ABSTRACT
Abu Bakr Muhammad Ibn Abd Al-Malik Ibn Muhammad Ibn Tufayl al-Qaysi – ususally known simply as Ibn Tufayl – was a Spanish Muslim philosopher, physician, mathematician, poet and scientist. Ibn Tufayl continued in public and diplomatic service until his death, in Marrakesh, in 1185. Hayy Ibn Yaqzan was admired by many distinguished figures during the Enlightenment period. Ibn Tufayl uses the word 'intellect' in a very wide sense, so as to include something like mystical vision. Ibn Tufayl's aim in his masterpiece is to show, through the story of a boy's upbringing in 'a state of nature', that even without the help of tradition and revelation, man can attain to knowledge of the natural world and morality and, through this, to knowledge of God. Ibn Tufayl's approach towards proving the existence of God and knowledge of His nature is a rational, empirical one par excellence.
