Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik Ibn Tufayl

Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik Ibn Tufayl (c. 1105 – 1185) was an Andalusian polymath: a writer, novelist, Islamic philosopher, Islamic theologian, physician, and court official. He served as a secretary and physician for the Almohad caliphate. He is most famous for his philosophical novel 'Hayy ibn Yaqdhan' (Alive, Son of Awake), which is considered one of the first philosophical novels and an important work of early Islamic philosophy. The novel tells the story of a self-taught man who lives on a deserted island and explores themes of isolation, self-discovery, and the relationship between reason and revelation.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. The Improvement Of Human Reason (Exhibited In The Life Of Hai Ebn Yokdhan)

    The book tells the story of Hai Ebn Yokdhan, a self-taught man who grows up on a deserted island, isolated from human society. Through his observations of nature and innate curiosity, he embarks on a journey of intellectual and spiritual discovery. Without guidance from others, he uses reason and empirical evidence to unlock the mysteries of the natural world, the human soul, and the divine. His quest leads him to profound insights about the nature of existence, the pursuit of truth, and the path to enlightenment, demonstrating the power of human reason to transcend the need for external instruction in the quest for knowledge and understanding.

    The 4622nd Greatest Book of All Time