The story of Averroes (Ibn Rushd), the 12th-century Muslim polymath, is a poignant reminder of the transformative power of critical thinking and the consequences of suppressing intellectual freedom. Dr SAFI KASKAS pays tribute to one of the greatest minds of his time, and his relevance today.
Averroes was a philosopher, jurist and physician whose ideas sought to harmonise reason with revelation. His influence, though diminished in the Muslim world after his exile and the burning of his books, found fertile ground in Europe, where his works helped lay the foundations of the Enlightenment.
Today, as the Muslim world seeks to reclaim its legacy of intellectual and scientific excellence, the Iqra’ 2025 Conference presents a unique opportunity to revive the spirit of inquiry championed by Averroes. Under the theme ‘Honoring Our Legacy, Shaping Our Future: Towards a New Muslim Contribution to Civilisation,’ this global event aims to transform contemporary challenges into strategic opportunities by promoting collaboration in education, science, technology and governance. The vision of the conference aligns closely with Averroes’s ideals—promoting critical thinking, scientific advancement, and a balanced integration of reason and faith.
Averroes and the significance of Iqra’ 2025
Averroes’s intellectual contributions were deeply rooted in the belief that reason and revelation are not mutually exclusive but complementary. He argued that God endowed human beings with intellect as a tool for understanding the divine order, a perspective that underpins many of the conference’s objectives. Iqra’ 2025 is designed to rekindle this tradition of knowledge-seeking and rational inquiry by focusing on several key thematic areas:
- Knowledge & Education Transformation: Averroes was a proponent of integrating religious and scientific knowledge, a principle reflected in Iqra’s agenda to modernize education while preserving Islamic intellectual heritage. The conference will explore how AI and emerging technologies can be used to enhance learning, ensuring that future generations are equipped with both classical wisdom and contemporary expertise.
- Scientific & Technological Innovation: Averroes’s legacy includes his commentaries on Aristotle and his advocacy for scientific inquiry, which heavily influenced medieval European thought. Iqra’ 2025 seeks to rebuild the tradition of Islamic scientific excellence by creating innovation ecosystems, supporting research collaboration, and investing in breakthrough technologies such as renewable energy and biotechnology.
- Economic Empowerment & Resources: Averroes warned against the misuse of religion for political and economic gain, emphasizing ethical governance. Iqra’ 2025 will address the role of Islamic finance, fintech solutions and sustainable economic models in building economic independence and cooperation between Muslim nations.
- Social Cohesion & Leadership: Just as Averroes championed intellectual freedom and challenged authoritarianism, the conference will explore ways to build inclusive leadership models, promote youth engagement, and enhance women’s participation in shaping the future of Muslim societies.
By addressing these themes, the Iqra’ 2025 Conference embodies the principles that Averroes spent his life defending. It seeks to rectify the intellectual stagnation that followed the suppression of scholars like him, paving the way for a revival of the Muslim world’s contributions to global civilisation.
The timeliness of Iqra’ 2025: Reviving the spirit of inquiry
The decline of Averroes’s influence in the Muslim world coincided with a broader shift away from scientific and philosophical exploration. While Europe embraced his ideas and progressed into the Renaissance, many Muslim societies turned inward, favoring dogmatism over debate. The consequences of this shift—economic disparity, political instability, and technological lag—continue to shape contemporary realities.
Iqra’ 2025 is timely because it represents a strategic effort to reverse this trajectory. The conference recognizes that the challenges of today—climate change, healthcare innovation, economic disparity, and the rise of artificial intelligence—demand a renewed commitment to inquiry and innovation. In this regard, the conference aligns with Averroes’s belief that knowledge is a universal good that must be pursued fearlessly.
The rationale for Iqra’ 2025 underscores the importance of investment in research and development (R&D) to drive economic growth, enhance global influence, and reclaim the Muslim world’s position at the forefront of scientific progress. Just as Averroes’s works influenced Europe’s intellectual revival, this conference aspires to inspire a new generation of Muslim scholars, scientists, and leaders who will contribute meaningfully to global advancements.
Overcoming fear and embracing change
One of the greatest obstacles to progress in the Muslim world today is the fear of change. Many view concepts like freedom of thought, democracy and human rights as Western imports, rather than universal values rooted in Islamic principles. Averroes himself faced persecution for his ideas, yet he insisted that knowledge transcends political and cultural boundaries. The conference seeks to break this cycle of fear and stagnation by promoting an open and constructive dialogue on how Muslim societies can navigate modernity without compromising their faith.
Iqra’ 2025’s mission to integrate traditional Islamic knowledge with modern sciences directly reflects Averroes’s own intellectual approach. His belief in the necessity of debate, rigorous scholarship, and openness to new ideas is precisely what the conference aims to cultivate in contemporary Muslim societies. By nurturing an environment where scholars, policymakers, and innovators can exchange knowledge freely, Iqra’ 2025 is poised to reignite the very spirit that Averroes championed.
A call to intellectual renewal
The story of Averroes is more than a historical anecdote—it is a lesson on what the Muslim world has lost and what it can regain. Iqra’ 2025 stands as a modern testament to his vision, offering a platform to revive the intellectual dynamism that once defined Islamic civilisation.
As the Quran states, ‘Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves’ (Qur’an 13:11). The transformation begins with a commitment to knowledge, critical thinking, and the courage to challenge outdated paradigms. Averroes’s legacy reminds us that ideas have wings, and Iqra’ 2025 is the wind that can carry them into a future of renewed scientific and intellectual excellence.
By embracing the values of reason, inquiry, and progress, the conference aims to chart a path forward where the Muslim world can once again contribute to global civilisation—not as a passive participant, but as a leader in innovation, ethics, and transformative knowledge.
Dr Safi Kaskas is a co-founder of East West University and a strategic management consultant. He has lectured on Islam and interfaith reconciliation, translated the Quran into English, and serves as a Senior Researcher at George Mason University. He is also a member of the Vatican Foundation International Center Family of Nazareth.
