Bahya ibn Paquda
Andalusi (Iberian Jewish) Rabbi, moral philosopher
Author of 'Duties of the Heart', the most widely read Jewish ethical work of the Middle Ages.
- Religion
- Judaism (Rabbinic)
- Affiliations
- Zaragoza (Al-Andalus)
Bahya was a rabbinic judge in Muslim Spain during the 11th century; his exact dates are not established. His book 'Duties of the Heart' argued that inner devotion matters more than outward ritual observance. It drew on Islamic and Sufi ideas and became a lasting classic of Jewish spiritual life.