Al-Farabi

Al-Farabi was an influential Islamic philosopher who contributed to metaphysics by exploring concepts like substance and essence. In his view, "substance" refers to the fundamental reality of something—what it is at its core, while "essence" pertains to the qualities that define what it means to be that thing. For example, the substance of a dog is its physical body, while its essence includes characteristics like being a mammal, barking, and being loyal. Al-Farabi's work blends Greek philosophy with Islamic thought, influencing how we understand the nature of existence and the qualities that make objects unique.