On November 8th, 2018, Professor Daniels conducted a lecture entitled “Ibn Taymiyyah Against the Greek Logicians” on the work of the same title. Ibn Taymiyyah was one of the most controversial and outspoken Muslim theologians who was quite unpopular with the other scholars of his time. In his work, he criticizes the ideas of the Greek thinkers and argues that metaphysics and logic are connected. What led this man to become so radical in his thoughts?

Ibn Taymiyyah was born in Mesopotamia in 1263 but only lived there for a short time. As a result of the Mongol invasions, Taymiyyah’s family fled the country and moved to Damascus. He grew up there, learning about different Muslim scriptures, ideas, and traditions as well as about Sufi theology. He was well versed in all 4 schools of Sunni jurisprudence, and even became an expert in ten other fields, including mathematics. He also gained some of his knowledge from sermons that his father would deliver in the Umayyad mosques.

Taymiyyah frequently ran into trouble with authorities, being prosecuted six times throughout his life. For example, he wrote a book in which he criticized individuals who visited the tombs of prophets and saints, saying that those who did commit bidah, or innovation. Critics discovered the book years after it was released and imprisoned him and his student, Ibn Qayyim, for their beliefs (Daniels).

He frequently ran into trouble with authorities, being prosecuted six times throughout his life. For example, he wrote a book in which he criticized individuals who visited the tombs of prophets and saints, saying that those who did commit bidah, or innovation. Critics discovered the book years after it was released and imprisoned him and his student, Ibn Qayyim, for their beliefs (Daniels).

When the Mongols eventually attacked Damascus from 1299-1303, Taymiyyah called for jihad against the rulers and their religion. He believed that their way of worship should not be validated and that they were not true Muslims.  He even led a resistance against the Mongols to demand that they release the prisoners that they had taken captive.

His interactions with the Mongols were likely the events that had the biggest impact on his works. He emphasized the importance of the Quran and the Sunnah, as he believed those were really the only two works in the Islamic faith that had authority. He had a very strict view of what the Muslim faith entailed and worked throughout his life to restore the beliefs of the religion. Anything that came after the first three generations, which was made up of Muhammad and his followers, was considered bidah and was not to be followed as it was forbidden.

Ibn Taymiyyah has had quite an influence on the world today as well. He has become an inspirational figure for political Islam, which is good in some ways, but extremists also use his works to justify their violence. His work is often part of the foundation for those looking to purify the Western world.

Works Cited

Daniels, Timothy. “Ibn Taymiyyah Against the Greek Logicians” Hofstra University Honors College, 8 Nov 2018, Hofstra University, Long Island, NY. Lecture.

“Ibn Taymiyyah.” New World Encyclopedia, New World Encyclopedia, 25 Jan. 2018, http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Ibn_Taymiyyah&oldid=1009124.