Body, Illness, and Narrative; A Sociological Reading of Khulasat al-Tajarib

Abstract

This study aimed to reinterpret the conceptualization of the body and the experience of illness in historical medical texts by conducting a sociological analysis of Khulasat al-Tajarib (Compendium of Medical Experiences), a seminal work by Baha’ al-Dawlah Razi. Employing qualitative content analysis and drawing upon key theoretical frameworks from medical sociology, including the sick role theory, symbolic interactionism, social conflict theory, and the ecosocial approach, this study demonstrated that the experience of illness and the representation of the body during the late Timurid to early Safavid period constituted not merely a biological phenomenon, but rather a complex social construct shaped by social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors. The findings indicated that the body was regarded not solely as a physiological reality but as a “social text”, a narrative upon which lifestyle, social class, dietary practice, gender, and ethnic diversity were inscribed. For instance, in Khulasat al-Tajarib, nomads and peasants, due to their physically demanding lifestyle and energy-yielding diet, are depicted as possessing resilient bodies, whereas urban dwellers and aristocrats, owing to their sedentary habits and preference for refined foods, are portrayed as more susceptible to chronic diseases. Women are represented to occupy a marginal and restricted position in the text, with their experiences of illness shaped by social constraints and violence. The medical system of the period, despite its inherent social hierarchies, acknowledged a relative right to treatment for all social strata. Furthermore, epidemic diseases, urban policies, and preventive measures revealed the intricate interconnections among biopolitics, the environment, and public health. Moreover, the integration of traditional medicine, superstition, and ethnic diversity among physicians rendered the experience of illness a multidimensional, social, and cultural process. The study of this historical text provided a basis for understanding the historical, social, and cultural construction, as well as the dynamic interaction among medicine, literature, and society