Great Muslim Scientists II:Ibn Rushd (1128 - 1198 A.D.)

Returning to our topic today I am introducing a Muslim scholar who is recognized as one of the greatest thinkers and scientist of the 12th century. His name is Ibne Rushd better known as _ Averroes in west. According to historian Philip Hitti, Ibn Rushd influnced Western thought from the 12th to 16th centuries nd his Book were taught in the western world as text books till 16th century - meaning even three centuries after his times. Just check out your test book in school or visit any book store and see which is the oldest book available - I bet other than the religious texts, you will not find a book even hundred years old that is still taught as txt book or is on the shelves of any book store. Ibn Rushd rightly stands out as a towering figure in the history of Islamic thought, as well as that of European philosphy and theology. In the Islamic world, he played a decisive rolein the defense of Greek philosophy against the onslaught of the Ash'arite theologians ( Mutakallimum) led by al- Ghazali and the rehabilitation of Aristotle. You will be surprised to know, he as alearned commentator on Aristotle's work contributed greatly to the rediscovery of the Master, after centuries of near - total oblivision in Western Europe. That discovery was instrumental in launching Latin - scholasticism and, in due course, the European Renaissance of the fifteenth century. For Muslim, a common theme throughout his writings is that there is no incompatibility between religion and philosophy when both are properly understood. His contributions to philosposophy took many forms, ranging fromk his detailed commentaries on Aristotle, and especially his defense of philosophy against the attacks of those who condemned it as contrary to Islam. A brief look at his life is also relevant here before delving into his scholarly contributions in more details. His complete name Ibn Ahmad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Rushd and was born in 1128 A.D.. in Cordova, where his father and grandfather had both been judges. His grandfather was well versed in Fiqh (Maliki - School) and was also the Imam of the Jamia Mosque of Cordova. Theyoung Ibn Rushd recived his education in Cordova and lived a quiet life, devoting most of his time to reading and traveling. However his life was full of surprises. Abu Yaqub, the Caliph of Morocco, called him to his capital and appointed him his physician. His son Yaqub al - Mansur retained him for some time but soon Ibn Rushd's views on theology and philosophy drew the Caliph's wrath. All his book, barring strictly scientific ones, were burnt and he was banished to Lucena.However,as a result of intervention of several leading scholar he was forgiven after about four years and recalled to Morocco in 1198 ; but he died toward the end of the same year. Ibn Rushd's remarkable contributions are in the fields of philosophy, logic, medicine, music and jurisprudence. In medicine his well-known book Kitab alkulayat fi al - Tibb was known as 'Colliget'. Ibn Rushd has covered various aspect of medicine, including the diagnoses , cure and prevention of diagnoses. In the field of philosophy, his most important work Tuhafut al - Tuhafut was written in response to al - Ghazali's work Ibn Rushd was criticized by many Muslim scholars for this book, which, nevertheless, had a profound influence on European thought. His views on fate were that man is either in full control of his destiny nor it is fully predeter mined for him. In the field of music, he wrote a commentary on Aristotle's book De Anima which was translated into Latin by Mitchell the Scott. About astronomy he wrote a treatise on the motion of the sphere, Kitab fi-Harakat al-Falak, a summary of which was translated from Arabic into Hebrew by Jacob Anatoli in 1231. This was not all. On jurisprudence, his book Bidayat al-Mujtahid wa-Nihayat-al-Muqtasid is considered the best book on the Maliki School of Fiqh. It is a testimony to this greatness, that Ibn Rushd's writings were translated into various languages, including Latin, English, German and Hebrew and most of his commentaries on philosophy are preserved in the Hebrew translations, or in Latin translation from the Hebrew, and a few in the original Arabic, gnerally in Hebrew sript.