Egyptian Philosopher Mourad Wahba Passes Away at 100, Leaving a Legacy Against Extremism
The Egyptian philosopher Dr Mourad Wahba passed away today at the age of 100, leaving behind a profound intellectual legacy that has significantly shaped contemporary Arab thought.
Dr Wahba served as a professor of philosophy at Ain Shams University and was the president of the International Ibn Rushd Association, recognized as a leading advocate for enlightenment and secularism in Egypt and the Arab world.
Culture Minister Dr Ahmed Fouad Heneau paid tribute to the esteemed thinker, noting that Dr Wahba's rich philosophical journey has left a lasting impact on promoting a culture of dialogue and scientific thought, enhancing the intellectual landscape for decades.
Known for his courageous stances against extremist ideologies and political Islamist groups, Dr Wahba founded a philosophical school that has served as a bulwark against fundamentalist calls for over seventy years.
His intellectual project was rooted in the revival of ruchdiyya, inspired by the philosopher Ibn Rushd, advocating that critical reasoning and enlightened thought are essential for securing humanity's future.
Dr Wahba was a staunch proponent of secularism, arguing that it does not oppose religion but rather separates the "absolute" from the "relative" to prevent the exploitation of sacred beliefs in political conflicts.
His book, The Angel of Absolute Truth, presents a unique intellectual legacy, where he critiques the notion of possessing absolute truth as a primary source of terrorism and extremism, discussing the "paradox between reason and fundamentalism" that he fiercely battled throughout his life.
Born in Assiout, southern Egypt, in 1926, he earned a degree in literature with a focus on philosophy from Fouad I University in 1947, followed by a PhD in contemporary philosophy from Alexandria University in 1959.
He began his career as a teacher and later became an associate professor of philosophy at Ain Shams University, advancing through academic ranks while also lecturing at various Russian and Western universities, and leading the human studies unit at the Middle East Research Center.
The passing of Dr Wahba signifies the end of an era of enlightened thought and the continuation of a long legacy of intellectual battles against extremism, with his name remaining a symbol of secularism and rationalism in the Arab world.
