26. Ibn Bajja
(Died in 533H/1138AD)

Andalusian philosopher, astronomer, physician, and mathematician. Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Yahya at-Tujibi as-Saraqusti known as Ibn Bajja (according to ibn Khalkan, Bajja is a word of a European origin, meaning silver). He was also known as ibn-Say'igh or Avempace in the West. Little is known about his life. He is known to have been born in Saragossa, Andalusia towards the end of the 15th century(155).

He studied most of the flourishing sciences of his time such as medicine, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and music. He was also a politician. He was appointed vizier by Abu Bakr Ibrahim, gender of Ali ibn Yussef al-Murabiti, the then governor of Grenada, then of Saragossa(156).

When Alfonso seized power in Saragossa, Ibn Bajja moved to Seville, then to Grenade. Later on, he went to Fez and worked as physician in the Al-Muravid court. His rivals accused him of atheism and ignorance. Ibn Bajja was poisoned and died in 1138(1573).

Scientific Contributions

Although Ibn Bajja was famous mainly as a philosopher, he also excelled in natural science, mathematics, astronomy and music(158).

According to Hafid Kadri Tukan, Ibn Bajja made valuable commentaries on the astronomic system developed by Ptolemy. He criticized this system and underlined its inaccuracies. This fact was supported by Sarton, who thinks that al-Batrouji was influenced by Ibn Bajja’s ideas in astronomy. In his "Al Adouia al Mufrada", Ibn al-Baitar cites arguments made by Ibn Bajja and evidences from his treatise in medicine(159).

Major Works

Ibn Bajja wrote more than 30 books in logic, philosophy, mathematics, natural science, botany and medicines, but most of these works were lost. Only the Latin and Hebrew translations of some treatises and papers survived.

Among his scientific illustrations and commentaries(160) :

-"Taâlik fi al-Handassa wa Ilm Al-Haiâa";

- Explanation of Aristotle’s "Natural Hearing";

- Commentary of parts of Aristotle’s "Universe and Corruption";

- Commentary of parts of Galileo’s "Non-compound Medicines";

- A synthesis of Al-Razi’s "Al Hawi";

- "Attjribatain ala Adwuiate ibn Wafid".

In addition to these scientific references, Ibn Bajja wrote a number of philosophical illustrations and works, the most famous of which :

-"Rissalat al Wadaâ";

-"Rissalat Tadbir al Moutawahid".

Some of Ibn Bajja’s works still exist in a several world libraries such as Oxford, El Escorial  and Berlin.