Pluriel

University platform for research on Islam

Initiated by
the Federation
of European
Catholic
Universities

Supported by
the International
Federation
of Catholic
Universities

English

2016

Medieval Muslim Polemics against the Christian Creed : The Critique of ṢĀLIḤ B. AL-ḤUSAYN AL-ǦA‘FARĪ (D. 668/1270)

Abstract

After introducing Ṣāliḥ b. al-Ḥusayn al-Ǧa‘farī (d. 668/1270), the Egyptian Muslim author of an important work of anti-Christian polemic entitled Taḫǧīl man ḥarrafa al-Tawrāh wa-l-Inǧīl (‘The Shaming of Those Who Have Corrupted the Torah and the Gospel’), this article offers an annotated translation of the book’s eighth chapter, devoted to exposing the alleged corruption and self- contradictoriness of the Christian creed. The charges are fundamentally two: that some parts of the creed logically contradict other parts; and that the creed is based neither on the revealed law of the Gospel nor on the words of Jesus or the Apostles.

Titre original : “Medieval Muslim Polemics against the Christian Creed : The Critique of ṢĀLIḤ B. AL-ḤUSAYN AL-ǦA‘FARĪ (D. 668/1270)”

Résumé

Après avoir présenté Ṣāliḥ b. Ḥusayn al-Ǧa‘farī (m. 668/1270), auteur musulman égyptien d’un important ouvrage sur la polémique anti-chrétienne intitulé Taḫǧīl man ḥarrafa al-Tawrāh wa-l-Inǧīl (“Honte à ceux qui ont corrompu la Torah et l’Evangile”), cet article offre une traduction annotée du huitième chapitre du livre consacré à l’exposition de la prétendue corruption et des contradictions internes du credo chrétien. Les accusations se limitent fondamentalement à deux, à savoir que certaines parties du credo contredisent logiquement certaines autres et que ce credo n’est basé ni sur la loi révélée de l’Évangile ni sur les dires de Jésus ou des apôtres.