Journal of - International Society for the History of Islamic Medicine

A Study of a Persian Manuscript ‘Ilajul Atfal’ written by
a Deccan Physician ‘Syed Fazl Ali Shifai Khan’ and its
Translation into English
Ashfaque AHMAD
Research Officer (Unani), National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (C.C.R.A.S.), 3rd Floor, Osmania Medical College building, Putlibowli,
Hyderabad-500095, India.. India,
e-mail: drashfaq.ccras@gmail.com
Summary
Ilajul Atfal is a Persian manuscript written on the topic of pediatrics by Syed Fazl Ali Shifai Khan. Copies of the manuscript are available in different
libraries of the world.
Unfortunately Ilajul Atfal has not been published nor translated into any language so far. Therefore keeping in view the importance of this manuscript,
I took a project from government of India to edit and translate it into English. Now the original Persian text of Ilajul Atfal is going first time to be
published along with English translation from National National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage (C.C.R.A.S.), 3rd Floor, Osmania Medical College
building, Putlibowli, Hyderabad-500095, India. The details of study and contents of the manuscript are pointed out in this paper.
Key Words: Ilajul Atfal, Pediatrics, Manuscript
68
Introduction:
• Name of the Mss: Ilajul Atfal
• Author : Syed Fazl Ali Shifai Khan (d. 1841 AD)
• Period : 1836 AD (Paper Mss)
• Language : Persian
• Script : Persian
• Source : NIIMH, Library, Hyderabad and GNTC
Library, Hyderabad
• Subject : Pediatrics
• Pages : 300
• Chapters : 70
• Collated, Edited and Translated into English by: Dr.
Ashfaque Ahmad
Ilajul Atfal (Pediatrics) is in Persian language written in
1836 by a distinguished Tabeeb Syed Fazl Ali Shifai Khan
for his patron Maharaja Chandu Lal. It is great honor for
the author that the book was written on this subject (diseases
of children) when pediatrics as a subject was not yet
developed (till the mid 1800s). The manuscript under study
has not been published so far which has a historical value.
In view of the importance, utility and world wide interest
in pediatrics we thought it necessary to collate and edit this
Persian treasure and to translate it into English. Another
source of inspiration was our endeavor to bring out the
scientific and medial masterpieces of Indian Tabeebs into
light.
Hakim Syed Fazl Ali Shifai Khan was a learned physician
with a number of works to his credit. He was a native
of Shahjahanpur (U.P.) India. Shifai Khan went to Madras
to receive medical knowledge from Hakim Ahmadulla
Khan a much knowledgeable physician. He stayed there for
sometime and attained perfection in Tib.
He migrated to Hyderabad and joined the court of Maharaja
Chandu Lal (Prime Minister of Hyderabad) who was
a great patron of learned men. He also served as personal
physician of Nawab Sikander Jah (Asif Jah III, 1829) and
Nawab Nasiruddaula (Asif Jah IV, 1829-1856). The title of
Motamadul-Mulook was conferred on him. Among his pupil
was Hakim Mir Inayat Ali Khan a skillful physician of
Hyderabad whose family was very well known on account
of its medical services and held place of distinction in Hyderabad
Deccan. Syed Fazl Ali Shifai Khan authored many
books like Ilajul Atfal, Risala Quwat La Yamut, Risala Chob
chini, Moalijat Chandulal etc. He gave a great impetus to
the promotion of the Unani healing art in South India. Due
to the royal patronage of the ruler of Deccan, distinguished
physicians from other Indian cities migrated to Hyderabad
to settle there.
ISHIM 2011-2012