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This article explores the textual connections between two narratives: Ibn ufayl's (581/1185–6) Risalat ayy ibn Yaqan and a brief history of religions present in two works – the General Estoria and the Stenario – produced in the Castilian court of king Alfonso X (1221–1284). Both literary narratives deal with the intersection of philosophy and metaphysics. First, Alfonso X's cultural renaissance is contextualized. Under Arabic influence, Alfonso's collaborators created a cultural synthesis that was denounced by his son Sancho in the 1290s. Second, we compare Ibn ufayl's and Alfonso X's narratives. Ibn ufayl's model was probably adapted to justify a cultural programme that blended Christianity and Pagan inheritance. Unfortunately, there is no physical evidence to prove that Alfonso's circle was familiar with Ibn ufayl's work. Nevertheless, the analysis of a common genre – following A.W. Hughes's theory – allows us to contend that Alfonso X reproduced this type of text within a Christian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on Islamic medieval philosophical text in the Eastern lands of Islam and in the Ottoman Empire as highlighted in an encyclopaedic work on philosophy and the sciences consisting of five epistles. Popularity of the encyclopaedic work during the 9th and 15th centuries; Overview of the teachings of well-known Ottoman philosophers; Ways to examine the quality of the manuscripts used.

It was most natural and reasonable that the Holy Quran has been descended Arabic for the Messenger was being Arab. The Message should be in his own tongue, that he might explain it in every detail, with the greatest power and eloquence. Even though it was to be for the whole world, its initial exposition was thus to be in Arabic. Now when the Qur'an is being sent down in their own tongue so that they may understand it, they raise the objection: why has it been sent down to an Arab in Arabic? But if it had been sent down in foreign tongue, these very people would have said, ‘How strange! An Arab Messenger has been sent to the Arabs, but the Revelations being sent to him are in a tongue which is neither understood by him nor by his people.’ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the author's discussion of Orientalism in the study of Islamic philosophy. He discusses the struggle between revelation and reason which dominated the philosophy in Islam. He classifies the work of Arab-Islamic writers on Islamic philosophy as Orientalist. He also outlines genres of Orientalist interpretation on the philosophy in Islam.

In this article, as a rhetorical term, îjâz and its components will be examined. In the course of the article, examples from the Qur'anic verses, prophetic traditions and Arabic poetry will be presented and views of some of the well known scholars of the field on îjâz will be studied. Relevant examples from Turkish language will also be given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the works of Islamic philosopher Shams al-Din Muhammad b. Mahmud al-Suhrawardi'al-Ishraqi. The author, based on his assessment of al-Shahrazuri al-Ishraqi's philosophical and historical treatises on previous studies by both H. Corbin and H. Ziai, believes that the neo-Pythagorean work "Kitab al-Rumuz" was drafted at an early stage of the philosopher's writing career. "Kitab al-Rumuz," the author adds, is of ishraqi inspiration because of his physical nearness to condemnation and death another Islamic philosopher, al-Suhrawardi, in Aleppo.

Examines varying interpretations of the proof of God given by the Shaykh al-Ra'is particularly Abu Ali Ibn Sina's ontological argument for the existence of God. Significance for Islamic intellectual theory; Transition of the pure idea of God to the affirmation of His existence; Dichotomy of existence in ontological reasoning; Role of the necessity of existence in cosmological reasoning; Concept of the Necessary Existent.

In Shi'a teachings, there is a principle of equitable governing and guidance through the implementation of the divine will of the Imam. While much religious tradition has rejected the idea that Iranian monarchs were the embodiment of the divine nature and that they were righteous rulers, there is little doubt that the Shi'a ideas arose from imitating ancient Iranian religious traditions. This has been the basis of the popularity of Shi'a doctrines within the Iranian society. Justice is one of the beliefs of Shi'a religious and political thought that has been a significant addition to the five major pillars of Islam. It has also been one of the primary issues of ancient Iranian political thought that was imported into the political ideology of Islam in the Muslim era. The author discusses some points regarding this issue in Shi'a religious philosophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the notions of a man, according to Islamic mystical anthropology. Topics discussed include the Islamic tradition; the human existence; the Sufism; and the words of the Koran. In addition, reference is made to pre-Islamic areas of thought, such as the Gnosticism, Zoroastrism, Manicheism, and Christianity.

The article discusses unity and alienation and the concepts of God and man in Islam. According to the author, the eschatological perspective of Islam has five components. These are the world is meaningful, the world has an end, the world shall rise again, the world shall be judged, and the world shall be at peace with God. The author notes that the Islamic faith is a unity of the revelatory, the prophetic, and the eschatological perspectives.

A list of books of interest in holy land studies is presented, including "The Quran and the Secular Mind: A Philosophy of Islam," by Shabbir Akhtar, "Israel and the Clash of Civilisations: Iraq, Iran and the Plan to Remake the Middle East," by Jonathan Cook and "Muslim Women in Law and Society," by Ronak Husni and Daniel L. Newman.

Highlights the achievements of Moses Maimonides in Judaism in commemoration of his 800th death anniversary. Background in the field of medicine; Impact of his book "Guide of the Perplexed" on Judaism; Association of Maimonides with Islamic philosophy.