DOCSLIB.ORG

'Ammār Al-Baṣrī's Kitāb Al-Burhān

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
'Ammār Al-Baṣrī's Kitāb Al-Burhān ‘Ammār al-Baṣrī’s Kitāb al-Burhān: A Topical and Theological Analysis of Arabic Christian Theology in the Ninth Century A thesis presented to the University of Birmingham in fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY by Wageeh Y. F. Mikhail Department of Theology and Religion School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion The University of Birmingham Jan. 2013 University of Birmingham Research Archive e-theses repository This unpublished thesis/dissertation is copyright of the author and/or third parties. The intellectual property rights of the author or third parties in respect of this work are as defined by The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 or as modified by any successor legislation. Any use made of information contained in this thesis/dissertation must be in accordance with that legislation and must be properly acknowledged. Further distribution or reproduction in any format is prohibited without the permission of the copyright holder. Copyright © 2013 by Wageeh Y. F. Mikhail All rights reserved ABSTRACT This thesis is concerned with the role played by the Christian scholar ‘Ammār al-Baṣrī in theologizing in the Islamic milieu of the ‘Abbasids in the 9th century. His Kitāb al-Burhān, one of his only two surviving works, will therefore be thoroughly studied from two perspectives: the Islamic perspective as it is found in contemporary anti-Christian polemical texts; and the Christian perspective, through a comparison of ‘Ammār’s treatise with the works of Arab Christian theologians of his day. The present study aims at demonstrating the level of translatability of Christian theology into the Islamic intellectual milieu, as ‘Ammār al-Baṣrī saw it. It is therefore natural that we should examine Kitāb al-Burhān as an example of “contextualized” theology in Dār al-Islām. ‘Ammār’s Burhān stands a witness to the numerous attempts made by Arab Christians to reconcile their heritage (the world of Islam) with their inheritance (Christian theology). Such a reconciliation is essential for the future existence of Arab Christians, particularly in the Arab World. The present study is divided into three major sections, each presenting a particular perspective: the first is a historical overview of ‘Ammār’s context. It includes Chapter One, which examines the socio-political milieu of Eastern Christians at the advent of Islam, and the beginning of Christian Arabic theology; and Chapter Two, which explores the life and works of ‘Ammār al-Baṣrī, and examines the history of scholarship on Kitāb al-Burhān. i The heart of the present study is Section Two, i.e. the theological perspective, which offers a systematic and critical analysis of the content of Kitāb al-Burhān. This starts with Chapter Three, where ‘Ammār’s arguments concerning the true religion and the reasons for accepting the Christian religion are closely examined. Chapter Four offers an analysis of ‘Ammār’s presentation of God’s existence, God’s book, i.e., refuting the allegation of corruption, and God’s nature, i.e. the Trinity. And Chapter Five presents ‘Ammār’s Christological views, scrutinizing with critical attention discussions on the unity of Christ, his incarnation, cross and crucifixion. Chapter Six offers a discussion on the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist. And finally, in this section, Chapter Seven presents a theological presentation of ‘Ammār’s views on some aspects of Eschatology, i.e. eating and drinking in the afterlife. Section Three contains Chapter Eight, which investigates the place of ‘Ammār. Finally, the appendix offers for the first time an English translation of Kitāb al-Burhān. ii DEDICATION To my mother who lovingly gave “ἀπολογία” for the hope within her (I Pet. 3: 16) iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would never have been able to finish this dissertation without the oversight of my supervisor Professor David Thomas and his excellent guidance, patience, and continuous support. I would also like to thank Professor Riad Kassis, whose help and kindness secured my access to the epitome of ‘Ammār al-Baṣrī’s Kitāb al-Burhān, kept at Charfeh Monastery in Lebanon. I wholeheartedly thank the Langham Partnership and ScholarLeaders for their generous financial support, without which this study would not have been completed. I also offer my deepest appreciation for the editorial work done by Elaine Pequenat and Carol Rowe. Finally, I would like to thank my wife, Colby, and our children, Alexander and Adam, who were a great support to me during the writing of this dissertation. iv Note on Scripture Translations Unless otherwise noted, all biblical citations are taken from the Revised Standard Version and all qur’ānic citations are from Yūsuf ‘Alī’s translation. Arabic Transliteration Table k ك ḍ ض d د ’ ا l ل ṭ ط dh ذ b ب m م ẓ ظ r ر t ت n ن ‘ ع z ز th ث h ﻫـ gh غ s س j ج w و f ف sh ش ḥ ح y ي q ق ṣ ص kh خ The short vowels are represented as follows: a fatḥah i kasrah u ḍammah The long vowels are represented as follows: ā ’alif ī wāw ū yā’ The diphthongs are represented as follows: (ـ َي) ay (ـ َو) aw The final hā’ is represented by “ah.” v List of Abbreviations AM Anno Martyrum BL British Library BSOAS Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies CE The Coptic Encyclopedia CEDRAC Centre de Documentation et de Recherches Arabes Chrétiennes cf. Compare, confer circa approximately CSCO Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium ed. editor, edition, edited by EI2 The Encyclopedia of Islam, new edition f., ff. folio(s) GCAL Georg Graf, Geschichte der christlichen arabischen Literatur. Città del Vaticano, Bibliotheca Apostolica Vaticana, 1944-1953. 5 v. H. Hijrī HCMR History of Christian-Muslim Relations ISCH Islamochristiana Michel Hayek, Apologie et Controverses (FI), Apologie et Controverses (French Introduction) N.D. No date N.P. No publisher no. Number p., pp. page(s) PAC Patrimoine Arabe Chrétien ParOr Parole de l’Orient PIO Pontificio Istituto Orientale r. reigned trans. Translation, translated by vol. volume vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract Dedication Acknowledgements Note on Scripture Translations Arabic Transliteration Chart List of Abbreviations SECTION ONE: AN HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE CHAPTER ONE: An Introduction 1 1. Methodology and Limitations 2 2. Christians at the Advent of Islam 3 2.1. The Dhimmīs 10 2.2. The Umayyad Caliphate and the Dhimmīs 19 2.3. The ‘Abbasid Caliphate and the Dhimmīs 23 2.4. Christians and Islamification: An Evaluation 27 CHAPTER TWO: Who is ‘Ammār al-Baṣrī? 31 3. The Life and Works of ‘Ammār al-Baṣrī 31 4. Theological Corpus: Genre, Topics and Audience 35 5. Kitāb al-Burhān: A History of Scholarship 38 5.1. Al-Ṣafī ibn al-‘Assāl (d. circa 1265) 39 5.2. Michel Hayek (1977) 40 5.3. Sidney H. Griffith (1980, 1983) 41 5.4. Ivor Mark Beaumont (2003, 2005) 44 5.5. Other Academic Works 46 6. Scholarship on Kitāb al-Burhān: An Evaluation 46 SECTION TWO: A THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE CHAPTER THREE: Kitāb al-Burhān: A Topical and Theological Analysis 48 7. The Proofs of the True Religion 49 7.1 The First Proof: God is Wise and Generous 50 7.2 The Second Proof: God’s Demand for Morality 52 7.3 The Third Proof: God’s Reward for the Godly 53 8. Discerning the True Religion 55 8.1. The Cessation of Miracles 56 8.2. Religions Examined: 60 8.2.1. Judaism 60 vii 8.2.2. Zoroastrianism 62 8.2.3. Manichaeism 63 8.2.4. Marcionism 64 8.2.5. Bārdaiṣānism 64 8.2.6. Islam 65 8.3. Proofs of the True Religion: An Evaluation 69 9. Concerning the Acceptance of the Christian Religion 72 9.1. Collusion 73 9.2. The Sword 76 9.3. Bribery and Cajolery 79 9.4. Ethnocentricity 80 9.5. Personal Preference 82 9.6. Permissiveness 86 9.7. Illusions of Sorcery 90 9.7.1. Acceptance of the Christian Religion: An Evaluation 91 CHAPTER FOUR: Discourses on the Doctrine of God 100 10. On the Proof of the Existence of God 100 11. The Discourse on the Gospels 104 11.1. The Muslim View of the Christian Scriptures 105 11.2. ‘Ammār’s Arguments: The Structure 108 11.2.1. The Psychological Impossibility 111 11.2.2. The Historical Impossibility 115 11.2.3. The Theological Impossibility 117 11.3. ‘Ammār’s Christian Context 128 11.4. Discourse on the Gospels: An Evaluation 131 12. The Discourse on the Trinity 134 12.1. The Doctrine of the Trinity and Islam 134 12.2. What is “One”? 136 12.3. The Christian View of the Trinity: “One Substance Three 161 Hypostases” 12.4. ‘Life’ and ‘Speech’ and Other Attributes 162 12.5. ‘Ammār’s Discourse on the Trinity: An Evaluation 172 CHAPTER FIVE: Discourses on Christology 185 13. The Discourse on the Divine Unity 185 13.1. The Word of God is the Son of God 185 13.1.1. First Possible Answer 191 viii 13.1.2. Second Possible Answer 193 13.1.3. Third Possible Answer 196 13.1.4. Fourth Possible Answer 197 13.1.5. Fifth Possible Answer 200 13.2. Discourse on the Divine Unity: An Evaluation 203 13.3. Defining the Unity versus Defending the Unity 204 13.4. ‘Ammār’s Audience 207 14. The Discourse on the Confirmation of the Incarnation 211 14.1. Muslim Theology and the Christian Doctrine of the 211 Incarnation 14.2. Discourse on the Incarnation: Structure and Content 214 14.3. The Incarnation According to the Divine Economy: The Four 216 Reasons 14.3.1. The First Reason: The Need to Know God 218 14.3.2.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Pre-Islamic Arabia
    Pre-Islamic Arabia The Nomadic Tribes of Arabia The nomadic pastoralist Bedouin tribes inhabited the Arabian Peninsula before the rise of Islam around 700 CE. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe the societal structure of tribes in Arabia KEY TAKEAWAYS Key Points Nomadic Bedouin tribes dominated the Arabian Peninsula before the rise of Islam. Family groups called clans formed larger tribal units, which reinforced family cooperation in the difficult living conditions on the Arabian peninsula and protected its members against other tribes. The Bedouin tribes were nomadic pastoralists who relied on their herds of goats, sheep, and camels for meat, milk, cheese, blood, fur/wool, and other sustenance. The pre-Islamic Bedouins also hunted, served as bodyguards, escorted caravans, worked as mercenaries, and traded or raided to gain animals, women, gold, fabric, and other luxury items. Arab tribes begin to appear in the south Syrian deserts and southern Jordan around 200 CE, but spread from the central Arabian Peninsula after the rise of Islam in the 630s CE. Key Terms Nabatean: an ancient Semitic people who inhabited northern Arabia and Southern Levant, ca. 37–100 CE. Bedouin: a predominantly desert-dwelling Arabian ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans. Pre-Islamic Arabia Pre-Islamic Arabia refers to the Arabian Peninsula prior to the rise of Islam in the 630s. Some of the settled communities in the Arabian Peninsula developed into distinctive civilizations. Sources for these civilizations are not extensive, and are limited to archaeological evidence, accounts written outside of Arabia, and Arab oral traditions later recorded by Islamic scholars. Among the most prominent civilizations were Thamud, which arose around 3000 BCE and lasted to about 300 CE, and Dilmun, which arose around the end of the fourth millennium and lasted to about 600 CE.
    [Show full text]
  • Byzantine Missionaries, Foreign Rulers, and Christian Narratives (Ca
    Conversion and Empire: Byzantine Missionaries, Foreign Rulers, and Christian Narratives (ca. 300-900) by Alexander Borislavov Angelov A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (History) in The University of Michigan 2011 Doctoral Committee: Professor John V.A. Fine, Jr., Chair Professor Emeritus H. Don Cameron Professor Paul Christopher Johnson Professor Raymond H. Van Dam Associate Professor Diane Owen Hughes © Alexander Borislavov Angelov 2011 To my mother Irina with all my love and gratitude ii Acknowledgements To put in words deepest feelings of gratitude to so many people and for so many things is to reflect on various encounters and influences. In a sense, it is to sketch out a singular narrative but of many personal “conversions.” So now, being here, I am looking back, and it all seems so clear and obvious. But, it is the historian in me that realizes best the numerous situations, emotions, and dilemmas that brought me where I am. I feel so profoundly thankful for a journey that even I, obsessed with planning, could not have fully anticipated. In a final analysis, as my dissertation grew so did I, but neither could have become better without the presence of the people or the institutions that I feel so fortunate to be able to acknowledge here. At the University of Michigan, I first thank my mentor John Fine for his tremendous academic support over the years, for his friendship always present when most needed, and for best illustrating to me how true knowledge does in fact produce better humanity.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 the Turks and Europe by Gaston Gaillard London: Thomas Murby & Co
    THE TURKS AND EUROPE BY GASTON GAILLARD LONDON: THOMAS MURBY & CO. 1 FLEET LANE, E.C. 1921 1 vi CONTENTS PAGES VI. THE TREATY WITH TURKEY: Mustafa Kemal’s Protest—Protests of Ahmed Riza and Galib Kemaly— Protest of the Indian Caliphate Delegation—Survey of the Treaty—The Turkish Press and the Treaty—Jafar Tayar at Adrianople—Operations of the Government Forces against the Nationalists—French Armistice in Cilicia—Mustafa Kemal’s Operations—Greek Operations in Asia Minor— The Ottoman Delegation’s Observations at the Peace Conference—The Allies’ Answer—Greek Operations in Thrace—The Ottoman Government decides to sign the Treaty—Italo-Greek Incident, and Protests of Armenia, Yugo-Slavia, and King Hussein—Signature of the Treaty – 169—271 VII. THE DISMEMBERMENT OF THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE: 1. The Turco-Armenian Question - 274—304 2. The Pan-Turanian and Pan-Arabian Movements: Origin of Pan-Turanism—The Turks and the Arabs—The Hejaz—The Emir Feisal—The Question of Syria—French Operations in Syria— Restoration of Greater Lebanon—The Arabian World and the Caliphate—The Part played by Islam - 304—356 VIII. THE MOSLEMS OF THE FORMER RUSSIAN EMPIRE AND TURKEY: The Republic of Northern Caucasus—Georgia and Azerbaïjan—The Bolshevists in the Republics of Caucasus and of the Transcaspian Isthmus—Armenians and Moslems - 357—369 IX. TURKEY AND THE SLAVS: Slavs versus Turks—Constantinople and Russia - 370—408 2 THE TURKS AND EUROPE I THE TURKS The peoples who speak the various Turkish dialects and who bear the generic name of Turcomans, or Turco-Tatars, are distributed over huge territories occupying nearly half of Asia and an important part of Eastern Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • Lehi and the Arabs
    Lehi and the Arabs Here we discuss Lehi’s personal contacts with the Arabs, as indicated by his family background and his association with Ishmael, whose descendants in the New World closely resemble the Ishmaelites (Bedouins) of the Old World. The names of Lehi and some of his sons are pure Arabic. The Book of Mormon depicts Lehi as a man of three worlds, and it has recently become generally recognized that the ancient Hebrews shared fully in the culture and traditions of the desert on the one hand and in the cultural heritage of Egypt on the other. Lehi’s ties with the Arabs are many and interesting. Since the only comprehensive study of this theme is a chapter of Lehi in the Desert, we can do no better in this lesson than to quote that chapter, with necessary alterations and additions. Signicance of Manasseh Now of all the tribes of Israel, Manasseh was the one which lived farthest out in the desert, came into the most frequent contact with the Arabs, intermarried with them most frequently, and at the same time had the closest traditional bonds with Egypt.1 The prominence of the name of Ammon in the Book of Mormon may have something to do with the fact that Ammon was Manasseh’s nearest neighbor and often fought him in the deserts east of Jordan; at the same time a prehistoric connection with the Ammon of Egypt is not at all out of the question. The seminomadic nature of Manasseh might explain why Lehi seems out of touch with things in Jerusalem.
    [Show full text]
  • Parolin V9 1..190
    Citizenship in the Arab World IMISCOE International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion in Europe The IMISCOE Network of Excellence unites over 500 researchers from European institutes specialising in studies of international migration, integration and social cohesion. The Network is funded by the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commission on Research, Citizens and Governance in a Knowledge-Based Society. Since its foundation in 2004, IMISCOE has developed an integrated, multidisciplinary and globally comparative research project led by scholars from all branches of the economic and social sciences, the humanities and law. The Network both furthers existing studies and pioneers new research in migration as a discipline. Priority is also given to promoting innovative lines of inquiry key to European policymaking and governance. The IMISCOE-Amsterdam University Press Series was created to make the Network’s findings and results available to researchers, policymakers and practitioners, the media and other interested stakeholders. High-quality manuscripts authored by IMISCOE members and cooperating partners are published in one of four distinct series. IMISCOE Research advances sound empirical and theoretical scholarship addressing themes within IMISCOE’s mandated fields of study. IMISCOE Reports disseminates Network papers and presentations of a time-sensitive nature in book form. IMISCOE Dissertations presents select PhD monographs written by IMISCOE doctoral candidates. IMISCOE Textbooks produces manuals, handbooks and other didactic tools for instructors and students of migration studies. IMISCOE Policy Briefs and more information on the Network can be found at www.imiscoe.org. Citizenship in the Arab World Kin, Religion and Nation-State Gianluca P. Parolin IMISCOE Research This work builds on five years of onsite research into citizenship in the Arab world.
    [Show full text]
  • From Nahda to Exile
    From Nahda to Exile: A History of the Shawam in Egypt in the Early Twentieth Century Hussam Eldin Raafat Ahmed Institute of Islamic Studies McGill University Montreal, Canada June 2011 A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts Hussam Eldin Raafat Ahmed 2011 Library and Archives Bibliothèque et Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de l'édition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-83886-0 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-83886-0 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant à la Bibliothèque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par télécommunication ou par l'Internet, prêter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des thèses partout dans le loan, distrbute and sell theses monde, à des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non- support microforme, papier, électronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriété du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette thèse. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la thèse ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent être imprimés ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation.
    [Show full text]
  • Curriculum Vitae Karène SANCHEZ SUMMERER
    Curriculum Vitae Karène SANCHEZ SUMMERER Leiden University March 2021 Faculty of Humanities, LUCL P O Box 9515 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands [email protected] +31 71 5272175 +31 71 5232040 Office: Reuven 1.28 https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/karene-sanchez#tab-1 https://crossroadsproject.net Born: March 22, 1975 (Perpignan, France); French Married, 2 children _______________________________________________________ Current Position June 2018 - Associate Professor (UhD), Leiden University, The Netherlands ___________________________________________________ Previous Positions Sept 09- May 18 Assistant Professor (UD), Leiden University, The Netherlands Sept. 05- Sept 09 Assistant Professor, Leiden University, The Netherlands Nov. 06- Sept 08 Assistant Professor, Utrecht University, The Netherlands Feb. 03 – June 06 Lecturer and Faculty Mentor, Academic cooperation, Consulat Général de France à Jérusalem ______________________________________ Research projects and Grants Research projects Dec. 2017- Dec. 2022: PI VIDI project, NWO (The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research), ‘European cultural diplomacy and Arab Christians in Palestine. A connected history during the formative years of the Middle East (1918-1948)’ 2020-2021: partner of the Digital Humanities project 2020-2021, Archives of French as a Foreign Language, CollEX-Persée CLIODIFLE 1919-1985, Des institutions des enseignants, des étudiants. Une contribution à l’histoire de la francophonie ; consortium between the universities of Paris 3 Sorbonne, Tours, Rouen, Athens Capodistrian University, Leiden University (LUCL), 1 Kings’ College London (School of Education, Communication and Society), Università del Sacro Cuore Milan, University of Geneva (Maison des langues), SIHFLES and FIPF. 2018: PI Stichting Van Moorsel en Rijnierse project, NWO (The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research), ‘Between the Holy Land and the World.
    [Show full text]
  • March 2021 E-Newsletter
    Established August 1, 1996 The Apple of His Eye Mission Society March 2021 e-newsletter www.appleofhiseye.org Why? By Steve Cohen On Saturday, March 27th , the first night of the eight day festival know as Passover, we hosted our 2021 family Passover Seder at our Georgetown, Texas home. A LOT of work went into the planning, preparation Toi Powell helping Nancy, Toi, grandson and serving of this wonderful event. with setup Andy and Kristy prepping The tables were set with great care, and the menu was given much consideration. The ceremonial items of Karpas (parsley & salt water), Maror (freshly ground horseradish) to the marvelous Charoseth (chopped apples with honey and other yummy ingre- dients). The dinner included superb Matzo Ball soup (yes they were light and fluffy, not brick like to be shipped back to Egypt) Israeli salad, lemony chicken and heavenly brisket, potatoes, brussels sprouts, and for desert fresh fruit and macarons (not to be con- fused with macaroons). Of course no bread was served as this is the seder because this is also the feast of unleavened bread, so Matzoh was the order of the day. One of the highlights of the Passover seder is the asking of the traditional four questions by the young- est child at the table who can read. This year was no different; the questions asked were: The Apple of His Eye Administrative Center: PO Box 1649 Brentwood TN 37024 Brentwood PO Center: 1649 Administrative Box Eye His of Apple The Ma nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol haleilot? The rest of the Passover seder is set to answer those four questions and retell the story of our liberation from bondage and slavery in Egypt.
    [Show full text]
  • Al-Hadl Yahya B. Ai-Husayn: an Introduction, Newly Edited Text and Translation with Detailed Annotation
    Durham E-Theses Ghayat al-amani and the life and times of al-Hadi Yahya b. al-Husayn: an introduction, newly edited text and translation with detailed annotation Eagle, A.B.D.R. How to cite: Eagle, A.B.D.R. (1990) Ghayat al-amani and the life and times of al-Hadi Yahya b. al-Husayn: an introduction, newly edited text and translation with detailed annotation, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/6185/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 ABSTRACT Eagle, A.B.D.R. M.Litt., University of Durham. 1990. " Ghayat al-amahr and the life and times of al-Hadf Yahya b. al-Husayn: an introduction, newly edited text and translation with detailed annotation. " The thesis is anchored upon a text extracted from an important 11th / 17th century Yemeni historical work.
    [Show full text]
  • Al-Kindi, a Ninth-Century Physician, Philosopher, And
    AL-KINDI, A NINTH-CENTURY PHYSICIAN, PHILOSOPHER, AND SCHOLAR by SAMI HAMARNEH FROM 9-12 December, I962, the Ministry of Guidance in Iraq celebrated the thousandth anniversary of one of the greatest intellectual figures of ninth century Baghdad, Abui Yuisuf Ya'qiib ibn Ishaq al-Kind? (Latin Alkindus).1 However, in the aftermath ofthis commendable effort, no adequate coverage of al-Kindl as a physician-philosopher ofardent scholarship has, to my knowledge, been undertaken. This paper, therefore, is intended to shed light on his intel- lectual contributions within the framework of the environment and time in which he lived. My proposals and conclusions are mainly based upon a study of al-Kindi's extant scientific and philosophical writings, and on scattered information in the literature of the period. These historical records reveal that al-Kindi was the only man in medieval Islam to be called 'the philosopher of the Arabs'.2 This honorary title was apparently conferred upon him as early as the tenth century if not during his lifetime in the ninth. He lived in the Abbasids' capital during a time of high achievement. As one of the rare intellectual geniuses of the century, he con- tributed substantially to this great literary, philosophic, and scientific activity, which included all the then known branches of human knowledge. Very little is known for certain about the personal life of al-Kind?. Several references in the literary legacy ofIslam, however, have assisted in the attempt to speculate intelligently about the man. Most historians of the period confirm the fact that al-Kindl was of pure Arab stock and a rightful descendant of Kindah (or Kindat al-Muliuk), originally a royal south-Arabian tribe3.
    [Show full text]
  • Medieval Hebrew Texts and European River Names Ephraim Nissan London [email protected]
    ONOMÀSTICA 5 (2019): 187–203 | RECEPCIÓ 8.3.2019 | ACCEPTACIÓ 18.9.2019 Medieval Hebrew texts and European river names Ephraim Nissan London [email protected] Abstract: The first section of theBook of Yosippon (tenth-century Italy) maps the Table of Nations (Genesis 10) onto contemporary peoples and places and this text, replete with tantalizing onomastics, also includes many European river names. An extract can be found in Elijah Capsali’s chronicle of the Ottomans 1517. The Yosippon also includes a myth of Italic antiquities and mentions a mysterious Foce Magna, apparently an estuarine city located in the region of Ostia. The article also examines an onomastically rich passage from the medieval travelogue of Benjamin of Tudela, and the association he makes between the river Gihon (a name otherwise known in relation to the Earthly Paradise or Jerusalem) and the Gurganin or the Georgians, a people from the Caspian Sea. The river Gihon is apparently what Edmund Spenser intended by Guyon in his Faerie Queene. The problems of relating the Hebrew spellings of European river names to their pronunciation are illustrated in the case of the river Rhine. Key words: river names (of the Seine, Loire, Rhine, Danube, Volga, Dnieper, Po, Ticino, Tiber, Arno, Era, Gihon, Guyon), Kiev, medieval Hebrew texts, Book of Yosippon, Table of Nations (Genesis 10), historia gentium, mythical Foce Magna city, Benjamin of Tudela, Elijah Capsali, Edmund Spenser Textos hebreus medievals i noms de rius europeus Resum: L’inici del Llibre de Yossippon (Itàlia, segle X) relaciona la «taula de les nacions» de Gènesi 10 amb pobles i llocs contemporanis, i aquest text, ple de propostes onomàstiques temptadores, també inclou noms fluvials europeus.
    [Show full text]
  • Chrétiens Au Proche-Orient
    Archives de sciences sociales des religions 171 | 2015 Chrétiens au Proche-Orient Édition électronique URL : http://journals.openedition.org/assr/27005 DOI : 10.4000/assr.27005 ISSN : 1777-5825 Éditeur Éditions de l’EHESS Édition imprimée Date de publication : 1 septembre 2015 ISBN : 9-782713224706 ISSN : 0335-5985 Référence électronique Archives de sciences sociales des religions, 171 | 2015, « Chrétiens au Proche-Orient » [En ligne], mis en ligne le 01 septembre 2017, consulté le 29 septembre 2020. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/ assr/27005 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/assr.27005 Ce document a été généré automatiquement le 29 septembre 2020. © Archives de sciences sociales des religions 1 Les « chrétiens d’Orient » sont aujourd’hui au premier plan, dramatique, de l’actualité internationale. Leur histoire donne aussi lieu, depuis quelques années, à des recherches nouvelles, attentives à l’inscription de ces « communautés chrétiennes » dans leurs contextes. La sortie de l’ère postcoloniale et les crises des États-nations au Proche- Orient ont conféré une légitimité inédite à une approche des sociétés sous l’angle de leurs minorités, partant d’une nouvelle compréhension des notions de « frontières », confessionnelles ou ethniques, et des interactions entre « majorité » et « minorités ». Les contributions du présent dossier portent sur l’Égypte, la Syrie, la Jordanie et la Turquie. Ces études envisagent les chrétiens non pas comme des minoritaires victimes des aléas politiques, mais comme des acteurs participant à la vie politique, intellectuelle et culturelle de leurs sociétés. Elles éclairent les fonctionnements internes des communautés chrétiennes et de leurs institutions qui, loin de s’être fossilisées dans des traditions immuables, aménagent constamment leur rapport à l’histoire et aux langues constitutives de leur identité.
    [Show full text]