Muslim-Christian Polemic During the Crusades: The Letter From the People of Cyprus and Ibn Abi Talib Al-Dimashqi's Response (The History of Christian-Muslim Relations) [Hardcover]

Rifaat Ebied (Editor), David Thomas (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 9004135898 | ISBN-13: 978-9004135895 | Publication Date: March 1, 2005

This volume comprises an edition and English translation of the response in Arabic made by the fourteenth century scholar Ibn Abî Tâlib al-Dimashqî to a Letter sent to him by anonymous Christians from Cyprus. The Christian letter was also sent to al-Dimashqî’s contemporary Ibn Taymiyya, and this response is thus a parallel to Ibn Taymiyya’s Al-jawâb al-sahîh.

In their Letter the Christians subtly suggest that the Qur’an supports Christian doctrines. Al-Dimashqî replies with a comprehensive series of elaborate and wide-ranging arguments that incorporate not only themes familiar from earlier polemical works but also his own original points. His response is thus an important source of information about the development of Muslim interfaith attitudes, and a significant example of polemic in the later medieval period.

The edition presents the two parts of this correspondence in parallel Arabic and English versions, together with an extensive introduction, textual notes and commentary.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rifaat Ebied is Foundation Professor of Semitic Studies at the University of Sydney, Australia. He has published extensively in the field of Semitic Studies generally and on Christian Arabic and Syriac studies in particular, most recently Petri Callinicensis Patriarchae Antiocheni: Tractatus Contra Damianum (Louvain 1994/1996/1998/2003).

David Thomas, Ph.D. (1983) in Islamic Studies, University of Lancaster, is Reader in Christianity and Islam at the University of Birmingham. He has published extensively on Christian-Muslim relations, most recently Early Muslim Polemic against Christianity (Cambridge, 2002) and Christians at the Heart of Islamic Rule (Brill, 2003).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 520 pages
• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9004135898
• ISBN-13: 978-9004135895
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.4 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,056,953 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > History > Europe > Cyprus

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This review is from: Muslim-Christian Polemic During the Crusades: The Letter From the People of Cyprus and Ibn Abi Talib Al-Dimashqi's Response (The History of Christian-Muslim Relations) (Hardcover)

Medieval Bilingual Dialogue:
This volume comprises an Arabic edition with English translation of the Arabic response made by Damascene Islamic scholar Shams Ibn Abî Tâlib, a fourteenth century 'faquih', in response to a provocative letter from 'across Mediterrenian' Cypriot Christians. In his Letter, the Cypriot Christian eludes that the Qur'an does not contradict, but in fact affirms the Christian religion and its basic doctrines. the Moslem scholar elaborates in his comprehensive reply, in detailed and wide-ranging themes, rewriting earlier familiar polemical works, in a reply to Christian's letter, which was also sent to Ibn Taymiyya, a controversial Islamic contemporary. This response is thus a parallel to Ibn Taymiyya's (Al-jawâb al-sahîh)*.

Note on Master of Jihad:
In his original book, (Aljawaab AlSaheeh)*;'The Correct Answer,' Ibn Tayymiya elaborated an encyclopedic answer,in 7 volumes, to many Christian polemics. Ibn Taymiyya (1263-1328), well versed in Qur'anic studies, and scholastic theology, started giving fatwas on religious legal matters without following any of the four traditional legal schools, influenced by Ibn Hanbal. He was unyielding in his political and religious positions.
His jihad against the enemies of Islam, which he is now best known for, did not help him in his times, and he died in jail because of his daring opinions. Most notably, the Ibn Taymiyya writings were incorporated into Wahhabi doctrine in order to legitimize fighting anti-Islam as holy Jihad.

A Model Muslim/Christian Dialogue:
The development of Muslim christian interfaith dialogues, in the later medieval period is a good example of those polemics, is thus a rich source of information about the trends, attitudes, and rules of oral and written engagement.
The edition, in parallel Arabic versions and English translation presents in vivid account both parts of this correspondence, as a dialogue. The authors provide an elaborate introduction, detailed notes and commentary on the Arabic text rendered in a clear English translation.

Toil Lover Editors:
The Catholic Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission , inspired by Vatican II, and pioneered by two great scholars in the field Fr. Samir Khalil, and Fr. Sidney Griffith has progressed vastly this area of research. Dr. Rifaat Ebied, Professor of Semitic Studies, University of Sydney, has published extensively on Christian Arabic and Syriac studies, Studies on the Christian Arabic Heritage. Dr. David Thomas, of U. Birmingham, Islamic Studies has published profusely on Christian/Islamic issues, (Christians at the Heart of Islamic Rule, Brill, 2003).