The Life of Yahya Ibn ‘Adi: A Famous Christian Philosopher of Baghdad

Mohd Nasir Omar

doi:10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s5p308

Abstract

Among Christian translators who especially distinguished themselves in the 10th/11th century Baghdad were Yahya Ibn ‘Adi (d.974), Ibn Zur‘ah (d.1008), Ibn al-Khammar (d.1017) and Abu ‘Ali al-Samh (d.1027). Some of these Christians were no longer relying on the Caliphs or other patrons of learning, but often found their own means of living which in turn prolonged their own academic interest. Consequently, some of them were no mere translators any more, but genuine scholars. The chief architect among them was Yahya Ibn ‘Adi. He was not only the leader of his group but was also dubbed as the best Christian translator, logician and theologian of his times. This is justified, in addition, by his ample productivity in those fields of enquiry. A considerable number of such works have evidently been used by contemporary and later writers, and have also reached us today. Hence we consider that it is in these aspects that his distinctive contributions to scholarship lie, and therefore he deserves more serious study. Thus, this qualitative study which uses content analysis method seeks to introduce Yahya Ibn ‘Adi in terms of his history, life, career, education and writings. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s5p308

Highlights

Among Christian translators who especially distinguished themselves in the 10th/11th century Baghdad were Yahya Ibn ‘Adi (d.974), Ibn Zur‘ah (d.1008), Ibn al-Khammar (d.1017) and Abu ‘Ali al-Samh (d.1027)
The contemporary Muslim historian, al-Mas‘udi (1893) for example, related about a debate he had with the Syrian philosopher and historian, Abu Zakariyya’ Dinha’ at the Green Church, Takrit in 313 A.H./925 A.D.; and on another occasion al-Mas‘udi likewise affirmed that he had seen a voluminous work on ancient philosophy
Al-Bayhaqi (1935), states that Yahya was the best of al-Farabi’s pupils, who summarises the literary works of his master and possesses a compendium of them. This is confirmed by al-Mas‘udi (1893), one of Yahya’s associated friends, who reports that he is aware of no one who relies on al-Farabi's philosophy except one man in Baghdad known as Abu Zakariyya’ Ibn ‘Adi

Summary

Yahya’s Early Life and Education

Yahya’s full name as given by his biographers, contemporaries and attested by his own testimony is Abu Zakariyya’ Yahya Ibn ‘Adi Ibn Hamid Ibn Zakariyya’ al-Takriti al-Mantiqi (See al-Sijistani 1974; al-Tawhidi 1929; Ibn al-Nadim 1872; and al-Qifti 1903). The contemporary Muslim historian, al-Mas‘udi (1893) for example, related about a debate he had with the Syrian philosopher and historian, Abu Zakariyya’ Dinha’ at the Green Church, Takrit in 313 A.H./925 A.D.; and on another occasion al-Mas‘udi likewise affirmed that he had seen a voluminous work on ancient philosophy These hints show that the birth place of Yahya was among the oldest philosophical centres though very much inferior in comparison to Baghdad. Al-Bayhaqi (1935), states that Yahya was the best (afdal) of al-Farabi’s pupils, who summarises the literary works of his master and possesses a compendium of them This is confirmed by al-Mas‘udi (1893), one of Yahya’s associated friends, who reports that he is aware of no one who relies on al-Farabi's philosophy except one man in Baghdad known as Abu Zakariyya’ Ibn ‘Adi. Further information supplied by al-Mas‘udi (1893) that the basis of Yahya’s thought was that of his study of the system (tariqa) of Muhammad Ibn Zakariyya’ al-Razi Most members of the group like al-Sijistani, Ibn Zur‘a, Ibn al-Khammar and so forth, studied logic with Yahya, but still acquired additional specialised knowledge from among themselves and from the various experts during their period

His Career

His Literary Works

Conclusion