French
Fighting for the Cause of God: Vice or Virtue? Views of ŠIHĀB AL–DĪN AL–QARĀFĪ (d. 1285)
Original title : “Se battre pour la cause de Dieu : vice ou vertu ? Vues de ŠIHĀB AL–DĪN AL–QARĀFĪ (m. 1285)”
ABSTRACT: This article discusses the views of the Cairene jurist Šihāb al–Dīn al–Qarāfī (d. 1285) of the moral-ity of fighting for God’s cause, as expressed in his work al–Aǧwiba al–fāḫira ‘an al–as’ila al–fāǧira (Splendid Replies to Insolent Questions). This book is among the most extensive and important medievalMuslim refutations of Christianity composed in response to a popular apology for Christianity written bythe Melkite Bishop of Sidon, Paul of Antioch, around the year 1200. Although Paul remained silent on theissue of the spread of Islam through military conquest, al–Qarāfī still felt the need to address the question,aware of the popularity of this argument in Christian polemics against Islam. Al–Qarāfī also raised the is-sue of religious warfare in connection with his defence of the universality of Muḥammad’s prophethood,this in reply to Paul’s contention that Muḥammad was sent exclusively to the Arab pagans of his time.From his treatment of the subject, it becomes clear that al–Qarāfī conceives Muḥammad’s military cam-paigns as religiously driven, an expression of his fight against error and unbelief
Résumé
Cet article discute les vues du juriste cairote Šihāb al–Dīn al–Qarāfī (m. 1285) sur la moralité du combat pour la cause de Dieu telles qu’il les exprime dans son œuvre al–Aǧwiba al–fāḫira ‘an al–as’ila al–fāǧira (Splendides réponses à des questions insolentes). Ce livre est une des plus importantes et des plus complètes réfutations médiévales musulmanes du christianisme. Elle a été composée en réponse à une apologie du christianisme écrite par l’évêque melkite de Sidon, Paul d’Antioche, aux environs de l’an 1200. Bien que l’évêque Paul n’ait rien dit sur la question de l’expansion de l’Islam par conquête militaire, al–Qarāfī a cependant senti le besoin de soulever la question, conscient qu’il était de la popularité de cet argument dans la polémique chrétienne contre l’Islam. Al–Qarāfī a aussi soulevé la question du combat pour la cause de Dieu en relation à sa défense de l’universalité de la mission prophétique de Muḥammad, cela en réponse à l’évêque Paul présentant Muḥammad comme exclusivement envoyé aux Arabes païens de son temps. À la façon dont il traite le sujet, il apparait clairement qu’al–Qarāfī envisage les campagnes militaires de Muḥammad comme religieusement inspirées et comme une expression de sa lutte contre l’erreur et l’incroyance.
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