Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī on Physics and the Nature of the Physical World: A Preliminary Survey

Abstract

Fakhr al-Din al-Razi’s conception of physics and of the nature of the physical world is explored here through a preliminary survey of a number of his early and late works. Al-RÂzÆ defines the three grades of meanings of the term “nature”. His definition is similar to the general consensus in AshÐarite kalÂm which rejects the Avicennan notion of ÎabÆÐah as an effective causal principle inherent in natural phenomenal processes. He also explores the notion of the existence of a multiverse in the context of his commentary on the QurÏÂnic verse, All praise belongs to God, Lord of the Worlds. He raises the interesting question of whether the term “worlds” in this verse refers to multiple worlds within this single universe or cosmos, or to many other universes or a multiverse beyond this known universe. Based on primary classical Islamic source texts, this survey provides an insight into the classical Islamic view of nature as expressed by one of its most important representatives.