What the Blood Knew: Ibn al-Nafis, the Pulmonary Circulation, and the Courage to Be Right Before the World Was Ready
Paperback
Biographies GeneralMedical ReferenceIslam
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: May 4 2026
Pages: 258
Weight: 0.77
Height: 0.54 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
In 1242, a physician in Cairo looked at the human heart and saw something no one had seen before.
Ibn al-Nafis was thirty years old when he wrote the passage that would change medicine - and then wait 636 years to be recognized.
Working in the great hospitals of Ayyubid Cairo, Ibn al-Nafis examined the cardiac septum and found it solid, impermeable, and utterly contrary to what Galen had claimed for thirteen centuries. Blood did not seep through invisible pores from the right side of the heart to the left. It traveled through the lungs - picking up air, being refined - and returned to the heart through the pulmonary vein. In two hundred words buried in a medical commentary, he described what William Harvey would be credited with discovering 382 years later.
Then the world moved on. His text was copied, distributed, and read - and the most important passage in it was not recognized as revolutionary for six centuries.
What the Blood Knew tells the full story of Ibn al-Nafis: his formation in Damascus's great schools, his career in Cairo's hospital wards, the precise observation that overturned Galenic certainty, and the long silence that followed. It is a book about what it means to know something true before the world is ready to hear it - and about the quiet, unshakeable courage of writing it down anyway.
Drawing on Ibn al-Nafis's own medical texts and the latest scholarship in the history of Islamic science, Narin Hikma offers a vivid, deeply researched account of one of history's most overlooked scientific breakthroughs - and the civilization that made it possible.
Also from
Hikma, Narin
Meadows of Gold, Roads Without End: The Life and Ideas of Al-Masudi, the Herodotus of the Arabs
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
The Star Keeper: Thabit ibn Qurra and the Ancient Knowledge He Carried for the World
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
The Man Who Could Not Stay: The Extraordinary Life of Ibn Battuta, History's Greatest Traveler
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
Words That Outlast Empires: The Life, Devotion, and Enduring Legacy of Ibn Kathir
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
The Ghawth of Baghdad: The Life and Spiritual Legacy of Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, Islam's Greatest Saint
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
The Woman Who Fasted While She Built: The Untold Story of Fatima al-Fihri and the World's First University
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
Behind You, the Sea: The Untold Story of Tariq ibn Ziyad, the General Who Conquered Spain
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
The Brotherhood of Light: The Secret Society of Islamic Philosophers Who Sought to Unite Science, Soul, and God
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
He Called Him an Ocean: The Life, Exile, and Undying Legacy of Al-Juwayni, Imam al-Haramayn
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
The Keeper of Stations: The Extraordinary Life and Eternal Wisdom of Al-Iji, Islam's Supreme Judge
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
The Art of Becoming Good: Miskawayh and the Thousand-Year-Old Philosophy of Character, Happiness, and the Soul
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
The Garden of Souls: How a Forgotten Kurdish Philosopher Kept Wisdom Alive at the End of the World
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
Father of the Kitten: The Destitute Companion Who Starved Beside a Prophet and Remembered Every Word
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
Borrowed Light: Al-Ma'mun, the Brother He Buried, and the House of Wisdom Built to Redeem a Caliphate
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
With Hu: The Sufi Saint Who Renounced a Warrior's Legacy for a Single Word of Love
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
Beloved Without Asking: The Orphan Who Met the Prophet Face to Face - and Opened the Door for Everyone Else
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
Between Spirit and Soul: The Forgotten Genius Who Carried Ancient Wisdom Across Worlds
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
The Woman with Two Belts: Asma bint Abi Bakr and the Century of a Heart That Would Not Break
Hikma, Narin
Paperback
Also in
Medical Reference
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures
Fadiman, Anne
Paperback
7 Reasons to Believe in the Afterlife: A Doctor Reviews the Case for Consciousness After Death
Charbonier, Jean Jacques
Paperback
The Immune Mystery: A Doctor's Impassioned Quest to Solve the Puzzle of Autoimmune Disease
Jelstad, Jørgen
Dr Kåss, Anita
Hardcover
Holistic Reflexology: Essential Oils and Crystal Massage in Reflex Zone Therapy
Kliegel, Ewald
Paperback
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook: What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us about Loss, Love, and
Perry, Bruce
Szalavitz, Maia
Paperback
Being Well (Even When You're Sick): Mindfulness Practices for People with Cancer and Other Serious Illnesses
Rosenbaum, Elana
Paperback
Overcoming Acute and Chronic Pain: Keys to Treatment Based on Your Emotional Type
Dibra, Sebhia Marie
Micozzi, Marc S.
Paperback
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Van Der Kolk, Bessel
Paperback
The Hunger Code: Resetting Your Body's Fat Thermostat in the Age of Ultra-Processed Food
Fung, Jason
Hardcover
Working The Roots: Over 400 Years of Traditional African American Healing
Lee, Michele Elizabeth
Paperback
Integrating a Palliative Approach Workbook 2nd Edition, Revised: Essentials For Personal Support workers
Murray, Katherine
Paperback
Unlearn Your Pain: The Science of Recovering from Chronic Pain, Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression
Schubiner, Howard, MD
Hardcover
Jesus & Your Mental Health: Linking God's Word and Modern Science to Find Peace about Mental Health
Maxwell Lmft, Rebecca
Paperback
You've Been Pooping All Wrong: How to Make Your Bowel Movements a Joy
Pasricha, Trisha, MD MPH
Hardcover
THE DYSAUTONOMIA PROJECT Second Edition
Freeman, Kelly
Goldstein, David S.
Thompson, Charles R.
Paperback
Anatomy Coloring Book with 450+ Realistic Medical Illustrations with Quizzes for Each
Wise, Eric
McCann, Stephanie
Paperback
The Invincible Brain: The Clinically Proven Plan to Age-Proof Your Brain and Stay Sharp for Life
Fotuhi, Majid
Hardcover
Cialis & Men's Sexual Health: Understanding Tadalafil and Erectile Dysfunction
Stilton, John P.
Paperback
How to Forage for Mushrooms Without Dying: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Identifying 29 Wild, Edible Mushrooms
Hyman, Frank
Paperback
The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss
Rabins, Peter V.
Mace, Nancy L.
Paperback
The Breast Advice: All You Need to Know about Breast Health, Screening, and Treatment
Port, Elisa
Hardcover
Plant Powered Plus: Activate the Power of Your Gut to Tame Inflammation and Reclaim Your Health
Bulsiewicz, Will
Hardcover
Period Repair Manual: Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods
Briden Nd, Lara
Paperback
The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook: A Proven Way to Accept Yourself, Build Inner Strength, and Thrive
Neff, Kristin
Germer, Christopher
Paperback
Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy, Happy Heart: Simple Steps to Achieving Long-Term Cardiovascular Health
Lara-Breitinger, Kyla M.
Lopez-Jimenez, Francisco
Lerman, Amir
Hardcover
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (Dsm-5-Tr(r))
American Psychiatric Association
Paperback
Think Less, Sleep More: From Panic & Perfectionism to Stress-Free Sleep
Romiszewski, Stephanie
Hardcover
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD: Proven Strategies to Succeed at Work, at Home, and in Relationships
Barkley, Russell A.
Paperback
Nolo's Guide to Social Security Disability: Getting & Keeping Your Benefits
Morton III, David A.
Paperback
All Creatures Great and Small: The Warm and Joyful Memoirs of the World's Most Beloved Animal Doctor
Herriot, James
Paperback
The Great Shadow: A History of How Sickness Shapes What We Do, Think, Believe, and Buy
Bauer, Susan Wise
Hardcover
The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts
Haver, Mary Claire
Hardcover
No One's Coming: The Rogue Heroes Our Government Turns to When There's Nowhere Else to Turn
Hazzard, Kevin
Hardcover
Medicare 101: From Your Initial Enrollment Period to Parts A, B, C, and D, an Essential Primer on the Government Healthcare Program
Lankford, Kimberly
Hardcover
El Cuerpo Lleva La Cuenta: Cerebro, Mente Y Cuerpo En La Superación del Trauma / The Body Keeps the Score
Van Der Kolk, Bessel
Paperback
The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide: Emergency Preparedness for Any Disaster
Alton, Amy
Alton, Joseph
Paperback
Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness
Godfrey-Smith, Peter
Paperback
Why We Get Sick: The Hidden Epidemic at the Root of Most Chronic Disease--And How to Fight It
Bikman, Benjamin
Paperback
Cancer Is a Parasite: Kill It with the Safe, Over-The-Counter Antiparasitic Fenbendazole
Supple, William F., Jr.
Hardcover
Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence---From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror
Herman, Judith Lewis
Paperback
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President
Millard, Candice
Paperback
God's Hotel: A Doctor, a Hospital, and a Pilgrimage to the Heart of Medicine
Sweet, Victoria
Paperback
Harrison's Guide to Inpatient Medicine: Common Internal Medicine Diseases and Workups
Longo, Dan L.
Fauci, Anthony S.
Edwards, Mitchell
Hardcover
Change Your Brain, Change Your Pain: Breaking the Doom Loop to Heal Chronic Physical and Emotional Pain
Amen, Daniel G.
Hardcover
What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing
Winfrey, Oprah
Perry, Bruce D., M. D. PH. D.
Hardcover
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (Dsm-5-Tr(r))
American Psychiatric Association
Hardcover
Spiritual Portraits of the Energy Release Points: A Compendium of Acupuncture Point Messages Found Within the 12 Meridians and 8 Extraordinary Vessels
Gervais, Michele Marie
Paperback
Cialis Men's Usage Manual: Men's Long-Lasting Erection Pills: Quick-acting, Stay and Get Rock Hard, Unadulterated Mind-Blowing Climax
Petersson, Nicolas
Paperback
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook--What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us about Loss, Love, and
Perry, Bruce D.
Szalavitz, Maia
Paperback
How to Forage for Medicinal Plants Without Dying: An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Identifying 32 Healing Wild Herbs
Ruiz, Brandon
Paperback
This Book May Cause Side Effects: The Curious and Dangerous Power of the Nocebo Effect, Placebo's Evil Twin
Pilcher, Helen
Hardcover
Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present
Washington, Harriet A.
Paperback
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures
Fadiman, Anne
Paperback
Forbidden Facts: Government Deceit & Suppression about Brain Damage from Childhood Vaccines
de Becker, Gavin
Hardcover
The Doctors' Riot of 1788: Body Snatching, Bloodletting, and Anatomy in America
McPhee, Andy
Hardcover
Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria from Dsm-5-Tr(r)
American Psychiatric Association
Paperback
Stay Off My Kitchen Table: A Heart Surgeon's 4-Week Elimination Diet for Gut Repair, Metabolic Health, and Longevity
Lisec, Joshua
Ovadia, Philip
Paperback
The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss (Why Intermittent Fasting Is the Key to Controlling Your Weight)
Fung, Jason
Paperback
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
Pollan, Michael
Paperback
Food Is Medicine: Healing Our Bodies, Nourishing Our Minds, and Transforming Our Food System
Mozaffarian, Dariush
Hardcover
Nursing School Entrance Exams Prep: Your All-In-One Guide to the Kaplan and Hesi Exams
Kaplan Nursing
Paperback
Cure Your Fatigue, Second Edition: The Root Cause and How to Fix It on Your Own
Robbins, Morley M.
Paperback
Desk Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria from Dsm-5-Tr(r)
American Psychiatric Association
Paperback
What Your Doctor Doesn't Know about Fibromyalgia: Why Doctors Can't or Won't Treat Chronic Pain
Rhoades, Patrick
Meilink, Linda
Paperback
Child Medication Fact Book for Psychiatric Practice, Second Edition
Puzantian, Talia
Tien, Elizabeth
Feder, Joshua D.
Paperback
Living Life to the Fullest with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: Guide to Living a Better Quality of Life While Having EDS
Muldowney Pt, Kevin
Muldowney Pt, Kathleen
Hardcover
Menopause: What Your Ob-GYN Wants You to Know
Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of
Paperback
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers
Kleiman, Karen
Hardcover
Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2026
Papadakis, Maxine A.
Rabow, Michael W.
McQuaid, Kenneth R.
Hardcover
The Yates Protocol: Five Simple Steps to Fix Your Blood Sugar and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes
Yates, Beverly
Hardcover
Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection (Large Print Edition)
Green, John
Paperback
American Sirens: The Incredible Story of the Black Men Who Became America's First Paramedics
Hazzard, Kevin
Paperback
Pcos Is My Power: Understanding Pcos, Fixing Your Hormones, and Resetting Your Health
Ruth, Cory, Rdn
Paperback
Shoulder Pain? The Solution & Prevention: Fifth Edition, Revised & Expanded
Kirsch, John M.
Paperback
Clinical Reasoning: Coaching the Struggling Medical Learner
Parsons, Andrew S.
Warburton, Karen M.
Paperback
Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces That Threaten Our World
Hotez, Peter J.
Mann, Michael E.
Hardcover
Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Autism, Dyspraxia, A.D.D., Dyslexia, A.D.H.D., Depression, Schizophrenia, 2nd Edition
Campbell-McBride, Natasha, MD
Paperback
The Cure for Everything: The Epic Struggle for Public Health and a Radical Vision for Human Thriving
Williams, Michelle A.
Hardcover
Hidden Epidemic: Silent Oral Infections Cause Most Heart Attacks and Breast Cancers
Levy, Jd
Paperback
Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us
Hall, Kevin, PhD
Belluz, Julia
Hardcover
The Quantum Power of GLP-1 Peptides: Unlocking the Science that Leads to Lasting Weight Loss and Optimal Healthspan
Seeds, William A.
Paperback
Indoor Epidemic: 93% Inside Steals Sleep, Focus & Years-The 7% Outdoor Rx Restores Them
La Puma, John
Paperback
All the Names in the Bible: Comprehensive Index of Every Person and Place in Scripture
Thomas Nelson
Paperback
The Cortisol Cure: The Secret to Resetting Your Stress Response, Boosting Energy & Feeling Better Than Ever
Kinney, Erin
Hardcover
Curved Air: A Biography of Sickle Cell Anemia and the Quest to Cure the First Molecular Disease
Davies, Kevin
Hardcover
Fenbendazole & Ivermectin Protocols Handbook: A Definitive Guide on Treatment of Cancer for Patients and Caregivers
Willmott, Sebastian
Paperback
A Gentle Path Through the Twelve Steps: The Classic Guide for All People in the Process of Recovery
Carnes, Patrick J.
Paperback
The Unfragile Mind: A Physician's Call for Restoring Hope and Humanity to Mental Health Care
Francis, Gavin
Hardcover
The Other Side of the Straitjacket: A Daughter's Story of Mental Illness and Assisted Dying
Duncan, Alicia
Paperback
Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2027
McQuaid, Kenneth R.
Papadakis, Maxine A.
Rabow, Michael W.
Hardcover
