Idiopathic Ibn Sina, popularly known in the west as Avicenna;(980-1037 A.D.) was one of the foremost physicians and Islamic philosophers of his time. His chief medical work, Al-Qanun fi'l-tibb (The Canon of Medicine), is considered to be the most comprehensive medical encyclopedia ever written by an Arab physician. The book served as the final authority on medical matters in Europe for several centuries. It described some of the most illuminating medical thoughts that are relevant to modern medicine. In this article, we pay tribute to this great medieval Arab physician by providing a brief overview of his life and works, with special reference to his contribution to the advancement of medical science.