Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities has just launched Muslim Philosophers, a video series taking viewers through the rich world of Islamic philosophy.
Presented by the Abu Dhabi university's director of philosophical studies, professor Ebrahim Bourshashen, the online series will cover a different strand of Islamic philosophical thought every month.
In the the inaugural episode, What is Islamic Philosophy?, Bourshashen outlines how Islamic philosophy has attempted to address philosophical problems inherited from the Greek tradition. He explores how Islamic thinkers tackled issues of prophecy, freedom, divine providence and the relationship between a divine being and creation, among other topics.
“These are issues related to religions that the Greeks did not address. Islamic philosophy focuses on these problems and the conditions that gave rise to them," Bourshashen says.
"We also talked about the goals and objectives of Islamic philosophical tradition and how Islam has brought it together as a way of thinking, adopting principles from various civilisations and different teachings."
The episode explores how the growth of Islamic civilisation spread a new branch of philosophy, based on the teachings of the Holy Quran, with Arabic as its language, across the world. These ideas are shown to have been enriched through a cultural exchange and dialogue between other ancient civilisations, especially the Greeks.
Meanwhile, the second episode details the life of ninth century thinker Abu Yusuf Yaqub ibn Ishaq Al Kindi — often hailed the "father" of Islamic philosophy. The episode outlined the polymath's pioneering influence on the development of Islamic philosophy.
Bourshashen says Al Kindi was a theologian first and a philosopher second; a pioneer who paved the way for the emergence of a new tradition.
“Talking about Al Kindi is a great opportunity to discuss the reception of society at that time of Islamic philosophical thought, and since philosophy was embodied in both Plato and Aristotle, the episode discussed Al Kindi's link to Greek philosophical practice as well as it its leading proponents."
The third episode of Muslim Philosopher covers the life of Abu Nasr Al Farabi, who built on Alexandrian philosophy from the fifth and sixth centuries. A follower of Plato and Aristotle, Al Farabi took Greek philosophy in new directions.
“His goal was not to translate the intellectual material and present it to society as it is," Bourshashen says. "Rather, he wanted to highlight his being a part of the Muslim community, so he established a philosophical tradition that expressed his spiritual and civic spirit and philosophy."
The subject of the fourth episode is Abu Bakr Ibn Bajja, and his contribution to philosophy, mathematics, logic and nature. Considered a pioneer of Islamic philosophy in the Maghreb, Ibn Bajja was also widely regarded for his advancements in medicine, poetry and music.
Aside from his perspectives on Aristotle's treatises in natural science, and the medical writings of Hippocrates and Galen, Ibn Bajja offered notable commentaries on Al Farabi's work. Bourshashen says Ibn Bajja's book on music is among the finest in the field, highlighting the intricate relationship between music and mathematics.
The Muslim Philosophers project follows other popular digital series, such as Scholars Summers and The Values of Islam.
Coming episodes will focus on the lives and works of Ibn Rushd, Ibn Sina, Ibn Tufail and Abu Hamid Al Ghazali.
Muslim Philosophers is available to watch on the Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities YouTube account.
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Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Secret Nation: The Hidden Armenians of Turkey
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What to watch out for:
Algae, waste coffee grounds and orange peels will be used in the pavilion's walls and gangways
The hulls of three ships will be used for the roof
The hulls will painted to make the largest Italian tricolour in the country’s history
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The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
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The biog
Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
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Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Results:
5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1.400m | Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Saab, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
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Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
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Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
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Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
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5 Rick Zabel (GER) Israel Start-Up Nation
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4 Nikolai Cherkasov (RUS) Gazprom-Rusvelo 00:00:17
5 Alexey Lutsensko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 00:00:19
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Company Profile
Company name: Big Farm Brothers
Started: September 2020
Founders: Vishal Mahajan and Navneet Kaur
Based: Dubai Investment Park 1
Industry: food and agriculture
Initial investment: $205,000
Current staff: eight to 10
Future plan: to expand to other GCC markets
