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'ABD AL-MALIK IBN QURAIB AL-ASMAI (740 - 828 C.E.)
Al-Asmai was a philologist who made important contributions
to Zoology, Botany, and Animal Husbandry.
‘Abd al-Malik ibn al-Quraib al-Asmai was born
in Basrah in 740 C.E. He was a pious Arab and a good
student of Arabic poetry. Al-Asmai is considered as
the first Muslim scientist who contributed to Zoology,
Botany and Animal Husbandry. His famous writings include
Kitab al-Ibil, Kitab al-Khalil, Kitab al-Wuhush, Kitab
al-Sha, and Kitab Khalq al-Insan. The last book on human
anatomy demonstrates his considerable knowledge and
expertise on the subject. Al-Asmai died in 828 C.E.
Interest in breeding of horses and camels was responsible
for systematic scientific work by the Arabs as early
as seventh century. During the Umayyad Caliphate, behavior
and classification of animals and plants were studied
and recorded by several scientists. Al-Asmai's work
was very popular among scientists of the ninth and tenth
century.
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