What the Canon of Medicine taught about training, and how it compares with today's guidelines.
Updated October 2026 · 9 min read
Ibn Sina (known in Europe as Avicenna, 980–1037) was a physician and philosopher born near Bukhara. His Canon of Medicine (القانون في الطب) was the standard medical textbook in the Islamic world and in Europe for several centuries. Its first book sets out the general principles of medicine, including how to preserve health (حفظ الصحة) in people who are not yet ill. Exercise (الرياضة) is one of the central topics there.
An honest note: Ibn Sina explained the body through the humoral theory of his time, which modern medicine no longer uses. We read him for his practical observations, and we check each one against current evidence.
"Indeed, Allah has chosen him over you and increased him abundantly in knowledge and stature."
Qur'an 2:247This verse describes Talut (Saul) when he was made king. It names bodily strength as a blessing next to knowledge, which is a good starting point for any discussion of training in an Islamic framework.
The classical definition, as usually reported from the Canon, is that exercise is a voluntary movement that changes the breathing. In other words, a slow stroll is not exercise by this measure, and neither is movement that does not raise your breathing at all. It has to make you breathe deeper and faster.
That is close to how modern guidelines describe aerobic exercise: activity that raises your heart rate and breathing. A practical test is the talk test. At moderate effort you can talk but not sing. At vigorous effort you can only say a few words at a time.
| Classical view | What modern research says |
|---|---|
| Strengthens the body and makes the organs firmer and more able to work. | Confirmed. Exercise builds muscle, bone density and heart and lung fitness. |
| Warms the body and clears waste through sweat, breath and urine. | The "waste" theory is not how physiology works today. But regular exercise does improve circulation, blood sugar control and blood pressure. |
| Helps digestion and appetite. | Partly confirmed. Activity supports healthy appetite, gut movement and regularity. |
| Prevents illness from building up in the body. | Confirmed in a broad sense. Regular activity lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and depression. |
Modern view: exercising right after a big meal can cause cramps, reflux and nausea, so waiting 1 to 2 hours is sensible, and he was right about that. Training on an empty stomach is fine for light or moderate sessions. For hard or long sessions, many people perform better with a small snack beforehand. If you fast for Ramadan, see our Ramadan workout guide.
One of his most useful ideas is that you don't measure exercise by the clock. You measure it by how the body responds. He described the signs that you have done enough: the skin takes on a healthy flush, the body looks fuller, a light sweat begins and the limbs feel light. He said to stop before exhaustion, and warned that exercise which leaves you heavy and weak does more harm than good.
This is very close to modern advice about perceived exertion (how hard it feels) and recovery. If you are still tired and sore two days later, you did too much. If you are only a little warm and breathing normally, you probably did too little.
He did not give one routine for everyone. The classical physicians matched exercise to age, strength, temperament, health and the season. The young and strong could do vigorous work, while the weak, the old and the unwell needed gentle movement. In general, they advised easing off in the heat of summer and doing more in the cold months.
Modern guidelines say the same in different words: start at your own level, build up gradually, and adjust for age, health and weather. See our article on living by the seasons.
Classical writers list many activities, from gentle to strong. They include walking, running, riding, wrestling, archery, lifting and throwing, and ball games. They also separate exercise that builds strength from exercise that builds speed or endurance. Today we would call these resistance training, sprint work and aerobic training, and a balanced plan includes all three.
The classical routine ended with massage, a bath and rest, and only then a meal. The modern version is a cool-down and some light stretching, a glass of water, and a meal with protein and carbohydrate within a couple of hours. Massage and stretching have only a small effect on soreness in studies, but many people find them pleasant, and they do no harm.
| World Health Organization, adults | |
|---|---|
| Aerobic | 150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity a week, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity, or a mix. |
| Strength | Muscle-strengthening work for all major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week. |
| Sitting | Sit less and break up long periods of sitting with movement. |
| Older adults | The same, with balance and coordination work on 3 or more days a week. |
Sihha Fit builds workouts around your level, equipment and goal, so you can follow the same principle he taught: the right amount for you, adjusted as you get stronger. It is free to try on iPhone and Android.
Classical sources: Ibn Sina, The Canon of Medicine, Book One (preservation of health, including exercise); Hippocratic and Galenic writings on regimen.
Modern research:
This page is for general education. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose or treat any condition. Talk to a qualified doctor about your own health, and do not delay treatment because of something you read here.
Sihha Fit builds workouts and halal meal plans around your goals. Free on iPhone and Android.