MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, MAKASSAR — Ibn Sina, known in the West as Avicenna, was one of the most eminent Muslim scholars and philosophers. According to the Chairperson of Muhammadiyah Saad Ibrahim, Ibn Sina had a critical perspective on the philosophy of Aristotle, particularly regarding the correlation between the physical and the psychological aspects.
“Despite following Aristotle, Ibn Sina maintained a critical stance towards Greek philosophy,” said Saad during a public lecture on the integration of Islamic medicine and health on Friday, August 30.
Aristotle, known for his materialistic worldview, asserted that the physical realm is all that exists. He argued that upon the demise of the body, the soul also ceases to exist, implying an inseparable connection between the two.
However, Ibn Sina, through monumental works such as “Al-Qanun fi al-Thibb” (The Canon of Medicine) and “Kitab al-Shifa” (The Book of Healing), presented a contrasting perspective. He posited that the soul is an independent entity that plays a pivotal role in bodily health. Ibn Sina believed that a healthy soul equates to a robust body, a notion that directly challenged Aristotle’s materialism.
Saad provided the example of sleepiness to illustrate this intricate relationship between the soul and body. While sleepiness might seem like a purely physical phenomenon, it is deeply rooted in psychological factors. A healthy mind, according to Saad, can overcome physical tiredness, demonstrating the soul’s dominance over the body.
“Sleepiness, at first glance, appears to be a physical occurrence. However, upon deeper examination, it leans towards the psychological aspect. If one can control the mind, sleepiness can be resisted,” said Saad.
For Ibn Sina, the soul is the prime mover, the fundamental element that governs and directs the body. This perspective reinforced Ibn Sina’s reputation as a profound thinker who successfully merged scientific inquiry with Islamic spiritual values. His ideas continue to influence the fields of medicine and psychology in both the Islamic and Western worlds.
