Ramadan is the perfect time to reflect on the Golden Age of Islam, a period that gave birth to innovations we still use today. Millennials and Gen Z needs to know about Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi, a legend from Cordoba who earned the title "Father of Modern Surgery".

Al-Zahrawi's contribution to medicine was nothing short of revolutionary. His masterpiece, Al-Tasrif, is a massive 30-volume medical encyclopedia that served as the primary reference for European medical schools for centuries. Translated into Latin in the 12th century, this book shaped the foundation of Western surgery.

His most iconic invention? The use of catgut for internal stitches. He discovered that threads made from animal intestines were durable yet capable of dissolving naturally inside the human body. This meant patients did not need a second procedure to remove stitches, a technique that remains a staple in modern operating rooms.

Beyond sutures, Al-Zahrawi illustrated and designed over 200 surgical instruments, including scalpels and forceps, many of which look strikingly similar to the tools surgeons use today. He even described procedures like C-sections and bone setting long before they were common practice.

Al-Zahrawi proves that science and faith have always walked hand in hand. His legacy reminds us that the spirit of Ramadan is also about the pursuit of knowledge that benefits humanity for generations.