Muhammad al-Ghazali al-Uthmani
- Died
- 924 AH
- Born in
- -
Muhammad al-Ghazali al-Uthmani (fl. after 924 AH / 1518 CE) was an author of Ottoman-era Egypt, best known for his treatise on physiognomy and the medical examination of enslaved persons, Hidayat al-Murid fi Taqlib al-Abid (Guidance of the Aspirant in the Examination of Slaves) .
Life and Background
He was an obscure figure of the Ottoman period in Egypt whose biography is not recorded in traditional biographical dictionaries . In his own writing, he describes himself as a humble visitor who frequented the circle of an official in Egypt named Ahmad ibn Muhammad, Efendi of the Egyptian Lands, noting that the official was known for his benevolence and affection toward the poor . After consulting the official and receiving his authorization and encouragement, al-Ghazali composed his treatise and dedicated it to him .
Treatise on Physical Inspection
Al-Ghazali compiled Hidayat al-Murid fi Taqlib al-Abid as a practical guide outlining the anatomical and physiological signs that indicate health or bodily weakness in enslaved individuals, addressing what a buyer needed to know before purchase . The text was structured into seven chapters and an epilogue, classifying bodily indicators according to bodily temperament (mizaj), complexion, build, the head and neck, the chest and arms, the internal organs, and the lower extremities . The work survives in a manuscript preserved at the Egyptian National Library (Dar al-Kutub al-Misriyya), transcribed in 1126 AH (1714 CE) by Hasan Ali Mahfuz for Abd Allah al-Shubrawi .
Answer updated
List of Works
Hidayat al-Murid fi Taqlib al-Abid (Guidance of the Aspirant in the Examination of Slaves) is a short treatise on physiognomy (firasa) and the physical inspection of enslaved people. The work focuses on providing practical guidance to recognize physical soundness and identify hidden medical defects prior to purchase, drawing upon humoral medicine and classical physiognomy.