Renowned Belgian scholar passes away, leaving a legacy in Islamic thought
Yahya Michot, an expert in medieval Islamic philosophy and history, passed away, leaving behind a significant academic legacy
BRUSSELS (MNTV) – The Muslim world has lost a major figure in the field of Islamic thought with the passing of Belgian historian and scholar Yahya Michot.
A prominent authority on medieval Islamic thought and the interactions between Muslims and non-Muslims, Michot died in Hartford, where he taught at the University for Religion and Peace.
His work focused on the social and political issues in Islamic history, with notable expertise in medieval thinkers such as Ibn Taymiyya and Ibn Sina, known in the West as Avicenna.
Michot, born in 1952 in Belgium, converted from Catholicism to Islam and adopted the Arabic translation of his birth name, Jean.
Writing his obituary for Muslim Matters, historian Ibrahim Moiz states that Michot was a gifted polyglot.
He spent decades teaching Islamic philosophy, literature, and thought at institutions such as Leuven University in Belgium and the University of Oxford before moving to Hartford.
Moiz holds that Michot’s scholarship exemplified the “best of the old European tradition of deep learning,” emphasizing his independent approach to research.
His scholarship left a lasting impact, particularly his studies on Ibn Taymiyya and Avicenna, figures central to both philosophy and medicine.
As an academic, Michot was known for his approachable yet erudite style.
He also delved deeply into sociopolitical issues within the Muslim world, addressing topics like the experience of Muslim minorities in non-Muslim societies and even matters such as Muslim attitudes toward smoking.
His vast body of work remains relevant, especially at a time when the views of classical Islamic thinkers are increasingly scrutinized in contemporary socio-political discourse.
Despite his extensive reputation, Michot chose to publish with emerging Muslim presses, prioritizing the purity of his academic work over institutional prestige.
Michot’s legacy lives on in his profound contributions to the understanding of Islamic history and thought.
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