Imam Ali- The ENT Specialist – Bridging Scientific and Islamic Teachings

We have already covered many topics on Imam’s teachings in the scientific world. Now, we have another topic – Imam Ali- The ENT Specialist. First, we will discuss what ENT is, then we will explain what Imam is saying, and finally, we will compare it to the scientific world. The things we learn in the books are the teachings of our Imam. Indeed, faith is always ahead of science. Let’s start learning.

What ENT is?

ENT stands for Ear, Nose, and Throat. It’s a type of doctor who helps with problems related to your ears, nose, throat, and things around your head and neck. They can help with issues like hearing loss, sinus troubles, throat infections, and voice problems. These doctors are called otolaryngologists. They know about both medicines and surgeries to fix these kinds of problems.

Saying of Imam Ali- The ENT Specialist:

“Man is a wonderful creature; he sees through the layers of fat (eyes), hears through a bone (ears) and speaks through a lump of flesh (tongue).“

Nahjul-balagha: saying: Chapter: 81 saying# 07

Imam Ali’s (A.S) words still amaze us, even in today’s world of science and technology. He mentions something intriguing: “We see with fat.” This connection between eyesight and fat might sound unusual, especially for someone well-versed in life sciences. Despite being a diligent life sciences student, I didn’t know about this relationship until I encountered Imam Ali’s saying. When I looked into the fat content of our eyes, The composition of fatty acids in the human retina and macular region was studied using gas chromatography, providing quantitative measurements in mole percent. The major fatty acids identified in both the human retina and macula included palmitic, stearic, oleic, arachidonic, and docosahexaenoic acids.

1. Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA):
   • Macular Region: 15.9% of total
   • Peripheral Retina: 22.3% of total
2. Other Fatty Acids (excluding the five major fatty acids):
   • Macular Region: 21.0% of total
   • Peripheral Retina: 10.7% of total

However, a person today might wonder if the fact that our eyes are made up of 60% fat means that our eyesight is necessarily due to fat. It’s a valid question. If 60% of the eye is fat, it doesn’t guarantee that fat is the reason for our eyesight—it could be the remaining 40%. Imam Ali (A.S) himself suggests that making decisions solely based on probabilities isn’t just (Nahjulbalagha: saying: 216). So, to address this, we need to delve deeper into the anatomy and physiology of the human eye.

The crucial part of our eye responsible for vision is the retina. If the retina is removed or damaged, you lose your sight. The retina has two parts: one for seeing in the dark and the other for seeing in the light. The part aiding vision in light is called the Macula, and it’s the main area responsible for sight. The Macula consists only of cones and is solely responsible for day vision. If the Macula is damaged, you lose your sight. Therefore, we can conclude that our eyesight is because of the Macula. There’s a condition affecting older people called AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration), where the Macula degenerates, leading to a gradual loss of eyesight in the elderly.

Good Eyesight and Essential Fatty Acids

Fatty acids, a part of fat molecules, play a vital role in keeping your eyes healthy. One important family of these fatty acids is omega-3, which has two main forms: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). They support the proper growth and development of your eyes and other parts of your eyesight. Research indicates that DHA, found in high levels in the retina, helps maintain its normal functions.

Omega-3 also helps keep your eyes hydrated, preventing dryness on the eye surface. Low levels of DHA and EPA can increase the risk of developing dry eyes, leading to eye inflammation and itching. If you experience these symptoms or find it hard to use contact lenses, it’s recommended to visit your local eye doctor. It is amazing, that how much ahead Imam Ali (a.s) was of his times and the phenomenal wisdom his words contain.

Also Read: Imam Ali and the concept Darwinism (Quranic Teachings)

Talks with flesh (Lahm):

Instead of using the common term ‘tongue,’ Imam Ali (a.s) says we speak with our flesh. This choice of words is quite unusual but carries deep meaning.

Let’s explore why he used the term ‘flesh’ (lahm). In our bodies, the sound is created in a special part of the trachea called the ‘larynx.’

The larynx is a part of your throat, and it’s often called the “voice box.” It’s located at the top of your windpipe, or trachea. The larynx plays a crucial role in producing sound and helping you speak. It contains vocal cords, which are like two bands that come together and vibrate when you talk or make sounds. The way these vocal cords move and the air passing through them create different pitches and tones, allowing you to speak and sing. So, in simple terms, the larynx helps you make sounds and speak with your voice.

When we speak, air from the lungs comes out with pressure and causes vibrations in the larynx, producing sound. To convert this sound into words, the Broca’s area in the brain gives instructions, and the tongue, jaw muscles, and lips work together as speech articulators.

The tongue, a complex organ with 16 types of muscles, is not only responsible for taste but is also the primary organ for speech. Without the tongue, pronouncing many letters becomes difficult. Jaw muscles, the strongest in the human body, play a crucial role in speech production, following the importance of the tongue. Lips, also pure muscles, contribute to forming words. All three articulators are considered pure muscles, much like fatty acids are the purest form of fat.

Imam Ali (A.S)’s choice of the word ‘flesh’ aligns with modern understanding. If he had used ‘tongue,’ it would have been a standard statement. However, by saying ‘flesh,’ his words remain relevant across ages. This demonstrates that Imam Ali (A.S)’s teachings were not limited to his time but are timeless, applicable to all future generations. He foresaw the importance of his words for generations to come, establishing him as a true guide and imam for the future.

Hears with bone:

Imam Ali (A.S) said that humans hear using bones. This statement aligns perfectly with the latest understanding of the anatomy and physiology of hearing.

Right next to the eardrum, there is the middle ear, which has three bones: the malleus, incus, and stapes. These middle ear bones connect the eardrum to the internal ear.

Our hearing system includes the external ear (the fleshy part), the middle ear with the eardrum and three bones, and the internal ear with the cochlea or labyrinth filled with liquid. When sound reaches the eardrum, it vibrates. These vibrations are then transmitted to the fluid-filled labyrinth through the three bones in the middle ear. If these bones are damaged, a person’s hearing can be permanently affected. Imam Ali’s (A.S) statement is indeed surprising for ENT specialists in this century.

Conclusion:

To sum up, we’ve explored Imam Ali’s teachings in connection to the scientific world, focusing on his role as the “ENT Specialist.” We discussed what ENT is – dealing with ear, nose, and throat issues. Then, we looked at Imam Ali’s interesting saying about seeing with fat, speaking with flesh, and hearing with bone.

In simple terms:

• Seeing with Fat: Imam Ali’s words about eyesight and fat align with the fact that our eyes contain fatty acids, especially in the retina.
• Speaking with Flesh: Instead of saying “tongue,” Imam Ali used “flesh,” emphasizing the complex muscles involved in speech.
• Hearing with Bone: Imam Ali’s statement that humans hear with bone matches the scientific understanding of the three bones in our middle ear transmitting sound vibrations.

Imam Ali’s wisdom is timeless, and his teachings continue to connect with modern scientific knowledge, offering valuable insights.

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