| Publication |
2010.
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| Summary/Abstract |
In his monumental "Introduction to History," al-Muqaddima, Ibn Khaldun, the well-known Muslim historiographer and philosopher of history (d. 1406 a.d.), dedicates a whole chapter to midwifery (?in??at al-tawl?d) that is as original in conception as it is rich in detail. The chapter is included in Part V, which offers a survey of professions and crafts-"the 'accidents' of sedentary culture"-that for Ibn Khaldun reflect the sophistication of urban life. Within this survey, midwifery ranks among the most basic crafts (ummah?t al-?an??i?), being "something necessary in civilization and a matter of general concern, because it assures, as a rule, the life of the newborn child." Moreover, like "the art of writing, book production, singing, and medicine," midwifery is regarded as a noble craft because of the subject that is at the heart of it (shar?f bi-l-maw???).
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