Al-Faaraabi, the philosopher Fatwa No: 92329
- Fatwa Date:14-8-2006
about Al-Farabi Assalamualaikum.May I know all about Al-Farabi. His biography, his contribution to Islam and to his nation, his writing or the book/s that he had published or written,the list of book/s that he had written, he is specialist in what field, his teacher/s, how he start his career and what the obstacle/s that he had faced, his connection with other Islam intelligents, and all about his life journey... Thank you.
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
If you refer to Abu Nasr Mohammad Ibn Mohammad Al-Faaraabi, the well-known Turkish philosopher, then, as far as we know, he did not contribute anything good to his religion or to his nation, rather he was a philosopher who used to utter statements of disbelief.
Ibn Katheer said about him: 'Abu Nasr Al-Faraabi, the Turkish philosopher was the most knowledgeable person about Music and he was very proficient in philosophy. Ibn Seenah learned from Al-Faraabi's books of philosophy. Al-Faraabi used to hold the view that it is only our souls that will be resurrected and not our bodies. Moreover, not all the souls will be resurrected (in his view) but only those who are knowledgeable. His methodology differed from the methodology of the Muslims and that of other philosophers from his predecessors. If he died on this, then may the curse of Allaah be on him. He died in Damascus according to the statement of Ibn Al-Atheer. Ibn Al-'Asaakir did not mention Al-Faraabi in his book entitled ''The Biography'' because the latter was evil and disgraceful, Allaah Knows best.'
When Ibn Al-Qayyim spoke about some philosophers, he said about him: '….The philosophers took knowledge from their second teacher Abu Nasr Al-Faraabi…He was upon the methodology of his predecessors [i.e other philosophers] in disbelieving in Allaah, His Angels, His Books, His Prophets and the Last Day.'
It is said that Al-Faraabi was the first person who invented the zither.
Finally, a Muslim should not be preoccupied searching about the biography and books and learn about the life of such a person.
Allaah Knows best.