Ibn Rushd (Averroes)
Andalusian philosopher, judge and physician (1126 to 1198), born in Cordova; chief physician to the Almohad caliph in Marrakesh; best known for his commentaries on Aristotle.
Ibn Rushd (Averroes) did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
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Their wordsWe maintain that the business of philosophy is nothing other than to look into creation and to ponder over it in order to be guided to the Creator,—in other words, to look into the meaning of existence.
↗A Decisive Discourse on the Delineation of the Relation between Religion and Philosophy (tr. Mohammad Jamil-ur-Rehman, 1921)gutenberg.org 1st of 8 in this piece
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Our reading
Philosophical reasoning is no forbidden innovation just because it did not exist in early Islam
Their wordsOne cannot maintain that this kind of reasoning is an innovation in religion because it did not exist in the early days of Islam. For legal reasoning and its kinds are things which were invented also in later ages, and no one thinks they are innovations.
↗A Decisive Discourse on the Delineation of the Relation between Religion and Philosophy (tr. Mohammad Jamil-ur-Rehman, 1921)gutenberg.org 2nd of 8 in this piece
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Our reading
We should study what the ancients wrote, accept what is true and be warned by what is wrong
Their wordsAll that is required of us is that we should go back to their books and see what they have said in this connection. If all that they say be true, we should accept it and if there be something wrong, we should be warned by it.
↗A Decisive Discourse on the Delineation of the Relation between Religion and Philosophy (tr. Mohammad Jamil-ur-Rehman, 1921)gutenberg.org 3rd of 8 in this piece
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Their wordsThis is similar not only in the sciences but also in the arts. For no one is capable of discovering by himself alone everything which is required.
↗A Decisive Discourse on the Delineation of the Relation between Religion and Philosophy (tr. Mohammad Jamil-ur-Rehman, 1921)gutenberg.org 4th of 8 in this piece
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Their wordsIt is not right that a drug which is medically useful by its nature should be discarded because it may prove harmful by accident.
↗A Decisive Discourse on the Delineation of the Relation between Religion and Philosophy (tr. Mohammad Jamil-ur-Rehman, 1921)gutenberg.org 5th of 8 in this piece
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Their wordsWe say this, because temperaments differ in believing: one will believe through philosophy; while another will believe through dogmatic discourse, just as firmly as the former, as no other method appeals to his nature.
↗A Decisive Discourse on the Delineation of the Relation between Religion and Philosophy (tr. Mohammad Jamil-ur-Rehman, 1921)gutenberg.org 6th of 8 in this piece
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Our reading
Rational investigation does not contradict revealed law, because truth cannot contradict truth
Their wordsAs this Law is true and leads to the consideration of the knowledge of God, we Muslims should believe that rational investigation is not contrary to Law, for truth cannot contradict truth, but verifies it and bears testimony to it.
↗A Decisive Discourse on the Delineation of the Relation between Religion and Philosophy (tr. Mohammad Jamil-ur-Rehman, 1921)gutenberg.org 7th of 8 in this piece
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Our reading
Where scripture seems to oppose a truth proved by philosophy, it admits of interpretation
Their wordsWe hold it to be an established truth that if the Law is apparently opposed to a truth proved by philosophy it admits of an interpretation according to the canons of the Arabic language.
↗A Decisive Discourse on the Delineation of the Relation between Religion and Philosophy (tr. Mohammad Jamil-ur-Rehman, 1921)gutenberg.org 8th of 8 in this piece
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