What Were Bimaristans, Really?

Sam Jarada – Ihya Publications

Where and When Did Bimaristans Emerge?

Bimaristans (hospitals) were medical institutions that emerged during the Abbasid period, particularly from the 8th century onwards. The term "Bimaristan" is of Persian origin, meaning "house of the sick," and it was sometimes known as Dar al-Shifa (House of Healing). They were classified into two main types: fixed Bimaristans, established in specific locations such as Baghdad, Damascus, and Cairo, and mobile (portable) Bimaristans, which travelled during epidemics or accompanied armies and pilgrims. Before Islam, the hospital and academy at Jundishapur in Persia significantly influenced scientific and cultural life by teaching medicine and facilitating the translation of Greek, Indian and Persian texts. This is important because medical practice in the regions that later formed the Muslim world long preceded Islam, with evidence suggesting that medical traditions developed nearly 6000 years ago in Mesopotamia and included advanced practices in ancient Egypt and Persia. Over the subsequent centuries, these institutions evolved into structured urban hospitals with public, educational, and charitable roles, laying a lot of the groundwork for how Muslim societies imagined institutional care.

Bimaristans and the NHS: Similar, But Not the Same

When individuals first learn about bimaristans, it's easy to see a "medieval NHS" from the Abbasid era. In certain respects, the comparison holds merit: both models focus on public, urban institutions whose primary mission is to provide care for the ill rather than to profit from their condition. Numerous bimaristans were supported by charitable donations (waqf), which enabled patients to receive treatment, food, and, occasionally, clothing at no cost at the point of service. This approach mirrors the NHS's dedication to providing care based on necessity rather than financial capacity, ensuring accessibility for all. Historical documents outline enrollment policies that made no distinction between the wealthy and the less fortunate, local inhabitants and visitors, or individuals with physical and mental disabilities. At that period, bimaristans emerged from a distinct ethical and spiritual context. Their funding model was based on waqf, a religiously established endowment that linked wealth to continuous public benefit and spiritual rewards for the donor, rather than conventional taxation. Numerous organisations have deliberately woven prayer, religious education, and spiritual guidance into the hospital setting, in ways that might be uncomfortable in a strictly secular healthcare system. Care was integrated into broader charitable frameworks: the waqf systems that financed hospitals could also fund soup kitchens, mosques, and schools, thereby blurring the boundaries between healthcare, religious practices, and social support. Recognising both the resemblances and distinctions allows us to avoid nostalgia or superficial comparisons to the “Islamic golden age.” Instead, it enables us to pose more specific inquiries regarding how to create institutions that genuinely prioritise access, dignity, and the holistic well-being of individuals in their own context and timeframe.

Why This History Matters for Inclusive Care

For Muslims who are currently employed by or utilising services within the NHS, bimaristans are not merely an intriguing historical concept. They are included in a memory of care in which unrestricted access, consideration for mental health issues, and opportunities for spiritual well-being were regarded as standard elements of a hospital rather than mere luxuries. Simultaneously, studies and personal testimonies from the UK reveal persistent obstacles faced by Muslim patients and personnel, ranging from challenges in obtaining prayer areas and chaplaincy services to instances of discrimination and limitations on expressing their faith at the workplace. Balancing these two realities simultaneously may cause discomfort, yet it is precisely in this space that the discussion proves most valuable. Recalling bimaristans does not imply an attempt to reproduce medieval facilities or overlook the accomplishments of the NHS. Instead, it presents an alternative perspective on what “good care” might signify within Muslim communities: care that is intentionally free and fair, that acknowledges the interrelations among body, mind, and spirit, and that anticipates that practitioners will be ethically as well as technically trained.

Conclusion

This article outlines the concept of bimaristans, detailing their origins, locations, and similarities and differences with the contemporary NHS. The upcoming article, titled “Holistic Care: Body, Mind, and Soul,” takes a deeper look at the way Islamic medicine comprehended health in terms of physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects, highlighting the differences between this understanding and the contemporary experiences of "holistic" care among Muslims in the UK.“Ethics and Education: Forming the Healer” examines the perspectives of historical scholars on the moral and spiritual development of healthcare practitioners and how these insights could benefit Muslim students and educators today. In conclusion, “Turning History Into Action” weaves these elements into tangible actions for services, community organisations, and early-career professionals seeking to transform the aspiration of providing Muslim-inclusive care into reality while maintaining.

References

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Abdul Sattar Jaber Khodair M, Zainab Fadhil Mirjan PD. THE BIMARISTANS IN THE ISLAMIC EAST: CENTERS OF MEDICINE AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology [Internet]. 2025;32(S2):900–8. Available from: https://www.tpmap.org/

Maravia U. Bimaristans: Services and Their Educational Role In Islamic Medical History and Their Influence on Modern Medicine and Hospitals. Journal of the British Islamic Medical Association. 2021 Aug;8(3).

Shahid HJ. BHMA [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2026 Feb 22]. Faith discrimination in the NHS: multiple penalties facing Muslim doctors - British Association for Holistic Medicine & Health Care. Available from: https://bhma.org/faith-discrimination-in-the-nhs-multiple-penalties-facing-muslim-doctors/