Character Catalog

A monumental work covering almost the entire Aristotelian corpus. These commentaries earned Averroes the title of 'the Commentator' in medieval Europe and profoundly influenced Latin scholasticism.

A foundational treatise demonstrating that philosophy and Islamic religion are not contradictory. Averroes defends the right — and even the religious duty — to practice philosophy.

A point-by-point refutation of Al-Ghazali's The Incoherence of the Philosophers. Averroes defends natural causality and philosophical rationality against the attacks of theologians.

A medical encyclopedia in seven books covering anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, and hygiene. Translated into Latin, it was used as a textbook in European universities.

A comparative Islamic law treatise presenting the divergences between different legal schools. A work still studied today in Islamic law faculties.

A rational theology treatise in which Averroes examines the proofs for the existence of God and critiques the methods of Ash'arite and Mu'tazilite theologians.

It is therefore evident, from what we have said, that the study of the books of the Ancients is obligatory under Religious Law, since their aim and purpose in their books is precisely the same purpose that the Law urges us to pursue.

The doctrine of Aristotle is the supreme truth, because his intellect was the limit of human intellect. This is why it has been said of him that he was created and given by divine providence to show the supreme degree of human perfection.

To say that the philosophers are incoherent because they affirm natural causality is to deny the very order that God established in his creation. For knowledge of God comes through knowledge of his creatures.

Medicine is not a conjectural art but a science founded on certain principles. The physician must know the general causes of diseases before treating particular cases.

Averroes' birthplace and intellectual capital of Al-Andalus. He served there as chief qadi and spent most of his life surrounded by his libraries.

Capital of the Almohad empire where Averroes met the caliph and where he died in 1198. It was in this city that he received the commission to comment on Aristotle.

Religious and intellectual center of Córdoba where Averroes taught and debated. This exceptional monument symbolizes the cultural influence of Al-Andalus.

Small town near Córdoba where Averroes was exiled in 1195 following his disgrace. He lived there in isolation for approximately two years.

Major city of Al-Andalus where Averroes stayed on several occasions. He also served there as qadi before being appointed to Córdoba.

Averroes worked from Arabic translations of Aristotle's works, which he commented on line by line. These manuscripts were the heart of his daily intellectual activity.

The calamus, a reed sharpened to a point, was the writing instrument of the Arab-Muslim world. Averroes, a prolific author, is said to have written more than 20,000 pages over the course of his life.

A common scientific instrument among Andalusian scholars, used for astronomy and timekeeping. Averroes had an interest in astronomy and criticized the Ptolemaic model.

As a physician, Averroes studied and commented on the works of Galen, the great doctor of Greek antiquity. His Colliget is part of this Greco-Arabic medical tradition.

As chief qadi of Córdoba, Averroes used the jurisprudence texts of the Maliki school to render his judgments. He himself wrote a treatise on comparative Islamic law.

Andalusian scholars often worked at night by the light of chiseled copper oil lamps. Averroes was known for his long nights of study and writing.