About FARABI (Alpharabius)

Farabi, full name Abu Nasr Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Tarkhan ibn Awzalagh al-Farabi, was a prominent thinker in the medieval Islamic world who lived between 872 and 950. Farabi was a philosopher, political scientist, music theorist, and mathematician who authored works in Arabic and Persian. In the Islamic world, he is also known as "al-Mu'allim al-Thani" (The Second Teacher) due to his profound interest in Aristotle and his significant role in transmitting Aristotle's thoughts to the Islamic world.

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Farabi was born in the year 872 in the city of Farab, located in Central Asia's Turkistan region. Taking the city's name, he became known as "Farabi." He spent a significant part of his life in various regions of the Islamic world, completing his education in different Islamic cities before settling in Baghdad. During this period, he served as a teacher in the court of the Abbasid Caliphate, contributing to the beginning of the Islamic Golden Age

Philosophical Contributions:

  1. Philosophy and Knowledge: Farabi meticulously studied the works of Aristotle and introduced them to the Islamic world. He explored the relationship between knowledge and philosophy, advocating that philosophy could play a crucial role in establishing social order.
  2. Political Philosophy: Farabi's political philosophy emphasized the existence of an ideal state and the significance of a philosopher-king in its governance. According to him, the ideal state is a social order that leads individuals to the highest virtue.
  3. Music: Farabi made significant contributions to music theory by basing it on mathematical principles. According to him, music could contribute to the emotional and moral development of individuals.
  4. Religion and Philosophy: Farabi argued that religion and philosophy could coexist harmoniously. In his view, philosophers and religious scholars should work towards the same goal and complement each other.

Farabi is considered a significant figure in the intellectual history of the Islamic world. His works left a profound impact during his time and influenced the development of Islamic philosophy in subsequent periods. The writings of Farabi played a crucial role in shaping the intellectual landscape of the medieval Islamic world and beyond.