both male and female in the formation of foetus.He described the ‘heart’ as a first organ formed in the foetus.Coined the term Vessel.Described the brain and its meninges.

Described the functions of Stomach.

Described the structure of Lungs and Parotid Glands.

Coined the term ‘logic’.Herophilus Greek 300 B.C. Father of

Anatomy.Differentiated between Cerebrum and

Cerebellum.Differentiated between Nerve, Tendon and Vein.Differentiated between Motor and Sensory nerve.

Differentiated between Artery and Vein.

Discovered an instrument “Clepsydra”, to know the Pulse rate.

Discovered the instrument “Embryotome” to listen the foetal heart sound.

Erasistratus Greek Father of Physiology.Described the heart valves.Described the function of Epiglottis.

Yahya Nahwi (Joannes Grammaticus)

Greek A member in team of compilation of “Alexandrine Collection”

Dioscorides Roman, Ist Century A.D. Searched and identified single drugs.Wrote an Encyclopedia “Kitab Al Hashaish”.Pioneer in Advia.Founder of Advia.

Discovered the role of Opium as sedative and as a cough reliever.

Discovered the role of  Sarkhas as Antihelminthic.

Jalinoos, Galen Roman, 129 – 100 A.D. Inventor of Huqna (Enema).Described the origin of Nerve from Brain and Spinal Cord.Morphological classification of Bone.Described the Opitic, auditory and facial nerve.

Described the morphological classification of muscles.

Discovered the membrane.

Differentiated between ureter,

Vein and Artery.

Described the Anatomy of Kidneys and Bladder.

Described the function of vital organs.

Wrote 16 books of medical education know as Alexandrine Collection.

Haris Bin Kalda 570-633 A.D. Renowned Physician in Prophetic Period

Nazar Bin Haris Kalda 570-633 A.D.  Abi Ramsa Tamini Arabic, 570-633 A.D. SurgeonIbn Asal Ummavi, 660-750 A.D. Toxicologist, Translator of

medical books from Greek into Arabic

Masir Joyeea A-Bari Ummavi (Ummayal) Wrote Kitabul Abdal, Kitabul Aghzia, Kitab Al Amrazi

Khalid Bin Yazid Ummavi, 704 A.D. Prince Physician-cum-Chemist. He is considered as first chain of Arabic Caravan of knowledge and technology

Jabin bi Haiyaan (Gaber) Ummavi Father of Chemistry, Prepared surma, Arsenic and lead carbonate from sulphides. Invented Nitric Acid and sulphuric Acid, Invented distillation apparatus, invented aqua regia. Discovered Naushadar (Ammonium Chloride)

Tiyazooq Ummavi period (Ummiyad period)

Court physician of Hajjan bin yusuf, expert of Hamam, Fasad, Qai, and Mushil therapy.

Abdul Malik Bin Abjar Kanani Ummavi period (Ummiyad period)

Court physician of Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz

Yuhanna ibn Masawaih (Johannes Damascenus)

Abbaid period, 777-857 A.D. Renowned translator of baitul hikmah (House of wisdom), wrote kitabul Mushajjar, kitabul Fasd was Hijamah

Hunani ibn Ishaque (Juhannitus)

Abbasid 739-809 A.D. Renowned translator of baitul kamal, wrote kitabul masail

(questions medicinal)Thabitiya ibn Qurrah Abbasid 836-903 A.D. Translator of biatul hikmah,

court physician and court astronomer.

Qusta bin luqa Abbasid 812 A.D.(death) Philosopher, mathematician, astrologer, musician, physician, kitab fil waba, kitab fil assehaw wa azalatul marz

Yaqub ibn Ishaque Abbasid 873 A.D. (Death) Wrote kitab fil Ghiza wal dawa, Kitab fil Aqsamul Hummiyah,

Rabban Tabri Abbasid 780-850 A.D. First Arabic  encyclopedia, Firdausul Hikmah.

Zakaria razi (Rhazez) 850-923 A.D Al-Havi, Al-Mansoori, Pioneer in bed side clinic, Inventor of inoculation, differentiated between measles and small pox, pioneer in modern education system

Ali ibn Abbas Majoosi (Hally Abbas)

Abbasid 932-994 A.D Kamilus sana (Liber Regius)

Abus Sehl Masihi 10th Century A.D, Abbasid Miyata fit tib, versatile genius, Mathematician, researcher.

Ibn Sina (Avicena) 980-1037 A.D Al Qanoon fit tib (Medical Encyclopedia) (Cannon of Medicine)

Abul Qasim Zahrawi (Abul Casis)

936-1036 A.D. Father of surgery, Kitab al Tasreef, expert in cupping, leeching, venesection, cautery.

Ali Bin Isa Kahhal (Jesu Haly) 1039 A.D (death) Ophthalmologist, Fisrt used Anaesthesia in Ophthalmologist, expert in catarrh surgeryTazkiratul Kuhaleen

Ibn Haitham or Hazen Abbasid period 965 AD – 1039 A.D.

Ophthalmologist, Philosopher and Physicist, father of optics, Kitabul Manazir (Amptic). He explained first theory of vision.

Ibn Jazlah Be Giesla Abbasid Period 1054-1100 A.D Kitab Minhaj Biyan.Ibn Zuhur (Avenzoar) Abbasid Period 1091-1162 A.D Expert in treatment of

tuberculosis and paralysis, surgeon, Kitab Al Taisir

Ibn Rushd (Averroes) Abbasid Period 12th Century A.D 1126-1198 A.D

Kitabul Kulliyat, Spanish Physician

Moosa bin Maimoon (Maimonide)

1135-1214 Fusool Musa

Ismail Jurjani 12th Century A.D. Zakhira Khawarzm shahiAbul Lateef Baghdadi 1163-1231 A.D He described that Sacrum is

single bone.Ibn Baitar 1197-1248 A.D Botanist, Pharmacist,

considered as encyclopedia of kitab al jameel mufridat, single drug.

Najeebuddin Samarqandi 1222 A.D (death) Kitab Asbab wa AlamatIbn Nafees 1210-1288 A.D Discovered blood circulationNafees Ibn Iwad Kirmani 15th Century A.D Sharah Asbab wa AlamatDawood Antaki 1541-1599 A.D Kitab TazkirahIbn Nadeem 909 -998 A.D Medical Historian, Kitab Al

FahristJamaluddin Qufti 1192-1248 A.D Medical Historian, Tarikhul

HukmaIbn Abi Usaiba 13th century A.D Medical historian, Uyoonul

Anba Fit Tabqat Atibbah, Fontes Relationnum De Classibus Medicorum

Ali Gilani 1526-1857, Mughal Period Bizyaze Gilani, Commentary on Al-Qanoon Fit tib, Mathematician, Physicist. 

Akbar Arzani Mughal Period 1722 (Death) Qarabadeen Qadri, Muffarahul Quloob, Mizanut Tib, Tibb Akbar,

Alvi Khan 1749 AD (Death), Mughal Period

Expert in diagnosis by Pulse.Hashiya Sharah Asbab wa Alamat, Sharah Mujoozul Qanoon.

Shareef Khan Mughal Period 1725-1807 Ilajul Amraz, Taleef SharifiKhwaja Abdullah Ghazi Mughal Period Ist Kashmiri physician in

Mughal Period.Mujazul Aqsarie.

Hk. Shahab Abdul Kareem Nagori

Tuhlaq Period, 14th Century A.D.

Tibbi Shahabi

Mir Mohammad Momin 1552 A.D. period Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah

Ikhtiyarat Qutub Shahi, Risala Miqdariya, Ikhtiyarat Badiee.

Shamshuddin Hussain Al Jurjani

1512 A.D. period Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah

Physician, Ophthalmologist, translated Tazkiratul Kahaleen. First introduced Arabian Ophthalmology in India.

Abdullah tabeeb 1920 A.D. period Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah

Tibbul Fareed

Shafiuddin Mohammad Tabib 1520 A.D. period Mohammad Tazkiratul Shahwat Fi Tabsirat

Gilani Quli Qutub Shah Al LazzatShamshuddin Bin Nooruddin 1530A.D period Mohammad

Quli Qutub ShahZubdatul Hukma

Taqiuddin Mohammad Bin Sadruddin Ali

1611-1625 AD. period Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah

Mizan Al Tabaye Qutub Shahi

Hk. Al-Mulk Nizamuddin Ahmad Gilani

1625-1672 AD Abdullah Qutub Shah

Majmoa Hakeem Al Mulk, Shajrahe Danish

Hk Islami Bin Tabrezi 1625-1672 AD Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah

Tazkiratul Hukma.

Hk. Wali Gilani 1508-1583 AD Nizam Shahi Dynasty

Taqweemul Abdan, Risalah Hifze Sehat.

Hk. Rustam Jurjani 1544 AD Nizam Shahi Dynasty Hummiyate Murakkabh, Asrarun Nisa, Zakhira Nizam Shahi.

Hk. Qasim Farishta 1489 AD, Adil Shahi Dynasty Ikhtiyarate Qasmi, Dastur Al Atibba.

Raza Ali Khan 1948 Asif Jahi Dynasty Yadgari Risaii, Tazkiratul Hind.Shifai Khan Asif Jahi Dynasty Ilajul Advia, Mizanul Mizaj,

Risalae Chob Chini, Mujarribat Dar Bayane Hummiyat

Emperor Mohammad Tuglak 1325-1351 Translation of Arabic and Sanskrit to Persian language

Emperor  Firoz Shah Tuglak 1351-1388 Translation of Arabic and Sanskrit to Persian language

Hakim Jilani Akbar reign1542-1605 Description of “Al-Qanon Fit Tibb” in persian

Hakim Sarfuddin Akbar reign1542-1605 Wrote the “Tibbe Shefai”Hakim Sadra Nuruddin Salim Jahangir’s

physician(1569-1627)Court physician

Hakim Satunnesa (tabiba) Sahjahan  reign1592-1666 Female treatmentMohammad Akbar Arjani Sahjahan reign1592-1666 Tibbe Akbar, Marabadina

kaderi and Mijanut tibbHakim Sayed Ali Ahmad Chandpuri

Sajahan reign1592-1666  Wrote “Attibbae ahade muglia”

Shâh Ahl Ullâh 1776 Takmila-yi hindî (Indian perfection).

Ghulâm Imâm 1830 Mu’âlijâtal-nabawî (Prophetic treatments)

Hakim Mohammad Khan Dehlavi

1235 Hz; 1857  Nabbaz(Specialist for  diagnosis of diseases by pulse); Wrote  two books ; Ziaul Absar Fi Haddil ba’b; Karnamaya Asrat

Hakim Abdul Majid Khan 1883 Founder of  Madrasae Tibb

Hakim Abdul Aziz 1902 Established  the  Takmilut Tibb College

Hakim Ahmad Hossain 1904 Established Allahabad Tibbia College

Hakim Sharif Khan Dehlovi 1134 Hz; Elmul Amraz, Faoaeda Fharifia(Arabic); short note of Sharul Asbab wal Alamot.Short note of hummiyatul kanon,

Hakim Abdul Majid Khan 1266-1319 First founder of  tibbe madrasa in Delhi

Hakim Hafiz Ajmal Khan 1284 Hz; 1864-1927 He established the Hindustani Dawakhana in 1910, Korol bagh Unani and Ayurvedic tibia college in 1912; He evaluate the two alkaloid namely Ajmalin and Ajmalinin  from Raulfia serpentine. His famous books are Resala Al-Kaulul margub fil maul masrub; Attahfatul hamidiah fil kenayatul kullia.

Hakim Mohammad Azam  Khan

1229 – 1320 Hz;1902 Aksire Azam; Karabadina Azam .

Hakim Haji Abdul Aziz 1271 Hz, 1855AD-1329, 1911AD

Founder Principle of Luknow takmilut tibb college

Shefaul Mulk Hakim Abdul Latif Falsafi

1317 hz, 1900-1390 hz, 1970AD

1927- Teacher in AMU; 1949- principle AMU,1965- Principle Delhi Jamia tibia college

Allama Hakim Kabiruddin 1894-1950 Timardari, Tasrih(Anatomy), Mnafeul Aza(physiology)

Shefaul Mulk Hakim Mohammad Sadeq

1888-1950 Application experimental formulation. Founder-1910-Anjumane Attibbae Kolkata

Hakim Hafez Abdul Hamid 1908-1999 Chancellor Jamia Hamdard-1962; Founder –Hamdard  Laboratories waqf  Delhi.He  wrote the books-Such as Theories and philosopher of medicines-1973, Philosophy of medicine and science problem and perspective-1972, Exchange between India and Central Asia  in the field of medicine-1986; Hamdard pharmacopeia(urdu)-1964, Karabadina hamdard-1967

 Hakim Mohammad Saeed 1920-1998 Founder- Madinatul hikmat- Karachi, Kitabul Abdal, Kolb aur sehat, tajrabate tabib, Diq aur sil, asbab, alamot and ilaj.

Hakim Abdur Razzak 1931-1992 Director, CCRUM-1985, President- CCIM

Hakim Dr Golam Jeelani 1873-1930 Makhjanul Hikmat, Ilaz bil mufradat,

Hakim Hafiz Jalil Ahmad Ansari

1906-1960 Talimul Advia

Shefaul mulk hakin Mohammad Hasan Qarshi

1890-1974 Jameul hikmat, Biaja Khash

Hakim Nayar Wasti 1902-1982 President –Unani &Ayurvedic Board.

Hakim Khwaja Rizwan Ahmad 1910-1973 Manafeul Aza(urdu),  Urdu Translate( Muzzul Qanon, Hummiyate Qanon, Share- asbab wal alamot.

FORGOTTEN HEROES

The following material is edited from the book The Art Of Reciting The Qur'ân by Kristina Nelson, 1985, The University of Texas Press, pp. 192-198. She gives biographies of only the Egyptian reciters.

Shaykh Mahmûd cAbd al-Hakam [d. 1982]. Born in Karnak in Upper Egypt, he came to Cairo in 1933, having established his reputation in the south. His first intention was to study at al-Azhar, as reciting was secondary to his studies. However, because of his voice, he was encouraged to become a professional reciter. He said it is the Radio which really encourages professionalism: employment by the Radio is important in establishing an audience and a wide reputation. He was with the Radio since 1944. Shaykh cAbd al-Hakam cited Shaykh Rifcat as the major influence on his reciting, although he also listened to Shaykh cAlî Mahmood, Shaykh al-Sacsâcî, and others not known generally in Cairo. He never studied music, but considered music beneficial to recitation. Shaykh cAbd al-Hakam is admired for the dignity and correctness of his reciting as well as a subdued but fluent musicality.

Shaykh cAbd al-Bâsit cAbd al-Samad [b. 1927]. He came to Cairo from the city of Armant in Upper Egypt in 1950, having established his reputation in the south. He is the first reciter in his family, but his grandfather was a religious scholar of al-Azhar training. Shaykh cAbd al-Bâsit is probably the best-known of Egyptian reciters outside of Egypt, as he was the first to make commercial recordings of his reciting, and he has traveled extensively outside of Egypt. Among his recordings are the complete text of the Qur'ân in both styles, murattal and mujawwad. Shaykh cAbd al-Bâsit is one of thc four top-ranking reciters in Egypt. He was the first president of the newly formed Reciters' Union. Shaykh cAbd al-Bâsit is admired for breath control and his high, clear (harîmî) voice.

Shaykh Kâmil Yûsuf al-Bahtîmî [d. 1969 at the age of about forty seven]. He was the protégé of Shaykh Muhammad Salâmah, and it is said that the influence of his mentor shows in his high registers and melodic cadences. The influence of Shaykh Rifcat shows in the lower registers. Shaykh Kâmil studied music with Ahmad Sabra. He is especially admired for the quality of his voice; he is one of the few reciters whose voice is equally clear, strong, and relaxed in both the high and low registers. It is also said that he is one of the few reciters whose studio recordings are as effective as the live performance recordings.

Shaykh Hâsim Haybah [b. ca. 1920]. He is from a village north of Cairo, near Benha. His father was the owner of a rug factory. Shaykh Hâsim says that he always wanted to be a reciter. He memorized the Qur'ân and learned the qirâ'ât. In those days (1927-34) there was no recitation on the Radio, so he learned the art by listening to reciters in person. He also learned his music by listening. He journeyed to Cairo to hear Shaykh cAli Mahmûd recite, and stayed, listening to Shaykh Muhammad Rifcat and Shaykh Muhammad Salâmah. He joined the Radio in 1951.

Shaykh Hâsim has also established himself as a singer of religious songs. His voice is light and high, and fluent with ornamentation.

Shaykh Mahmûd Khalîl al-Husarî [d. I980]. He was born near Tanta [north of Cairo]. When he was twenty-five years of age he went to Tanta and established himself as a reciter. He was the reciter at the well-known Ahmadî mosque there. Ten years later he moved to Cairo, joined the Radio in 1944, and became the reciter at the Husayn mosque in 1955. In Cairo Shaykh al-Husarî also studied at al-Azhar University: he was a well-known religious scholar and author of many books on various aspects of the Qur'ân. He was also involved in the recent Azhari printing of the Qur'ânic text. His status as reciter was somewhat official: he held the title Shaykh al-Maqâri, and his opinions were frequently solicited and quoted by the media. He also accompanied the rector of al-Azhar on his travels and was invited to participate in the World of Islam festival in London (1976). Shaykh al-Husarî's recordings are widely distributed outside Egypt. As one of the four top-ranking reciters in Egypt, he recorded the complete Qur'ânic text in both styles of recitation, murattal and mujawwad and was the first to record and broadcast the murattal style. Shaykh al-Husarî is known for the correctness of his recitation. His son also recites professionally.

Shaykh Mustafâ Ismâcîl [1905-1978]. Born in Mît Ghazâl, a village near Tanta (north of Cairo), Shaykh Mustafâ learned the Qur'ân, and about the age of fifteen or sixteen he went to study at the Azhari institute in Tanta. He studied the Qur'ânic sciences and planned to continue his studies at al-Azhar University in Cairo, but was encouraged to become a reciter. He began to establish his reputation in the Delta in the 1930s. Shaykh Mustafa first went to Cairo in response to an invitation to recite. He soon established his reputation in Cairo and was invited to recite for King Farouk during Ramadan, 1944. He joined the Radio soon after, having negotiated for longer recordings, as his voice needed a minimum of time to warm up. Shaykh Mustafa admired the reciting of Shaykh Muhammad Rifcat and Shaykh cAbd al-Fattâh al-Sacsâcî but was proud of his own unique style. He did not study music formally, but mastered the art by listening, and from his associations with the best musicians of his day. Shaykh Mustafa traveled extensively and was known abroad from his personal appearances. Although as a top-ranking reciter he recorded the complete text of the Qur'ân in both the murattal and mujawwad styles, his recordings are not generally available outside Egypt. Shaykh Mustafa was the official reciter of Anwâr al-Sadât and traveled with him to Jerusalem in 1978. Shaykh Mustafa is considered one of the most effective reciters of this century, extremely innovative musically, yet correct in tajweed. One can count a generation of younger reciters among his imitators. At the time of his death, Shaykh Mustafa was reciter at the prestigious al-Azhar mosque.

Shaykh Muhammad Siddîq al-Minshâwî [d. early 1970s?]. He is of the same generation as Shaykh Kamil Yûsuf al-Bahtimî, and, in fact, he was also a protégé of Shaykh Muhammad Salâmah. His father was also a well-known reciter, and his brother, Shaykh Mahmûd al-Minshâwî, has now established himself as a respected professional reciter in Cairo. Shaykh al-Minshâwî was born in Upper Egypt and established himself as a reciter there before coming to Cairo. He is especially admired for the spirituality, gravity, and dignity of his style.

Shaykh cAlî Mahmûd [1878-1949]. Also admired for his singing (he made a number of commercial recordings), Shaykh cAlî Mahmûd is one of the models for musical reciting. It is said that he would render the call to prayer from the Husayn mosque with a differeut maqaam for

each day of the week. A number of reciters, such as Shaykh Muhammad Salâmah, and Shaykh Mahmûd Muhammad Ramadan, show and acknowledge his influence on their own style of recitation. His style is characterized by the melodic cadences and a density of modulations.

Shaykh Fathî Qandîl. He grew up in rural Egypt, where he was taught the Qur'ân by his father. He studied at the Azhari institute in Tanta, then at al-Azhar University in Cairo, where he earned an advanced degree in Qur'ânic sciences. He teaches tajwîd and qirâ'ât at the Institute of Qirâ'ât in Suhra. Shaykh Fathî began reciting for the Radio in 1970. He studied music at the Music Institute in Cairo.

Shaykh Mahmûd Muhammad Ramadan. Shaykh Ramadan was born {ca. 1929) in the same baladi area of Cairo in which he still lives. His father was a cloth merchant. He learned the Qur'ân in the kuttâb, thc traditional primary school, and continued his studies with a Shaykh, from whom he also learned tajwîd. He learned music by listening and studying with private tutors, among them the prominent qanoon player Ahmad Sabra. Shaykh Ramadan joined the ranks of Radio reciters in 1972. He is highly respected for his musicality, and he acknowledges the influence of a number of reciters on his style. He is considered to be of the "school" of Shaykh cAlî Mahmûd.

Shaykh Muhammad Rifcat [1882-I950]. His father was a merchant. Shaykh Rifcat is unanimously considered the best reciter of this century. He is admired for his musicality, his mastery and understanding of the art of recitation in all of its aspects, his spirituality and uprightness, and his right intent. Shaykh Rifcat was the first reciter to broadcast his recitation (1934), and his voice and style, as well as his general character, have been a model of the ideal reciter to generations of Egyptians and others ever since. Music critic and composer Suleiman Gamil specifies aspects of Shaykh Rifcat's style such as the unpredictability of the melodic line and the resonance of his voice. Others point to his mastery in correlating melody to meaning (taswîr al-macnâ). In addition to recordings made by the Radio, there exist a great number of recordings made by Zakariyyâ Muhrân Bâsâ and Muhammad Khamîs which his son, Mr. Husayn Rifcat, is dedicated to making available to the public.

Shaykh Muhammad Salâmah (ca. 1888/1900- 1982). Shaykh Salâmah was a student at al-Azhar University, and at the age of nineteen was encouraged to become a reciter. He had already been reciting since the age of ten. Shaykh Salâmah fought in the Sacdist rebellion against the British in 1919 and proudly acknowledged his role in that. He is the only prominent reciter who refused to record for the Radio, one of the reasons being the latter's failure to comply with certain conditions set by him, such as not having the Qur'ân broadcast into the streets and taverns and not having the female announcer present in the same room while he was rccording. He participated in a conference of reciters in 1937 which resulted in the establishment of a Reciters'Association. The issue at stake was that some reciters were afraid that broadcasting recitation would harm the less prominent reciters, as their services would be less in demand. Shaykh Salâmah was both extremely articulate and sincere about his faith. In performance he was restrained in his gestures, ignoring the admiring comments, even turning away from those who came up to kiss his hand or compliment him. Only in the high registers did he seem to me to interact with his listeners. When another reciter was performing, Shaykh Salâmah would listen with eyes closed and head bowed. He was the acknowledged mentor of Shaykh Kâmil Yusuf al-

Bahtimi and Shaykh Muhammad Siddîq al-Minshâwî, both of whom lived in his house for a period of time. Some speak of the 'school' of Shaykh Muhammad Salâmah as being in a direct line from thc style of Shaykh cAlî Mahmûd. Shaykh Salâmah studied music with Shaykh Darwees. al-Hareeree, teacher of several prominent musicians and reciters, such as Shaykh cAli Mahmood, Shaykh Sayyid Darwees, and Shaykh Zakariyya Ahmad. He used to sing and play the cûd until the death of his wife. Shaykh Salâmah is considered to be second only to Shaykh Rifcat in correlating melody to meaning (taswîr al-macnâ).

Shaykh Ahmad al-Ruzayqî (b. ca. 1939). One of the younger generation of reciters, he grew up in Upper Egypt in thc same area as Shaykh cAbd al-Bâsit cAbd al-Samad, and Shaykh Muhammad Siddîq al-Minshâwî. Shaykh Ahmad was encouraged to become a reciter because of his beautiful voice. He recited in public at Qina, and at the age of twenty entered the Music Institute to study the art of Arabic music. He also learned from listening to Shaykh Rifcat, Shaykh Mustafa Ismâ'îl, and Shaykh cAbd al-Bâsit cAbd al-Samad, but considers Shaykh Muhammad Siddîq al-Minshâwî his mentor because they have similar deep voices and voice quality, are from the same area, and used to recite on the same program. Shaykh Ahmad sings and plays the cûd as well. He is president of the Reciters' Union.

Shaykh Ibrâhîm al-Sacsâcî (b. 1930, Cairo). He is the son of another prominent reciter, Shaykh cAbd al-Fattaah al-Sacsâcî. His grandfather was also a reciter, and now his son is beginning Qur'ânic studies. He memorized the Qur'ân, learned tajwîd and qirâ'ât in school with Shaykh cAmir cUthmân (see below), and received a degree from the Azhari institute. He then studied for three years with Shaykh Darwîs al- Harîrî, a famous musician and teacher. He did not begin to recite in public until 1954-55. Shaykh Ibrâhîm joined the Radio in 1968. He holds the position of reciter at the Sayyidah Zaynab mosque, a post held by his father before him. He acknowledges the influence of his father's style on his own and says that his father was influenced by Shaykh Ahmad Nadâ, a reciter of the generation before Shaykh Rifcat. Shaykh Ibrâhîm is admired for his deep, rich voice, his renderings of qirâ'ât Warsh, his knowledge of pause and beginning, and the general dignity and gravity of his recitation.

Shaykh cAlî Hajjâj al-Suwaysî [b. 1926]. His father was chief elerk at the Islamic court in Cairo. He studied Qur'ân with Shaykh Abu cAzîz al-Sahhâr, a prominent Azhari scholar and father of Shaykh Sacid al-Sahhar. Shaykh cAlî Hajjâj al-Suwaysî began reciting in public at an early age: he remembers reciting for a group of Yemenis at a conference when he was only seven or eight years of age. Shaykh cAlî joined the Radio in 1946-47 and entered the Music Institute to study 'ud and music theory for four years when he saw the encouragement and success of his reciting. He used to sing a great deal, but now he just recites. He impresses one with how much he enjoys reciting. Shaykh cAlî is admired for his use of maqâm saba - his voice is considered especially suited to saba - and for his imitation of Shaykh Muhammad Rifcat.

Shaykh Muhammad Mahmûd al-Tablâwî [b. 1936 near Cairo in Mît cUqba]. He studied the Qur'ân in the traditional school, the kuttâb, and was singled out for his voice and encouraged to become a professional reciter. He learned music by listening and cites Shaykh Mahmûd cAlî al-Bannâ, Shaykh al-Bahtîmî, and Shaykh Abû l-cAynayn al-Sacîsah as reciters he particularly admires. Shaykh al-Tablâwî was the first to record on cassette tape, and his recordings are widely distributed and extremely popular in Egypt, both in Cairo and in the countryside. People

attribute his popularity to his impressive breath control and the "freshness" of his voice. Shaykh Muhammad al-Tablâwî sueceeded Shaykh Mustafa Ismâ'îl as reciter at the al-Azhar mosque.

Scholars & Teachers

Shaykh cAbd al-Mutacâl Mansûr cArafah. Shaykh cAbd al-Mutacâl graduated from the Institute of Qirâ'ât in Subra, became a teacher there. He is presently assistant to the general director of the General Administration of Qur'ânic Affairs at al-Azhar. Shaykh cAbd al-Mutacâl presents a daily radio lesson on the rules of tajwîd, al-Rahmân cAllama l-Qur'ân, in conjunction with Shaykh Rizq Habbah. He also participated in preparing the most recent Azhari publication of the Qur'ânic text.

Shaykh cAmir al-Sacîd cUthmân. One of the prominent scholars and teachers in Cairo, he has taught tajwîd and qirâ'ât to many of the leading professional reciters. An expert in these sciences, he teaches three of the public recitation classes with humor, asperity, patience, and an amazing command of the material. Shaykh cAmir also serves on a number of panels whceh evaluate reciters' performances, such as the auditions for the Friday prayer reciters, the Intemational Recitation Competition in Malaysia, and so forth. He holds the title and position of Wakeel (deputy) Shaykh al-Maqâri.