Rabat hosts exhibition on Arab philosopher Averroes

An art gallery in Rabat is hosting this March 11-28 an exhibition on Averroes and his times as part of the commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the demise of the great Arab philosopher and physician.

The exhibition, held under the aegis of Morocco's Crown Prince Sidi Mohammed and Spain's Prince of Asturias Don Felipe de Borbon, is part of a series of events held in Spain and Morocco to highlight the stature of the Arab thinker, who was born in Cordoba in 1126 and died in Marrakesh in 1198.

The exhibition displays panels, images and historical and archeological items from Moroccan, Spanish and Portuguese museums to give an idea about the time of Ibn Rush.

The exhibition gives a broad idea of the Western Islamic world in the Middle Ages, and especially in the 12th century, the exhibition commissioner, Rafael Valencia, told MAP. He said Ibn Rushd's thought impacted not only on his own era but also on all times.

The exhibition is meant to show that the philosopher from Cordoba is not a relic of the past, a mere archeological remnant, but rather a heritage that still reflects on us all, the commissioner said, expressing hope that the spirit of Averroes would imbue all Mediterranean people.

The exhibition had previously been displayed in Seville and Cordoba.

Abu Al-Walid Ibn Rushd's interpretation of Aristotle's Metaphysics in light of the Quraan impacted greatly on Christian thought in the Middle Ages. He succeeded to prove that religious reality is not at all opposed to philosophy, and gave to ancient classical thought a new dimension and spread it, through translation to the Europe of the Middle Ages.