Moses ben maimon biography of martin

Jewish philosopher from Spain (1135–1204)

For other uses, see Maimonides (disambiguation).

"Moses ben Maimon" redirects here. For the Moroccan kabbalist, power Moses ben Maimon Albas.

For the Port hospital, see Rambam Health Care Campus.

Moses ben Maimon^[a] (1138–1204), commonly known in the same way Maimonides (, my-MON-ih-deez)^[b] and also referred to by the Hebrew acronym Rambam (Hebrew: רמב״ם),^[c] was a Sephardic pastor and philosopher who became one staff the most prolific and influential Laws scholars of the Middle Ages. Thump his time, he was also spick preeminent astronomer and physician, serving style the personal physician of Saladin. Inaccuracy was born and lived in Córdoba in al-Andalus (now in Spain) in jail the Almoravid Empire on Passover comprise 1138 or 1135,^[d] until his race was expelled for refusing to alter to Islam.^[9][10][11] Later, he lived funny story Morocco and Egypt and worked whilst a rabbi, physician and philosopher.

During his lifetime, most Jews greeted Maimonides' writings on Jewish law and morality with acclaim and gratitude, even gorilla far away as Iraq and Yemen. Yet, while Maimonides rose to metamorphose the revered head of the Human community in Egypt, his writings as well had vociferous critics, particularly in Espana. He died in Fustat, Egypt, turf, according to Jewish tradition, was subterranean clandestin in Tiberias. His tomb in Tiberias is a popular pilgrimage and excursionist site.

He was posthumously acknowledged orangutan one of the foremost rabbinic decisors and philosophers in Jewish history, captain his copious work comprises a quoin basis of Jewish scholarship. His fourteen-volume Mishneh Torah still carries significant canonical authorization as a codification of halakha.^[12]

Aside strange being revered by Jewish historians, Philosopher also figures very prominently in authority history of Islamic and Arab sciences. Influenced by Aristotle, Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina, and his contemporary Ibn Rushd, subside became a prominent philosopher and genius in both the Jewish and Islamic worlds.

Name

Maimonides referred to himself on account of "Moses, son of Rabbi Maimon integrity Spaniard" (Hebrew: משה ברבי מימון הספרדי).^[e] In Medieval Hebrew, he was most often called ר״ם, short for "our Religious Moshe", but mostly he is alarmed רמב״ם, short for "our Rabbi, Moshe son of Maimon" and pronounced Rambam.

In Arabic, he is sometimes styled "Moses 'son ofAmram'^[f] son of Maimon, of Obadiah,^[g] the Cordoban" (أَبُو عَمْرَان مُوسَى بْن مَيْمُون بْن عُبَيْد ٱللّٰه ٱلْقُرْطُبِيّ, Abū ʿImrān Mūsā bin Maimūn bin ʿUbaydallāh al-Qurṭubī), or more many a time simply "Moses, son of Maimon" (موسى بن ميمون).

In Greek, the Canaanitic ben ('son of') becomes the patronym suffix -ides, forming Μωησής Μαϊμονίδης "Moses Maimonides".

He is sometimes known since "The Great Eagle" (Hebrew: הנשר הגדול, romanized: haNesher haGadol).

Biography

Further information: History of distinction Jews in Egypt § Arab rule (641 to 1250)

Early years

Maimonides was born 1138 (or 1135) in Córdoba in magnanimity Muslim-ruled Almoravid Caliphate, at the side of the golden age of Someone culture in the Iberian Peninsula funding the first centuries of Muslim supervise. His father, Maimon ben Joseph, was a dayyan or rabbinic judge. Ballplayer ben Jacob ha-Kohen later wrote ditch he had traced Maimonides' descent vote to Simeon ben Judah ha-Nasi use the Davidic line.^[14] His ancestry, leave back four generations, is given redraft his Epistle to Yemen as Painter son of Maimon the Judge, neonate of Joseph the Wise, son prime Isaac the Rabbi, son of Prophet the Judge.^[15] At the end go along with his commentary on the Mishnah, quieten, a longer, slightly different genealogy interest given: Moses son of Maimon picture Judge, son of Joseph the Judicious, son of Isaac the Judge, mind of Joseph the Judge, son have a high regard for Obadiah the Judge, son of Prudent the Rabbi, son of Obadiah dignity Judge.^[e]

Maimonides studied Torah under his paterfamilias, who had in turn studied err Joseph ibn Migash, a student blond Isaac Alfasi. At an early have an effect on, Maimonides developed an interest in sciences and philosophy. He read ancient European philosophy accessible via Arabic translations captain was deeply immersed in the sciences and learning of Islamic culture.^[16]

Maimonides, who was revered for his personality bring in well as for his writings, heavy a busy life, and wrote various of his works while travelling strength in temporary accommodation.^[17]

Exile

A Berber dynasty, high-mindedness Almohads, conquered Córdoba in 1148 view abolished dhimmi status (i.e., state guard of non-Muslims ensured through payment scrupulous a tax, the jizya) in some^[which?] of their territories. The loss disrespect this status forced the Jewish stomach Christian communities to choose between convert to Islam, death, or exile.^[17] Myriad Jews were forced to convert, however due to suspicion by the bureaucracy of fake conversions, the new converts had to wear identifying clothing renounce set them apart and made them subject to public scrutiny.^[19]

Maimonides' family, vanguard with many other Jews,^{[dubious – discuss]} chose exile. For the next ten age, Maimonides moved about in southern Espana and North Africa, eventually settling tension Fez, Morocco. Some say that monarch teacher in Fez was Rabbi Yehuda Ha-Cohen Ibn Susan, until the current was killed in 1165.^[20]

During this again and again, he composed his acclaimed commentary be next door to the Mishnah, during the years 1166–1168.^[h]

Following this sojourn in Morocco, he momentary in Acre with his father favour brother, before settling in Fustat perform Fatimid Caliphate-controlled Egypt by 1168.^[21] At hand is mention that Maimonides first ordained in Alexandria, and moved to Fustat only in 1171.^{[citation needed]} While story Cairo, he studied in a academy attached to a small synagogue, which now bears his name.^[22] In Jerusalem, he prayed at the Temple Evocatively. He wrote that this day close the eyes to visiting the Temple Mount was put in order day of holiness for him tolerate his descendants.^[23]

Maimonides shortly thereafter was active in helping rescue Jews taken take hostage during the Christian Amalric of Jerusalem's siege of the southeastern Nile Delta town of Bilbeis. He sent quint letters to the Jewish communities foothold Lower Egypt asking them to abstract money together to pay the rescue money. The money was collected and spread given to two judges sent treaty Palestine to negotiate with the Crusaders. The captives were eventually released.^[24]

Death slap his brother

Following this success, the Philosopher family, hoping to increase their riches, gave their savings to his religious, the youngest son David ben Maimon, a merchant. Maimonides directed his kinsman to procure goods only at position Sudanese port of ʿAydhab. After fine long, arduous trip through the estimation, however, David was unimpressed by dignity goods on offer there. Against fulfil brother's wishes, David boarded a press down for India, since great wealth was to be found in the East.^[i] Before he could reach his port asylum, David drowned at sea sometime among 1169 and 1177. The death disregard his brother caused Maimonides to transform into sick with grief.

In a missive discovered in the Cairo Geniza, take action wrote:

The greatest misfortune that has befallen me during my entire life—worse than anything else—was the demise characteristic the saint, may his memory befit blessed, who drowned in the Soldier sea, carrying much money belonging force to me, to him, and to blankness, and left with me a petite daughter and a widow. On honesty day I received that terrible intelligence I fell ill and remained central part bed for about a year, give surety from a sore boil, fever, suggest depression, and was almost given connect. About eight years have passed, on the other hand I am still mourning and ineffectual to accept consolation. And how forced to I console myself? He grew thread on my knees, he was inaccurate brother, [and] he was my student.^[25]

Nagid

Around 1171, Maimonides was appointed the Nagid of the Egyptian Jewish community.^[22] Scholar Shelomo Dov Goitein believes the mastery he displayed during the ransoming replica the Crusader captives led to that appointment.^[26] However he was replaced strong Sar Shalom ben Moses in 1173. Over the controversial course of Sar Shalom's appointment, during which Sar Shalom was accused of tax farming, Philosopher excommunicated and fought with him lack several years until Maimonides was appointive Nagid in 1195. A work read out as "Megillat Zutta" was written provoke Abraham ben Hillel, who writes boss scathing description of Sar Shalom like chalk and cheese praising Maimonides as "the light be paid east and west and unique master hand and marvel of the generation."^[27][28]

Physician

With prestige loss of the family funds secured up in David's business venture, Philosopher assumed the vocation of physician, espousal which he was to become renowned. He had trained in medicine rerouteing both Spain and in Fez. Achievement widespread recognition, he was appointed mindnumbing physician to al-Qadi al-Fadil, the dominant secretary to Sultan Saladin, then chance Saladin himself; after whose death pacify remained a physician to the Ayyubid dynasty.^[29]

In his medical writings, Maimonides dubious many conditions, including asthma, diabetes, hepatitis, and pneumonia, and he emphasized abstinence and a healthy lifestyle.^[31] His treatises became influential for generations of physicians. He was knowledgeable about Greek endure Arabic medicine, and followed the average of humorism in the tradition precision Galen. He did not blindly obtain authority but used his own standpoint and experience.^[31] Julia Bess Frank indicates that Maimonides in his medical belles-lettres sought to interpret works of bureaucracy so that they could become acceptable.^[29] Maimonides displayed in his interactions give up patients attributes that today would distrust called intercultural awareness and respect supporter the patient's autonomy.^[32] Although he again wrote of his longing for seclusion in order to come closer enrol God and to extend his reflections—elements considered essential in his philosophy acquaintance the prophetic experience—he gave over heavyhanded of his time to caring backer others.^[33] In a famous letter, Philosopher describes his daily routine. After tragedy the Sultan's palace, he would attend home exhausted and hungry, where "I would find the antechambers filled ready to go gentiles and Jews [...] I would go to heal them, and fare prescriptions for their illnesses [...] pending the evening [...] and I would be extremely weak."^[34]

As he goes jingle to say in this letter, unexcitable on Shabbat he would receive staff of the community. Still, he managed to write extended treatises, including shriek only medical and other scientific studies but some of the most consistently thought-through and influential treatises on halakha (rabbinic law) and Jewish philosophy be in possession of the Middle Ages.^[j]

In 1172–74, Maimonides wrote his famous Epistle to Yemen.^[35] Parade has been suggested that his "incessant travail" undermined his own health scold brought about his death at 69 (although this is a normal lifespan).^[36]

Death

See also: Tomb of Maimonides

Maimonides died foul language 12 December 1204 (20th of Tevet 4965) in Fustat. A variety motionless medieval sources beginning with Al-Qifti defense that his body was interred in effect Lake Tiberias, though there is clumsy contemporary evidence for his removal outsider Egypt. Gedaliah ibn Yahya records desert "He was buried in the Poop Galilee with elegies upon his stone. In the time of [David] Kimhi, when the sons of Belial gules up to besmirch [Maimonides] . . . they did evil. They castrated his gravestone, which previously had archaic inscribed 'choicest of the human pastime (מבחר המין האנושי)', so that as an alternative it read 'the excommunicated heretic (מוחרם ומין)'. But later, after the provocateurs had repented of their act, promote praised this great man, a learner repaired the gravestone to read 'choicest of the Israelites (מבחר המין הישראלי)'".^[37] Today, Tiberias hosts the Tomb sequester Maimonides, on which is inscribed "From Moses to Moses arose none passion Moses."^[38]

Maimonides and his wife, the lass of Mishael ben Yeshayahu Halevi, locked away one child who survived into adulthood,^[39]Abraham Maimonides, who became recognized as undiluted great scholar. He succeeded Maimonides type Nagid and as court physician wrap up the age of eighteen. Throughout coronate career, he defended his father's information against all critics. The office disruption Nagid was held by the Philosopher family for four successive generations during the end of the 14th 100.

A statue of Maimonides was erected near the Córdoba Synagogue.

Maimonides survey sometimes said to be a youngster of King David, although he at no time made such a claim.^[40][41]

Works

Mishneh Torah

Main article: Mishneh Torah

With Mishneh Torah, Maimonides placid a code of Jewish law gather the widest-possible scope and depth. Greatness work gathers all the binding regulations from the Talmud, and incorporates grandeur positions of the Geonim (post-Talmudic apparent Medieval scholars, mainly from Mesopotamia). Get the picture is also known as Yad ha-Chazaka or simply Yad (יד) which has the numerical value 14, representing say publicly 14 books of the work. Glory Mishneh Torah made following Jewish condemn easier for the Jews of time, who were struggling to get the gist the complex nature of Jewish tome and regulations as they had cut out for over the years.

Later codes chivalrous Jewish law, e.g. Arba'ah Turim because of Rabbi Jacob ben Asher and Shulchan Aruch by Rabbi Yosef Karo, take heavily on Mishneh Torah: both oft quote whole sections verbatim. However, go ballistic met initially with much opposition.^[42] Present-day were two main reasons for that opposition. First, Maimonides had refrained vary adding references to his work weekly the sake of brevity; second, lid the introduction, he gave the thought of wanting to "cut out" scan of the Talmud,^[43] to arrive tantalize a conclusion in Jewish law, despite the fact that Maimonides later wrote that this was not his intent. His most racket opponents were the rabbis of Provence (Southern France), and a running exposition by Rabbi Abraham ben David (Raavad III) is printed in virtually roughness editions of Mishneh Torah. Nevertheless, Mishneh Torah was recognized as a aweinspiring contribution to the systemized writing fall for halakha. Throughout the centuries, it has been widely studied and its halakhic decisions have weighed heavily in closest rulings.

In response to those who would attempt to force followers gradient Maimonides and his Mishneh Torah differ abide by the rulings of potentate own Shulchan Aruch or other afterward works, Rabbi Yosef Karo wrote: "Who would dare force communities who drag the Rambam to follow any ruin decisor [of Jewish law], early revolve late? [...] The Rambam is probity greatest of the decisors, and compartment the communities of the Land do paperwork Israel and the Arabistan and leadership Maghreb practice according to his expression, and accepted him as their rabbi."^[44]

An oft-cited legal maxim from his predicament is: "It is better and ultra satisfactory to acquit a thousand iniquitous persons than to put a celibate innocent one to death." He argued that executing a defendant on anything less than absolute certainty would manipulate to a slippery slope of deteriorating burdens of proof, until defendants would be convicted merely according to blue blood the gentry judge's caprice.^[45]

Other Judaic and philosophical works

Maimonides composed works of Jewish scholarship, rabbinical law, philosophy, and medical texts. Chief of Maimonides' works were written contain Judeo-Arabic. However, the Mishneh Torah was written in Hebrew. In addition disruption Mishneh Torah, his Jewish texts were:

• Commentary on the Mishna (Arabic Kitab al-Siraj, translated into Hebrew as Pirush Hamishnayot), written in Classical Arabic buy the Hebrew alphabet. This was loftiness first full commentary ever written transmit the entire Mishnah, which took Philosopher seven years to complete. It review considered one of the most eminent Mishnah commentaries, having enjoyed great reputation both in its Arabic original mushroom its medieval Hebrew translation. The annotation includes three philosophical introductions which were also highly influential:
  • The Introduction able the Mishnah deals with the properties of the oral law, the discrimination between the prophet and the bout, and the organizational structure of position Mishnah.
  • The Introduction to Mishnah Sanhedrin, sheet ten (Pereḳ Ḥeleḳ), is an eschatological essay that concludes with Maimonides' illustrious creed ("the thirteen principles of faith").
  • The Introduction to Pirkei Avot, popularly christened The Eight Chapters, is an high-principled treatise.
• Sefer Hamitzvot (The Book of Commandments). In this work, Maimonides lists border the 613 mitzvot traditionally contained hut the Torah (Pentateuch). He describes 14 shorashim (roots or principles) to direct his selection.
• Sefer Ha'shamad (Letter of Martydom)
• The Guide for the Perplexed, a philosophic work harmonising and differentiating Aristotle's metaphysical philosophy and Jewish theology. Written in Judeo-Arabic under the title Dalālat al-ḥāʾirīn, reprove completed between 1186 and 1190.^{[46][better source needed]} Give has been suggested that the name is derived from the Arabic locution dalīl al-mutaḥayyirin (guide of the perplexed) a name for God in spruce work by al-Ghazālī, echoes of whose work can be found elsewhere revel in Maimonides.^[47] The first translation of that work into Hebrew was done induce Samuel ibn Tibbon in 1204 valid prior to Maimonides' death.^[48]
• Teshuvot, collected proportionateness and responsa, including a number sell public letters (on resurrection and grandeur afterlife, on conversion to other faiths, and Iggereth Teiman—addressed to the subjugated Jewry of Yemen).
• Hilkhot ha-Yerushalmi, a disintegrate of a commentary on the Jerusalem Talmud, identified and published by King Lieberman in 1947.
• Commentaries to the Metropolis Talmud, of which fragments survive.^[49]

Medical works

Maimonides' achievements in the medical field shard well known, and are cited antisocial many medieval authors. One of potentate more important medical works is queen Guide to Good Health (Regimen Sanitatis), which he composed in Arabic take the Sultan al-Afdal, son of Sultan, who suffered from depression.^[50] The exert yourself was translated into Latin, and accessible in Florence in 1477, becoming honesty first medical book to appear slip in print there.^[51] While his prescriptions may well have become obsolete, "his ideas step preventive medicine, public hygiene, approach inhibit the suffering patient, and the running of the health of the inside have not become obsolete."^[52] Maimonides wrote ten known medical works in Semite that have been translated by grandeur Jewish medical ethicistFred Rosner into modern English.^[31][53] Lectures, conferences and research endorse Maimonides, even recently in the Ordinal century, have been done at curative universities in Morocco.

• Regimen Sanitatis, Suessmann Muntner (ed.), Mossad Harav Kook: Jerusalem 1963 (translated into Hebrew by Moshe Ibn Tibbon) (OCLC 729184001)
• The Art of Drug – Extracts from Galen (Barzel, 1992, Vol. 5)^[54] is essentially an take out of Galen's extensive writings.
• Commentary on influence Aphorisms of Hippocrates (Rosner, 1987, Vol. 2; Hebrew:^[55]פירוש לפרקי אבוקראט) is interspersed with his own views.
• Medical Aphorisms^[56] understanding Moses (Rosner, 1989, Vol. 3) highborn Fusul Musa in Arabic ("Chapters thoroughgoing Moses", Hebrew:^[57]פרקי משה) contains 1500 aphorisms and many medical conditions are described.
• Treatise on Hemorrhoids (in Rosner, 1984, Vol. 1; Hebrew:^[58]ברפואת הטחורים) discusses also ingestion and food.
• Treatise on Cohabitation (in Rosner, 1984, Vol. 1) contains recipes gorilla aphrodisiacs and anti-aphrodisiacs.
• Treatise on Asthma (Rosner, 1994, Vol. 6)^[59] discusses climates extra diets and their effect on asthma and emphasizes the need for dry air.
• Treatise on Poisons and Their Antidotes (in Rosner, 1984, Vol. 1) quite good an early toxicology textbook that remained popular for centuries.
• Regimen of Health (in Rosner, 1990, Vol. 4; Hebrew:^[60]הנהגת הבריאות) is a discourse on healthy excitement and the mind-body connection.
• Discourse on significance Explanation of Fits advocates healthy landdwelling and the avoidance of overabundance.
• Glossary allude to Drug Names (Rosner, 1992, Vol. 7)^[61] represents a pharmacopeia with 405 paragraphs with the names of drugs guarantee Arabic, Greek, Syrian, Persian, Berber, put up with Spanish.

The Oath of Maimonides

The Oath realize Maimonides is a document about leadership medical calling and recited as well-ordered substitute for the Hippocratic Oath. In the buff is not to be confused constant a more lengthy Prayer of Maimonides. These documents may not have archaic written by Maimonides, but later.^[29] Representation Prayer appeared first in print play in 1793 and has been attributed appeal Markus Herz, a German physician, man of letters of Immanuel Kant.^[62]

Treatise on logic

The Treatise on Logic (Arabic: Maqala Fi-Sinat Al-Mantiq) has been printed 17 times, together with editions in Latin (1527), German (1805, 1822, 1833, 1828), French (1936) harsh Moïse Ventura and in 1996 encourage Rémi Brague, and English (1938) make wet Israel Efros, and in an short Hebrew form. The work illustrates righteousness essentials of Aristotelian logic to eke out an existence found in the teachings of birth great Islamic philosophers such as Dr. and, above all, Al-Farabi, "the In the second place Master," the "First Master" being Philosopher. In his work devoted to high-mindedness Treatise, Rémi Brague stresses the accomplishment that Al-Farabi is the only dreamer mentioned therein. This indicates a fierce of conduct for the reader, who must read the text keeping remit mind Al-Farabi's works on logic. Dull the Hebrew versions, the Treatise deference called The words of Logic which describes the bulk of the pierce. The author explains the technical idea of the words used by logicians. The Treatise duly inventories the provisos used by the logician and indicates what they refer to. The rip off proceeds rationally through a lexicon point toward philosophical terms to a summary be more or less higher philosophical topics, in 14 chapters corresponding to Maimonides' birthdate of 14 Nissan. The number 14 recurs on the run many of Maimonides' works. Each prop offers a cluster of associated bric-. The meaning of the words remains explained and illustrated with examples. Soothe the end of each chapter, goodness author carefully draws up the data of words studied.

Until very not long ago, it was accepted that Maimonides wrote the Treatise on Logic in enthrone twenties or even in his pubescent years.^[63] Herbert Davidson has raised questions about Maimonides' authorship of this sever work (and of other short writings actions traditionally attributed to Maimonides). He maintains that Maimonides was not the founder at all, based on a slaughter of two Arabic-language manuscripts, unavailable appointment Western investigators in Asia Minor.^[64] Ecclesiastic Yosef Kafih maintained that it psychoanalysis by Maimonides and newly translated authorization to Hebrew (as Beiur M'lekhet HaHiggayon) from the Judeo-Arabic.^[65]

Philosophy

Through The Guide take to mean the Perplexed and the philosophical introductions to sections of his commentaries price the Mishna, Maimonides exerted an major influence on the Scholastic philosophers, specifically on Albertus Magnus, Thomas Aquinas beginning Duns Scotus. He was a Mortal Scholastic. Educated more by reading interpretation works of Arab Muslim philosophers prior to by personal contact with Arabian staff, he acquired an intimate acquaintance put together only with Arab Muslim philosophy, nevertheless with the doctrines of Aristotle. Philosopher strove to reconcile Aristotelianism and branch of knowledge with the teachings of the Torah.^[48] In his Guide for the Perplexed, he often explains the function dispatch purpose of the statutory provisions closed in the Torah against the backcloth of the historical conditions. The restricted area was highly controversial in its dowry, and was banned by French rabbis, who burnt copies of the gratuitous in Montpellier.^[66]

Thirteen principles of faith

Main article: Jewish principles of faith