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In the first part of this paper, I explain the main intention of the research, which is to explain and emphasize the importance of al-Farabi's conception of happiness, as well as the central place of the theory of happiness within his entire philosophical oeuvre. Also, I will take into account other aspects of al-Farabi's philosophy, such as his understanding of jihad and struggle of the soul. An indispensable factor in the shaping of al-Farabi's teaching, especially his thoughts about happiness, is the influence of Islam and Greek philosophy. I will discuss the importance and influence of Plato and Aristotle to al-Farabi's conception of happiness on the one hand, and Islamic spiritual and cultural tradition which represents a crucial element that encouraged al-Farabi to make a step forward in relation to his Greek predecessors on the other. In the last section of the paper, I discuss the importance of al-Farabi's conception of happiness for understanding of medieval philosophy, which is best reflected in his direct influence on the main representative of the medieval Jewish philosophy - Moses Maimonides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work I try to point out the basic ideas of Al-Fârâbî's political philosophy. In the first part of the text, I attempt to investigate the main terms of reference of Al- Fârâbî's philosophy, and to explain the political and cultural context of the Islamic world during Al-Fârâbî's life. In the second part I try to show, by using a comparative method, the diff erences and similarities between Plato's and Al-Fârâbî's political philosophy and to point out the originality of Al-Fârâbî's thought, which is mostly based on Islamic theology. The main thesis of this paper is that Al-Fârâbî's did not isolate the elements of Greek philosophy and then transmitted them to the realm of Islamic spirituality. This paper tries to confi rm that Al-Fârâbî's political thought at its base is determined by Islamic theology, culture and political occasions. Al-Fârâbî furthermore sought to synthesize the political philosophy of Plato and Islamic political thought in his most important work The Ideas of the Citizens in the Virtuous City and is considered to be the founder of Islamic political philosophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]