Abu Nasr Al-Farabi (872 – 950)

Abu Nasr Muhammad al-Farabi was one of the first Muslim students to take part in the teachings of Plato and Aristotle in the Islamic world. He exerted a powerful influence on modern Islamic philosophers such as Avicenna.

He was a prominent scientist who translated Aristotle and Plato's Greek literature and added much to his work.

He earned the nickname Mallim-e-Sani, which is translated “second king” or “second teacher”.

Early life:

Al-Farabi completed his previous studies in Farab and Bukhara. He later went to Baghdad to pursue higher education, where he studied for a long time. During this time he acquired proficiency in several languages ​​and various branches of knowledge and technology. Farabi has contributed extensively to science, philosophy, psychology, social sciences, medicine, mathematics, and music. His major contributions were to the philosophy, understanding and social sciences and his reputation as an Encyclopedist.

Contributions and Achievements:

As a philosopher, Farabi was the first to distinguish between philosophy and theology. It is difficult to find a philosopher in the Islamic and Christian world from the Middle Ages onwards who was not influenced by his ideas. He believed in a Supreme Being who created the earth with a relative intelligence. He also asserted that the same category of intellectual activity is the only part of the immortal soul, so he set man's greatest goal in developing that intellectual capacity. He paid close attention to political opinion in comparison with any other Islamic philosopher.

Later in his career, Farabi implanted in Plato's fashion the qualities required by the emperor. He said the governor should be inclined to govern with good quality of the traditional character and show the right attitude through this law. At the heart of Al-Farabi's political philosophy is the concept of happiness, where people work together to find satisfaction. He followed the example of the Greeks and a high position of happiness was bestowed on his noble master whose soul was 'as united as the Active Intellect'. Farabi served as a great source of aspirations of the medieval intellectuals and made great contributions to the knowledge of his day, paving the way for the latest philosopher and thinkers of the Islamic world.

Farabian epistemology has Neoplatonic and Aristotelian characteristics. The best source of information on Farabi's knowledge is Kitab ihsa al-ulum. This work well illustrates Farabi's beliefs, both esoteric and foreign. They all apply Aristotelian's main emphasis on the importance of knowledge. Thus al-Farabi's epistemology, derived from what has been described as an encyclopedic and intricate articulation, uses both the Neoplatonic and the Aristotelian word.

Farabi also participated in the writing of Islamic social science books as well as an outstanding music book entitled Kitab al-Musiqa (Book of Music). This book is, in fact, a study of the Persian music doctrine of his day, though in the West it is presented as a book on Arabic music. He invented several musical instruments, in addition to contributing to the knowledge of musical notes. It has been reported that he was able to play his instrument so well to make people laugh or cry at their will. The Farabi Meanings of the Intellect Treaty spoke of the healing of music, in which he discussed the medicinal effects of music on the soul.

Later life:

Farabi traveled to many distant lands throughout his life and gained many experiences. As a result, he made many memorable and acclaimed offerings. Despite many hardships, he worked tirelessly and made his name among the greatest scientists of all time. He died in a bachelor's degree in Damascus in 339 A.H. / 950 AD at the age of 80.