Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman

Early life and education

Rahman was born on 1 July 1940, at Bhopal, Bhopal State (now in Madhya Pradesh) in a family of learned scholars. His grandfather Hakim Syed Karam Husain, father Hakim Syed Fazlur Rahman and uncle Hakim Syed Atiqul Qadir were famous Unani Physicians of their times at Tijara / Bhopal. He is married to Ahmadi Begum and has four children: Safia Akhtar, Syed Ziaur Rahman, Soofia Akhtar and Asifa Haneefa.

Rahman received his early education from Darul-uloom Nadwatul Ulama at Lucknow and later studied at Tibbiya College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.

Career

Rahman started his career from Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College, Aligarh Muslim University as Demonstrator in 1961 and then Lecturer from Jamia Tibbiya, Delhi, he was appointed reader in 1973 and professor in 1983. He remained Chairman of the Department of Ilmul Advia for 18 years and Dean of the Faculty of Unani Medicine, Aligarh Muslim University."

His entire work concerns with history of medicine particularly of medieval medicine and medicine in medieval Islam. He is himself a diligent explorer of Unani medicine for old Arabic and Persian manuscripts.

Following is the list of important books that he authored:

• Daur Jadeed Aur Tibb, 1963. (Book in Urdu on Modern times and Unani medicine)
• Tarikh llm Tashrih, 1967. (Book in Urdu on History of anatomy)
• Ilmul Amraz, 1969. (Based on Avicenna's tract on Pathology in Urdu)
• Resalah Judia, 1971. (Based on Avicenna's tested Prescriptions in Urdu)
• Tajdeed Tibb, 1972. (Book in Urdu on Unani medicine)
• Bayaz Waheedi, 1974. (Book in Urdu on Prescriptions and formulations by Hakim Abdul Waheed)
• Matab Murtaish, 1976. (Book in Urdu on Unani Formularies used by Azizi Family of Lucknow)
• Tazkerah Khandan Azizi 1978. (Book in Urdu on History of Azizi Family of Unani medicine)
• Kitabul Murakkabat 1980. (Book in Urdu on Pharmaceutical formulation of Unani medicine)
• Safvi Ahad Main Ilm Tashreeh Ka Mutala, 1983. (Book in Urdu on Studies of History of anatomy during Safavid dynasty)
• Hayat Karam Hussain, 1983. (Biography of Hakim Syed Karam Husain in Urdu)
• The Azizi Family of Physicians, 1983. (Book in English on Azizi Family of Unani medicine)
• Aligarh Key Tibbi Makhtootat, 1984. (Book in Urdu on Manuscripts of Unani medicine extant in Aligarh)
• Qanoon lbn Sina Aur Uskey Shareheen wa Mutarjemeen, 1986. (Based on references and translations of the works of Ibn Sina in Urdu)
• Risalah Nabidh (Edited with Facsimile), 1986. (Book in Urdu and Arabic on Nabidh by Qusta ibn Luqa)
• Tibb Firoz Shahi, 1990. (Book in Urdu on Unani medicine during Firuz Shah Tughlaq)
• Research in Ilmul Advia, 1990. (Book in English on Research in Unani Pharmacology)
• Risalah Atrilal, 1993. (Book in Arabic on Treatise on Ammi majus Linn)
• Studies in Ilmul Advia, 1994. (Book in English on Studies on Unani Pharmacology)
• Dilli aur Tibb Unani, 1995. (Book in Urdu on History of Unani medicine in Delhi)
• AI-Advia al-Qalbia, 1996. (Book in Urdu on Avicenna's treatise on Cardiac drugs)
• Iran Nama, 1998. (Iran Travelogue / Travel journal in Urdu)
• Tibbi Taqdame, 2001. (Based on Prefaces written for many books of other Unani scholars in Urdu)
• Aina-e Tarikh Tibb, 2001. (Based on chapters written on History of Unani medicine in Urdu)
• Asmaul Advia, 2002 (Based on Names of Pharmaceutics in Unani medicine in Urdu)
• Maqalat Shifaul Mulk Hakim Abdul Latif, 2002 (Based on Unani articles written by Shifaul Mulk Hakim Abdul Latif in Urdu)
• Hakim Ajmal Khan, 2004 (Biography of Hakim Ajmal Khan in Urdu and Hindi)
• Persian Translation of Qanun Ibn Sina aur uskey Shirehin wa Mutarjamin, 2004 (Based on references and translations of the works of Ibn Sina in Persian)
• Safar Nama Bangladesh, 2006 (Bangladesh Travelogue / Travel journal in Urdu
• Jawami Kitab Al-Nabd Al-Saghir by Galen, 2007 (Based on Galen's treatise on arterial and venous pulse in Urdu and Arabic)
• Risalah Fi Auja Al Niqris by Qusta Ibn Luqa, 2007 (Based on Al Niqris by Qusta ibn Luqa in Urdu and Arabic)
• Ainul Hayat by Mohammad Ibn Yusuf Harawi, 2007 (Based on Ageing and senile problems by Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Harawi in Urdu and Arabic)
• Rislah fil Nabidh, 2007 (Based on Arabic translation by Qusta ibn Luqa on Treatise of Nabidh by Rufus of Ephesus in Urdu and Arabic)
• Kitab al Anasir by Galen, 2008 (Based on al Anasir by Galen in Urdu and Arabic)
• Kitab Al Mizaj by Galen, 2008 (Based on Theory of temperament and Four humours by Galen in Urdu and Arabic)
• Kitab fi Firaq al Tibb by Galen 2008 (Based on a book fi al Firaq by Galen in Urdu and Arabic)
• Tazkira Atibba-e-Asr, 2010 (Biographies of Unani scholars of contemporary age in Urdu)
• Post Graduate Education, Research Methodology and Manuscript Studies in Unani Medicine, 2011 (Edited Book in English on Research methodology in Unani medicine)
• Ross Masud, 2011 (Book on the Biography of Ross Masood in Urdu)
• Mîzân-i Harf, 2012 (Book based on essays and chapters on the life of Syed Amin Ashraf)

• By his personal efforts made the Department of Ilmul Advia, Ajmal Khan Tibbia College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh as a center of excellence. A new building of the department with all modern facilities in the laboratories was constructed under his able guidance and chairmanship. He raised both name and fame of this department at national and international level.

Foundation Stone, Ibn Sina Tibbiya College, Beenapara (Azamgarh)

• He assisted in the establishment of Ibn Sina Tibbia College at Beenapara, Azamgarh of which he laid the foundation stone on 25 January 1981.
• He established his personal library-cum-museum in 1960s, which became part of 'Shifa-al Mulk Hakim Abdul Latif Memorial Committee' in 1970. After the establishment of Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences in 2000, this library (Hakim Zillur Rahman Library) and museum (Hakim Karam Hussain Museum on History of Medicine & Science and Hakim Fazlur Rahman Museum on Arts, Culture & Orientalism) have now become a part of the academy. The library at present houses one of the most precious and valuable collection of 20,000 printed books, 500 manuscripts", some rare books, microfilms, compact discs, a large number of periodicals and manuscript catalogues. Books in many languages like Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Sanskrit and English on a variety of subjects like History of Medicine and History of Science, Unani, Medieval medicine, Ilmul Advia (Pharmacology), Urdu Literature with special reference to Ghalib, Iqbal, Aligarh and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan are also extant in this library. In addition, there is a Publication Division under the Shifaul Mulk Hakim Abdul Latif Memorial Committee, Centre for Safety & Rational Use of Indian Systems of Medicine, Ibn Sina Shifakhana, AIDS Cell & Ghalib Study Centre.
• He edited 'Al-Hikmat' (Monthly Unani Literary Magazine) from 1965–1970.

Rahman was appointed honorary visiting professor at Hamdard University in 1997 and have further been awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters at a graduation ceremony in 2013.

• Ayurvedic and Tibbi Academy Award, Government of UP, Lucknow, 1968.
• Urdu Academy Award, Government of UP, Lucknow, 1974.
• Urdu Academy Award, Government of UP, Lucknow, 1978.
• Urdu Academy Award, Government of UP, Lucknow, 1993.
• Certificate of honours for outstanding contribution to Persian Language, (President of India Award on Independence day, 15 August 1995).
• Short-term Consultant, World Health Organization to the South East Asia Region for development of Unani Medicine in Bangladesh, 1996.
• Shifaul Mulk Hakim Habibur Rahman Memorial Foundation Shield, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1996.
• Visiting Professor, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan, 1997.
• lmtiaz-e Mir Award, All India Mir Academy, Lucknow, 1997.
• Pakistan Tibbi Pharmaceutical Manufacture's Council, Pakistan, 1997.
• Conferment of title: Reflective thinker and Researcher, ldara Sada-e-Qasmi, Karachi, Pakistan, 1997.
• Urdu Academy Award, Government of UP, Lucknow, 1998.
• Hakim Said Memorial Lecture, Hamdard Foundation, Hamdard University, Karachi, 2004
• Institute of Alternative Medicine, Karachi, Pakistan, 2004
• Padma Shri by Government of India, 2006.
• Ibn Sina Award, All India Unani Tibbi Congress, 2009
• Maulana Azad National Award, Milli Educational Foundation & All India Urdu Educational Committee, 2009
• Felicitated by Azam Tibbia College, Hyderabad, Sindh, Pakistan, 2004; Punjab Tibbia College, Jhang, Pakistan, 1997; Ajmal Tibbia College, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, 1997; AR Memorial Tibbia College, Lahore, Pakistan, 1997; Anjuman Himayat Islam Tibbia College, Lahore 1997, 2004 and 2008
• Hakim Ahmed Ashraf Memorial Global Award – Awarded in 2009, by Hakim Ahmed Ashraf Memorial Society (Regd.), Hyderabad.
• D.Litt (Honoris Causa) Awarded by Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan, 2013.
• Yash Bharti Samman, Government of Uttar Pradesh, 2015