 Founded by Walid ibn 'Abdulmalik, this hospital was meant to serve as a treatment center for both those with chronic illnesses, like leprosy and blindness, as well as the poor or impoverished.This began with ibn 'Abdulmalik gathering lepers and preventing them from spreading the illness by providing them money.This was done to prevent them from begging strangers for money, thereby curtailing the spread of leprosy.