An Interview with the Award Winner of the Ninth International Festival of Raḍawī Book of the Year Selection
the book “Tārīkh-i Dār al-Shafā-yi Āstān Quds Raḍawī (History of AQR Dispensary) From the Safavid Period to the End of the Qajar Period as Recorded in Documents” won the second award in the superior book section pivoting on the Holy Shrine and the Blessed Sanctuaries, with a scholarly-promotion approach.
2016/10/08
No more than a few days has gone by the closing ceremonies of the Ninth International Festival of Raḍawī Book of the Year Selection; a festival in which the book “Tārīkh-i Dār al-Shafā-yi Āstān Quds Raḍawī (History of AQR Dispensary) From the Safavid Period to the End of the Qajar Period as Recorded in Documents” won the second award in the superior book section pivoting on the Holy Shrine and the Blessed Sanctuaries, with a scholarly-promotion approach.
In this opportunity, we have conducted an interview with Salem Husaynzadeh Surshajani, the author of this book, in order to become more familiar with this selected work and how it was written.
• How come you wrote such a book?
It is about 20 years that I have been serving in the Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī. I started my post as document assessment expert in this complex and it is now 2 years that I am performing my duty as the supervisor of the Document Bureau of the Organization of Libraries, Museums and Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī. I have done much research work during my working at this center, among which I can mention authoring various articles that are mostly in relation to the Āstān Quds Raḍawī Organization. For example, some outcomes of these research activities are the following articles: Document Assessment; Working Procedures for Archival Services; Introducing the Inventory of Āstān Quds Raḍawī’s Properties and Assets in 1276 AH/1859 AD; Feasts and Festivals in the Holy Shrine According to Documents, etc.
As for the book “Tārīkh-i Dār al-Shafā-yi Āstān Quds Raḍawī (History of AQR Dispensary) From the Safavid Period to the End of the Qajar Period as Recorded in Documents”, I should say that this work has been authored on the basis of my Master’s degree Dissertation. In fact, my dissertation was written with the same title and in 180 pages, which after completion amounted to 450 pages and was published in book format by Islamic Azad University of Mashhad. It was then launched in the national conference on “Medical History in the Islamic and Iranian Civilization (Recognition of Medical History of Khorasan)” on Khordad 5, 1395/May 25, 2016. Of course, my personal interest in the documents in relation to the administrative organization of Āstān Quds Raḍawī was the main reason for choosing this subject for research and publishing of this work.
• Tell us about your other scholarly-research books.
Simultaneous with “Tārīkh-i Dār al-Shafā-yi Āstān Quds Raḍawī” another book “Dār al-Shafā-yi Raḍawī dar Gudhar-i Zamān (Raḍawī Dispensary in the Passage of Time - Selected Documents), which I had published in cooperation with Elahe Mahboub and Zahra Fatemi Moqaddam, two of the experts of Documents and the Journals Affairs Management of Āstān Quds Raḍawī, was also launched at the beginning of Khordad/May of the current year.
• Introduce your selected work in the Ninth International Festival of Raḍawī Book of the Year Selection.
First, I should point out that most of our old medical sources are in the book format and that there are few of them in which the type of illness and the type of medicine and food are mentioned; such books as Tuḥfa Ḥakīm Mu’min or Khulāṣat al-Tajārib. However, there are about 20 thousand sheets of documents in relation to Dār al-Shafā of this sacred threshold preserved in the AQR Document Center Archive, 5 or 6 thousand sheets of which deal with the type of medicines used in Dār al-Shafā.
Also, there are various medical prescriptions among these historical documents, in which the name of the patient, type of illness, dose of medicine, and the kind of food that they used to give to the patient were specified. Consisting of about 450 pages together with references and sources, this book is written on the basis of these documents. Of course, the past records of the personnel establishments of Dār al-Shafā-yi Āstān Quds Raḍawī, such as the physicians (ḥukamā), doctors (aṭibbā), caretakers of patients (nurses), ophthalmologists (kaḥḥālān), surgeons, and other staffs are mentioned in it. For instance, 5 to 8 people in the Safavid period, up to 14 people in Afsharid period, and up to 38 people in Qajar period were engaged working in Dār al-Shafā. Similarly, it is specified in this work that Ḥakīm ‘Imād al-Dīn Maḥmūd Shīrāzī had been working here as the physician of Ḥaḍrat Infirmary (Dār al-Shafā-yi Ḥaḍrat) during Shāh Ṭahmāsb period and he has even written some of his treaties in this infirmary. The locations of the infirmary from the initial place of Dār al-Shafā next to Gawharshad Mosque or next to Madrasa Du Dar and Parīzād up to its last place in upper sanctuary (Bast-i Bālā) at the end of Qajar era, are all specified in the book.
Among other instances included in the book are the reconstructions and repairs of Dār al-Shafā and the full introduction of its establishments. Of course, the activities of some of the administrators in construction work of Dār al-Shafā, such as Mīrzā Ja‘far Khān Mushīr al-Dawla in 1278/1861 and Dr. Amīr ‘Alam, physician and head of the State Health Center (Ṣiḥḥīyya) in 1337/1918, are also clearly elaborated in the book.
• In writing this book, to what extent have you used the information sources of the Organization of Libraries, Museums and Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī?
Such a book has been published for the first time in the country and in its writing the earlier history books, documents, photos, and journals of various historical periods are used, most of which have been available in this organization. In other words, the most exclusive and the most significant sources of Iran’s medical history are preserved in the Organization of Libraries, Museums and Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī.
• Who are the main addressees of Tārīkh-i Dār al-Shafā-yi Āstān Quds Raḍawī?
All the students of medical sciences, medical history, history of Islamic Iran, and History and Civilization of Islamic Nations; in sum, all the pilgrims and dwelling neighbors of the Heavenly Threshold of the Eighth Imam (A.S.) can benefit from this work. In fact, the existence of this Dār al-Shafā is an honor for the Islamic Iran, because at the time when there were not any modern infirmaries in any of the civilized countries, not even in the European countries, such a place as Dār al-Shafā was available in the vicinity of Raḍawī Holy Shrine.
• Is this book considered as an information source in the field of traditional medicine?
Yes. As it was mentioned, this book is adopted from the sources of the Organization of Libraries, Museums and Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī. It is a valuable information treasure in the field of medical practice and traditional medicine that when Dr. Muhammad Mahdi Isfahani, the councilor of the minister of health and medical education in traditional medicine was informed about it in the vicinity of the Raḍawī Shrine, he expressed his pleasure and viewed it as a new window to the Muslim world. At present, many students and physicians of traditional medicine refer to the Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī to study and examine these information sources with specific arrangements.
• Apart from your book, how do you evaluate the celebration of the International Festival of Raḍawī Book of the Year Selection in its various editions?
During the past seven years that this festival has been held by the Organization of Libraries, Museums and Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī, it has enjoyed a growing trend and we have witnessed a very good qualitative and quantitative increase in it.
• Have you previously participated in this festival, too?
Yes. I participated in the Sixth International Festival of Raḍawī Book of the Year Selection in 1392 sh/2013 in the superior dissertation section, in which I managed to receive second award for my dissertation “Tārīkh-i Dār al-Shafā-yi Āstān Quds Raḍawī (History of AQR Dispensary) From the Safavid Period to the End of the Qajar Period as Recorded in Documents”
• What research plans do you have for future?
As I am fully familiar with all the administrative and financial documents of Āstān Quds Raḍawī, all my plans and works are based on the documents archive of the Documents and the Journals Affairs Management of Āstān Quds Raḍawī. At the moment, as the research advisor, I am undertaking guidance of three master’s degree dissertations of the students of medical sciences history of Shahed University of Tehran. Also, among my other future plans is the research work on the administrative and financial documents of Āstān Quds Raḍawī in other parts of the Holy Places, so that God-willing I would be able to fulfil the task that I have undertaken in the field of information dissemination and full introduction of the Raḍawī Holy Places over the past periods, in particular during the historical periods of the Saffavids, Afsharids, Qajar, and the First Pahlavi era.
In this opportunity, we have conducted an interview with Salem Husaynzadeh Surshajani, the author of this book, in order to become more familiar with this selected work and how it was written.
• How come you wrote such a book?
It is about 20 years that I have been serving in the Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī. I started my post as document assessment expert in this complex and it is now 2 years that I am performing my duty as the supervisor of the Document Bureau of the Organization of Libraries, Museums and Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī. I have done much research work during my working at this center, among which I can mention authoring various articles that are mostly in relation to the Āstān Quds Raḍawī Organization. For example, some outcomes of these research activities are the following articles: Document Assessment; Working Procedures for Archival Services; Introducing the Inventory of Āstān Quds Raḍawī’s Properties and Assets in 1276 AH/1859 AD; Feasts and Festivals in the Holy Shrine According to Documents, etc.
As for the book “Tārīkh-i Dār al-Shafā-yi Āstān Quds Raḍawī (History of AQR Dispensary) From the Safavid Period to the End of the Qajar Period as Recorded in Documents”, I should say that this work has been authored on the basis of my Master’s degree Dissertation. In fact, my dissertation was written with the same title and in 180 pages, which after completion amounted to 450 pages and was published in book format by Islamic Azad University of Mashhad. It was then launched in the national conference on “Medical History in the Islamic and Iranian Civilization (Recognition of Medical History of Khorasan)” on Khordad 5, 1395/May 25, 2016. Of course, my personal interest in the documents in relation to the administrative organization of Āstān Quds Raḍawī was the main reason for choosing this subject for research and publishing of this work.
• Tell us about your other scholarly-research books.
Simultaneous with “Tārīkh-i Dār al-Shafā-yi Āstān Quds Raḍawī” another book “Dār al-Shafā-yi Raḍawī dar Gudhar-i Zamān (Raḍawī Dispensary in the Passage of Time - Selected Documents), which I had published in cooperation with Elahe Mahboub and Zahra Fatemi Moqaddam, two of the experts of Documents and the Journals Affairs Management of Āstān Quds Raḍawī, was also launched at the beginning of Khordad/May of the current year.
• Introduce your selected work in the Ninth International Festival of Raḍawī Book of the Year Selection.
First, I should point out that most of our old medical sources are in the book format and that there are few of them in which the type of illness and the type of medicine and food are mentioned; such books as Tuḥfa Ḥakīm Mu’min or Khulāṣat al-Tajārib. However, there are about 20 thousand sheets of documents in relation to Dār al-Shafā of this sacred threshold preserved in the AQR Document Center Archive, 5 or 6 thousand sheets of which deal with the type of medicines used in Dār al-Shafā.
Also, there are various medical prescriptions among these historical documents, in which the name of the patient, type of illness, dose of medicine, and the kind of food that they used to give to the patient were specified. Consisting of about 450 pages together with references and sources, this book is written on the basis of these documents. Of course, the past records of the personnel establishments of Dār al-Shafā-yi Āstān Quds Raḍawī, such as the physicians (ḥukamā), doctors (aṭibbā), caretakers of patients (nurses), ophthalmologists (kaḥḥālān), surgeons, and other staffs are mentioned in it. For instance, 5 to 8 people in the Safavid period, up to 14 people in Afsharid period, and up to 38 people in Qajar period were engaged working in Dār al-Shafā. Similarly, it is specified in this work that Ḥakīm ‘Imād al-Dīn Maḥmūd Shīrāzī had been working here as the physician of Ḥaḍrat Infirmary (Dār al-Shafā-yi Ḥaḍrat) during Shāh Ṭahmāsb period and he has even written some of his treaties in this infirmary. The locations of the infirmary from the initial place of Dār al-Shafā next to Gawharshad Mosque or next to Madrasa Du Dar and Parīzād up to its last place in upper sanctuary (Bast-i Bālā) at the end of Qajar era, are all specified in the book.
Among other instances included in the book are the reconstructions and repairs of Dār al-Shafā and the full introduction of its establishments. Of course, the activities of some of the administrators in construction work of Dār al-Shafā, such as Mīrzā Ja‘far Khān Mushīr al-Dawla in 1278/1861 and Dr. Amīr ‘Alam, physician and head of the State Health Center (Ṣiḥḥīyya) in 1337/1918, are also clearly elaborated in the book.
• In writing this book, to what extent have you used the information sources of the Organization of Libraries, Museums and Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī?
Such a book has been published for the first time in the country and in its writing the earlier history books, documents, photos, and journals of various historical periods are used, most of which have been available in this organization. In other words, the most exclusive and the most significant sources of Iran’s medical history are preserved in the Organization of Libraries, Museums and Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī.
• Who are the main addressees of Tārīkh-i Dār al-Shafā-yi Āstān Quds Raḍawī?
All the students of medical sciences, medical history, history of Islamic Iran, and History and Civilization of Islamic Nations; in sum, all the pilgrims and dwelling neighbors of the Heavenly Threshold of the Eighth Imam (A.S.) can benefit from this work. In fact, the existence of this Dār al-Shafā is an honor for the Islamic Iran, because at the time when there were not any modern infirmaries in any of the civilized countries, not even in the European countries, such a place as Dār al-Shafā was available in the vicinity of Raḍawī Holy Shrine.
• Is this book considered as an information source in the field of traditional medicine?
Yes. As it was mentioned, this book is adopted from the sources of the Organization of Libraries, Museums and Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī. It is a valuable information treasure in the field of medical practice and traditional medicine that when Dr. Muhammad Mahdi Isfahani, the councilor of the minister of health and medical education in traditional medicine was informed about it in the vicinity of the Raḍawī Shrine, he expressed his pleasure and viewed it as a new window to the Muslim world. At present, many students and physicians of traditional medicine refer to the Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī to study and examine these information sources with specific arrangements.
• Apart from your book, how do you evaluate the celebration of the International Festival of Raḍawī Book of the Year Selection in its various editions?
During the past seven years that this festival has been held by the Organization of Libraries, Museums and Document Center of Āstān Quds Raḍawī, it has enjoyed a growing trend and we have witnessed a very good qualitative and quantitative increase in it.
• Have you previously participated in this festival, too?
Yes. I participated in the Sixth International Festival of Raḍawī Book of the Year Selection in 1392 sh/2013 in the superior dissertation section, in which I managed to receive second award for my dissertation “Tārīkh-i Dār al-Shafā-yi Āstān Quds Raḍawī (History of AQR Dispensary) From the Safavid Period to the End of the Qajar Period as Recorded in Documents”
• What research plans do you have for future?
As I am fully familiar with all the administrative and financial documents of Āstān Quds Raḍawī, all my plans and works are based on the documents archive of the Documents and the Journals Affairs Management of Āstān Quds Raḍawī. At the moment, as the research advisor, I am undertaking guidance of three master’s degree dissertations of the students of medical sciences history of Shahed University of Tehran. Also, among my other future plans is the research work on the administrative and financial documents of Āstān Quds Raḍawī in other parts of the Holy Places, so that God-willing I would be able to fulfil the task that I have undertaken in the field of information dissemination and full introduction of the Raḍawī Holy Places over the past periods, in particular during the historical periods of the Saffavids, Afsharids, Qajar, and the First Pahlavi era.
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