BEŞİNCİ BÂB · ÜÇÜNCÜ FASIL · Birinci Madde
First Article
Concerning the essential organs whose preservation is necessary, it relates to the nature, locations, and benefits of the soul’s faculties.
O esteemed one! It is known that medical experts have said: Among the organs within the human body are those composed of the vital essence, which are as follows: the brain, two eyes, two ears, the tongue, the lungs, the heart, the diaphragm [44], the chest, the stomach, the intestines, the liver, the gallbladder, the spleen, the kidneys, the bladder, the testicles, and in women, the uterus and breasts. The preservation of all these is obligatory and necessary.
The brain is a soft, convoluted substance of white color. It consists of the marrow of the arteries, and veins, and the membrane (gishā) that originates from the brain’s mother (umm al-dimag) [45], and the membrane adhering to the gishā and the cranial bone [47]. The shape of the brain is like a triangle. Its base is on the front side of the head, and its two sides and corner are at the back of the head. The senses and movements of the body reach perfection through the brain; for the sensory organs of the body obtain their sensations through soft nerves, and the movements of the limbs through firm nerves; their wisdoms have been explained previously.
Each eye consists of seven layers and three humors. It is known as having a total of ten layers. The first layer is the multehimah [48], which is the layer that engages with the air. The second layer is the karina [49], which follows after the multehimah. It is colorless, being colored by the color of the layer beneath it. The third layer is the ‘ainiyyah, which is either black (shahla), or greenish-yellow (saffara), or sky blue (zurka). The layer beneath the multehimah is colorless and is colored by the color of the layer beneath it. Following the ‘ainiyyah layer is a white moisture (rutuba) that is pure like egg white. Next comes the ankabutiya, resembling a spider’s web. After that is the rutuba-i cildiyya, which is transparent and pure like snow. Then there is the rutuba-i zuccāciyya, resembling melted glass. The fifth layer is the shabakiya (retina), which follows after the rutuba-i zuccāciyya. The sixth layer is the mashimiyyah, similar to it. The seventh layer is the sulbiyya, which is the most firm and adheres to the eye socket. The benefits and functions of these layers are very lengthy, so we pass over them without explanation. Each ear consists of flesh, cartilage, and delicate nerves. Their benefits and functions are to hear sounds. The tongue consists of flesh, arteries, veins, delicate nerves, and a membrane adhering to the esophageal lining. Its benefit and function is to taste food, change morsels, speak, and assist in swallowing. The lung (riyah) consists of flesh of a red rose color, cartilages of the windpipe, and arteries originating from the heart. The riya, which is the lung, has no sensation within itself; however, its membrane has a little sensation. Its benefit and function is to cool the heat that arises in the heart.
The heart is a conical body shaped like an acorn, with its base located in the middle of the chest and its head on the left side. Its color is pomegranate red. The heart consists of fibrous flesh and gishā-i sulb. The heart is the center of heat for the body. It has two cavities (chambers), the right chamber being filled with a little soul and much blood. It has channels through which food goes from the heart to the lungs, and clean air comes from the lungs to the heart. Its left chamber is filled with a little blood and much soul. Furthermore, the heart is the origin of the arteries. The diaphragm (hijab-i sadr) consists of firm flesh, delicate, and movable nerves. Its benefit and function is to draw and expand the heart.
The stomach is a circular organ consisting of flesh, nerves, and arteries. It is divided into three parts: the first part is the esophagus, the second part is the mouth of the stomach, and the third part is the bottom of the stomach. The esophagus comes from the end of the mouth and ends at the boundary of the sternum. The mouth of the stomach is at the mentioned boundary, being devoid of flesh, that is, it is fleshless. The bottom of the stomach is created with flesh. Its location is above the navel. The benefit and function of the stomach is to digest food. The intestines are layered in shape, consisting of delicate nerves, fat, veins, and arteries. There are seven of them: the first is called “bavvam” [50], the second is the “twelve-finger intestine,” the third is the “sa’im” (detainer), the fourth is the “dekkak,” the fifth is the “A’ver” (blind gut), the sixth is the “colon,” and the seventh is the “mustakim” (straight intestine). The straight intestine adheres to the anus. Their benefits and functions are to remove waste products and excesses from the body.
The liver (kebed) consists of veins, arteries, and a membrane covering it. It has no sensation within itself but its membrane is very sensitive. Its color resembles frozen blood. The kebed, which is the liver, is the origin of the blood vessels. The location of the liver is on the right side; its outer surface adheres to the last rib, its belly is level with the stomach, its upper part adheres to the membrane separating the chest from the belly, and its lower part reaches the groin. Its benefit and function is to produce nourishment for the organs. The gallbladder (marara) is attached to the liver, being a sac that stores bile. Its benefit and function is to draw and take this bile from the liver. The spleen (tikhal) consists of flesh and vessels. Its color resembles the color of the liver. Although it has no sensation within itself, its membrane is sensitive. Its location is on the left side, between the posterior ribs and the stomach. It is like a vessel that collects black bile (sevdā) from the gallbladder. Its benefit and function is to draw this bile to itself from the liver.
The kidneys (kilyetan), both of them are made up of firm flesh with little redness and much fat, and arteries. The kilya, which is the kidney,
Here is the English translation of the provided text, aiming for faithfulness and preservation of meaning within a classical/Sufi context:
The place of this [organ] is the lower part of the back. Its benefit and function is to receive urine (the *bevl*) from the liver mass and convey it to the bladder. The bladder is a body composed of layers, with nerves layered upon nerves, and arteries. Its location is between the anus and the groin. Its benefit and function is to collect and expel urine.
Therefore, it has been deemed most important and necessary to improve and beautify this structure in various forms of development, to adorn its interior and exterior with every kind of perfection and maturity.
From the knowledge and experience of these arts, hundreds of lessons are drawn. We glorify God, the Wise, the Shaper, the Creator, who has created humankind in the most beautiful form, far removed from all imperfection. The glory of God is supreme among creators.