Ibn Rushd (Averroes)

Abu al-Walid Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Rushd al-Qurtubi al-Maliki, known in the West as Averroes, was the grandson of Ibn Rushd al-Jadd (the leading Maliki jurist of Cordoba). He was born in Cordoba, Al-Andalus, and was both a practicing Maliki jurist and the most important Islamic philosopher, serving as the chief commentator on Aristotle's works. His commentaries on Aristotle were translated into Latin and profoundly influenced European medieval scholasticism, including Thomas Aquinas. He also wrote Bidayat al-Mujtahid (a comparative Maliki fiqh work). He served as the court physician of the Almohad Caliph. He died in Marrakesh in 595 AH. Note: Some of his philosophical positions were criticized by Islamic scholars for potential conflict with orthodox theology.