Overview of the Book

Hayy ibn Yaqdhan is one of the classics of ancient Arabic literature and a masterpiece in its own right. In it, Ibn Tufail combines philosophy, literature, religion, and education. It is a story with deep philosophical implications, addressing what we today call a worldview or epistemological framework. The story encompasses the fundamental elements of knowledge, represented by (God/human/nature), and it delves into the relationships between these elements.

The narrative tells the story of a man who, as a child, ends up on a deserted land with no humans. He is nurtured by animals and finds shelter in nature, using the earth as his bed and the sky as his cover. As he grows older and his intellect matures, he turns to contemplation of the universe, which ultimately leads him to the certainty of the existence of a Creator of this universe.