I miss blogging here, I just got busy with studying. Enjoy this piece in divisive times…
Maimonides. It’s hard to finish the sentence. No praise can do justice and no words can encapsulate the magnificence of this brilliant light, eternal fountain of wisdom, and bright star in the skies of our history. He was a physician by profession, a philosopher by nature, and by heart, a teacher and student of Jewish Law. I won’t tire myself and try to write a short bio, that’s what Wikipedia is for. (Obviously, expect some inaccurate information and flawed judgement there, as you shall always.)
Anyway, in his theological defense of rationalism titled “Guide for the Perplexed,” he dedicates over 40 chapters to explain anthropomorphism in the bible, and how they be appropriately related to the Divine. In chapter 7 he addresses the word מקום (place) when referring to God:
Generally, the term מקום (place, space) applied both to a particular spot and to [the concept of] space in general. Subsequently…
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Categories: Islam
Blogging Theology 
How you doing Mozer? You have been away for a while. Hope you’re doing well bro.
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Thanks for asking. Thank the Good God. I’ve been following, sometimes it’s healthy to follow instead of leading 😉 how you doing?
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I know where you’re coming from 🙂 I am good bro.
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I know that Ibn Maimon was a physician. He has been mentioned in book titled Uyūn ul-Anbāʾ fī Ṭabaqāt ul-Aṭibbāʾ for Ibn Abi Usaibia.
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translation?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibn_Abi_Usaibia
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Al-Ra’is Mūsā. Al-Ra’īs Abū `Imrān Mūsā ibn Maimūn al-Qurtubī [a native of Cordoba], a Jew learned in the traditions of the Jews and one of their religious authorities and greatest scholars. In Egypt he was chief of the Jewish community. He was unique in his time in medical theory and practice, mastered many sciences and possessed an excellent knowledge of philosophy. Sultan al-Malik al-Nāsir Salāh al-Dīn put his trust in him and availed himself of his medical services, as did his son, al-Malik al-Afdal `Alī.
It is reported that al-Ra’īs Mūsā embraced Islam when in the Maghrib, learnt the Qur’ān by heart and occupied himself with [p.737] Muslim law. On arriving in Egypt and settling in Fustāt, he returned to his former faith.
Qādī al-Sa`īd ibn Sana` al-Mulk composed the following poem in praise of al-Ra’is Mūsā.
I see that Galen’s medicine is for the body alone,
While the medicine of Abū `Imrān is for both mind and body.
If he were to treat the world with his vast learning,
He would restore it from the disease of ignorance to knowledge.
If the full moon were to seek his medical advice,
Her claim to perfection would be justified.
On the day of her fullness, he would cure her of her spots,
And at the time of her greatest waning, he would restore her from infirmity.
That’s him. [besides for the part where he converted and reverted]
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How did you get the translation?
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There’s a link on the Wikipedia page you shared
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The little internet thingy
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I Just to point that this kind of exaltation by Ibn Sana is not accepted in Islam which occurs often with this genre of poems.
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Why not ?
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Who’s Ibn sana?
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Ah!
Ibn Sana was a great poet. He has many woks (Died 1211-1212).
This kind of poem is always combined with some sort of exaggeration which should not be attributed to a human being such as this verse (If he were to treat the world with his vast learning,
He would restore it from the disease ). In Arabic, فلو أنه طب الزمان بعلمه*** لأبره من داء الجهالة بالعلم
If he were to treat ( the whole world)!?, so often you read for Islamic scholars when they comment on some stunning & beautiful poems said to a Khalif or a Prince, they say, how beautiful if these words have been said for praising Allah. Also, there are some hadiths condemn this kind of poems.
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fair enough. is the title al-rais used commonly for a doctor or is it something special?
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Ra’īs even in modern Arabic means “president.” The Rambam’s philosophy was influenced by the Mu`tazilite Muslims, wasn’t it?
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i think his prime influence in philosophy other than the greeks was ibn sina is he Mu`tazilite ?
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Kinda… mostly his own thing though.
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Anyone who is a head for something would be given this title which is special. Ibn Maimon was a head for his jewish people at that time.
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Get it
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Can I ask,
What’s the position of Ibn Maimon among jews today? his works? Any criticism for his works?
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His authority in Jewish law is almost unparalleled. His work “Mishnah Torah” is the Jewish book with the most commentaries (hundreds, maybe even more than a thousand) and is studied in every study hall where Jews learn Torah. His views on faith etc. are so fundamental that many consider one who doesn’t believe in Maimonides’ principles of faith to be a heretic. His philosophy however is much much lesser studied for traditionally the community has stayed away from Greek thought. I happen to love his philosophy, it’s brilliant and beautiful. There’s obviously a lot of background to all this just tried to summarize it
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Ibn Maimon was influnced mainly by Ibn Rushd.
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If you say so. Guide of the perplexed (don’t know the original Arabic name) is three parts the second is philosophy the first and third are more on Jewish thought. I spend most of my time there. Ibn sina’s name just sounded most familiar…
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‘Rais’ is also an Ottoman title meaning naval captain.
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One of the greatest Jewish Philosphers and thinkers in the history of Judaism (Moses Maimonides) was the friend and personal physician of the great muslim hero Salahudeen al Ayoobi (Saladin).
Something to ponder on and think about…
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