The history of Al-Azhar is the history of Islamic culture from the fourth century AH until today, and if Egypt was placed by fate in this dangerous location on the world map, where it is located as a communication center between the continents, sending its cultural and civilizational rays to various parts of the world, eastern and western, then Al-Azhar has risen in this place - and is still playing - a role of great influence in Islamic thought, and even human thought in a renewed, moderate thought, sending its preachers and ideas in every direction spreading science and knowledge, and Al-Azhar has stood for a thousand years.
The leading idea of the book is to focus on the common roots of Islamic and Western traditions and to increase awareness of the chances of systematic philosophical dispute, with the aim to promote a substantial dialogue on an academic level.
A unique collection of studies, the present volume sheds new light on central themes of Ibn Taymiyya's (661/1263-728/1328) and Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya's (691/1292-751/1350) thought and the relevance of their ideas to diverse Muslim societies.
