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Al-FarabiPhilosopher, astronomer, mathematician, physician of the medieval East.
Country:
 Kazakhstan |
Content:
Biography of Al-Farabi
Al-Farabi, also known as Abu Nasr Muhammad Ibn Muhammad Ibn Tarkhan Ibn Uzlag Al-Farabi At-Turki, was a renowned scientist, philosopher, astronomer, mathematician, and physician of medieval East. He was born in the city of Farab on the Syr Darya River, where it meets the Aris River, in 870 AD. Al-Farabi came from a noble Turkic military family, as indicated by the term "Tarkhan." The Syr Darya Basin played a significant role in the history of the region, much like the Nile for Egypt or the Tigris and Euphrates for Mesopotamia. Later, Farab came to be known as Otrar, and its ruins are located in the Otrar District of South Kazakhstan Region. Otrar is mentioned in Chinese sources and by Ptolemy. In the 9th and 10th centuries, according to contemporary descriptions, it was a major center and an important border and junction point for international trade routes, connecting the nomadic steppe and settled populations. The famous "Otrar Catastrophe" occurred in 1218 when the city was destroyed by the Mongols. It is also where Timur died in February 1405. However, on the map of cultural development, Otrar is recognized as the homeland of a whole constellation of outstanding scholars, poets, and thinkers, among whom Al-Farabi stands out as a figure of global significance.
Scientific and Philosophical Contributions
Al-Farabi had a wide range of interests, including astronomy, logic, music theory, mathematics, sociology, ethics, medicine, psychology, philosophy, and law. It seems that in his youth, Al-Farabi left his hometown and visited almost all the cities associated with Islam and the Arab caliphate, including Bukhara, Merv, Khorasan, Alexandria, Cairo, Damascus, and Baghdad. He spent many years in Baghdad, which was the political and cultural center of the Arab caliphate. Here, he expanded his knowledge by studying the works of scholars from the "House of Wisdom," translators of Greek authors, and engaging with prominent scientists. Over time, Al-Farabi emerged as a leading figure among them, thanks to his moral integrity and intellectual strength. It was in Baghdad that he was given the title "Muallim Assana" - the Second Teacher. The title "second" implied the existence of a "first," which referred to Aristotle.
Al-Farabi made significant contributions to the field of logic, which he developed further based on the work of his great Greek predecessor. The uniqueness and boldness of his philosophical views were somewhat contradictory to the prevailing social opinion, which could not fully comprehend Greek philosophy and science. His direct attacks on certain superstitions of the time led many to suspect him of heresy and apostasy from religion. In reality, he displayed exceptional independence in his thinking and consistently defended his beliefs. Envy and animosity forced him to leave Baghdad. He spent his final years in Aleppo and Damascus, under the patronage of Saif ad-Dawla Hamdani, but preferred to live away from the courtly turmoil, content with a modest payment of four dirhams. He died in Damascus, at the age of 80, and was buried near the so-called Small Gate.
Synthesis of Cultures
Al-Farabi was truly a global figure who fused and synthesized the valuable achievements of Arab, Persian, Greek, Indian, and his own Turkic cultures in his work. The echoes of his Turkic heritage are particularly evident in his famous "Kitab al-Musiqa al-Kabir" ("The Great Book of Music"). However, he was more than just a humanist scholar who bridged different cultural traditions; he possessed the genius of a scientific reformer, striving to systematize the knowledge of his time, as reflected in his treatise "The Classification of Sciences." Al-Farabi also thought as an educational reformer, aiming to bring knowledge to the masses and combine enlightenment with the development of humaneness. His requirements for those who seek wisdom are equally high. According to Al-Farabi, those who aspire to the sources of scientific wisdom must be of good character, well-educated, and must study the Quran and the sciences of the Law first. They must possess prudence, temperance, conscientiousness, truthfulness, and reject vices such as debauchery, deceit, and treachery. They should have a free mind, not be driven by material interests, and strive for excellence in their field of study, without violating the foundations of the law or transgressing any of the rules of the Sunnah and Sharia. Al-Farabi also emphasized the importance of political philosophy and ethics, as they enable the achievement of true happiness and distinguish it from false happiness. He contrasted a virtuous city with an ignorant and misguided city, and a truly virtuous person with one who lives by low values and indulges in lies, slander, and arrogance.
Al-Farabi's writings are scattered across numerous libraries worldwide, and a large group of scholars are dedicated to studying his legacy. Russian and Kazakh scholars have made significant contributions to Farabian studies, publishing his works in Russian and Kazakh and exploring various aspects of his truly encyclopedic heritage. In 1975, the 1100th anniversary of Abu Nasr's birth was celebrated internationally in Moscow, Almaty, and Baghdad. Institutions such as the pedagogical institute in Chimkent, the main university of the Republic, and one of the avenues in Almaty bear the name of Al-Farabi. In 1991, the first Farabian readings took place in Almaty and Chimkent, initiated by Professor T.S. Sadykov, the rector of Abai Kazakh State University, as part of the Kazakh-American cultural practicum, discussing the issues of cultural interaction related to Al-Farabi's heritage. On December 9-10, 1994, the International Scientific and Theoretical Conference "Al-Farabi in the Development of Culture and Science of the Eastern Peoples" was held at Kazakh National University named after Al-Farabi.
