The Philosophy and Theology of Averroes

by Averroes

The Gaekwad Studies
in
Religion and Philosophy: XI.

 

THE
PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY
OF AVERROES

 

Printed by Manibhai Mathurbhai Gupta at the "Arya-
Sudharak" Printing Press, Raopura, Baroda, and
Published by A. G. Widgery, the College, Baroda
1-1-1921

THE
PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY
OF AVERROES

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Tractata translated from the Arabic

 

By

MOHAMMAD JAMIL-UR-REHMAN M. A.

Professor of Islamic History, Hyderabad
Formerly Fellow of the Seminar for the Comparative Study
of Religions, Baroda.

 

BARODA

DEDICATION

to

Dr. AZIMUDDIN AHMAD

Sir,

It was at your feet that I first learned to appreciate historical and literary research, and the following pages constitute the earliest fruits of that literary labour of mine the impetus for which I am proud to have received from you. I crave your indulgence for my taking the liberty of dedicating the same to your revered name, with the hope that it will not fail to attract the same generous sympathy from you as you have always shown to your pupil.

Mohammad Jamil ur Rehman

PREFACE

It was as a Fellow of the Seminar for the Comparative Study of Religions at the College, Baroda, that the present work was begun. The subject was taken up in the first place as a parallel study to that contained in a paper in the Indian Philosophical Review, Volume II, July 1918, pp. 24-32 entitled "Maimonides and the Attainment of Religious Truth." But as I proceeded with my investigation I thought it might be best to let Averroes speak for himself. For this reason I have here translated certain treatises of Averroes, as edited in the Arabic text by D. H. Muller in "Philosophie und Theologie von Averroes." Munich 1859. I am confident that the book will prove an interesting one and will explain itself to the reader without any introduction on my part.

Though owing to my appointment at Hyderabad I resigned my position at Baroda soon after commencing this work I wish here to express my thanks to Professor Alban G. Widgery of Baroda for his constant sympathy with and encouragement for my work in and out of the Seminar. He has also kindly accepted the book for inclusion in the Gaekwad Studies in Religion and Philosophy. I am indebted to him for a complete revision of the manuscript and for the onerous work of seeing the book through the press. I am also indebted to my brother Mutazid Wali ur Rehrnan, B. A. for valuable help in rendering many obscure passages.

Mohammad Jamil ur Rehman

Osrnania University,
Hyderabad.

CONTENTS

I.	A Decisive Discourse on the Delineation of the Relation between Religion and Philosophy.
	I a.	Appendix: On the Problem of Eternal Knowledge which Averroes has mentioned in his Decisive Discourse.
II.	An Exposition of the Methods of Argument concerning the Doctrines of the Faith, and a Determination of Doubts and misleading Innovation brought into the Faith through Interpretations.

 

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