Muslim Philosophical Visions on the Significance of Time: Avicenna and Shirazi

Abstract

This paper questions the meaning and significance of time as a unique idea from the perspective of two Muslim philosophers, the medieval Avicenna (ca. 980) and the late pre-modern Shirazi (ca. 1572). Time has always been the focus of philosophers, thinkers, scholars, scientists, and astronomers throughout all ages and across all cultures, civilizations, and territories. In the Muslim philosophical traditions, time has had a considerable attention from various notable thinkers. This paper, accordingly, draws on this premise following the scope of two Muslim thinkers and philosophers, Avicenna, a well-known Muslim medieval physician and polymath, and Shirazi, a pre-modern late Muslim Persian theologian and philosopher. Firstly, an introductory subsection is set to define, introduce, and elaborate on time. Time is also introduced in terms of Greek philosophies. A brief account is dedicated to Avicenna’s biography, works, and views. Then, Shirazi is defined as to biography, works, and views.