Encyclopedia of Islam

Ibn Rushd, Muhammad

  

337  J

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Aside from his sons, he had few followers until 

the modern period. In the 20th century, Arabic 

publishers in Beirut and Cairo issued print edi-

tions of several of his books on law, theology, and 

medicine. This was a result of renewed interest in 

his thought that came with increased interaction 

with Europe and a movement to reform Islam in 

conformity with modern notions of rationality. A 

revived interest in Ibn Rushd is also reflected in 

the feature film Destiny (al-Masir, 1997), directed 

by the Egyptian filmmaker Youssef Chahine (b. 

1926). The film depicts Ibn Rushd as a respected 

scholar and family man contending with political 

authoritarianism and religious fanaticism, a reality 

faced by many in the world today.