SAMAU'AL AL-MAGHRIBi SAMAU'AL AL-MAGHRIBI YAHUD I}'HAM ALIFIHAM AL-YAHUD • SiJenring The Jews Jews Silencing
Edited Translated Edited and Translated by by
Moshe Perlmann Perlmann Moshe
New York New Am.crican "Academy Rcse&wc Academy For Jewish Researc.h A,ericran 1964 1964
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The material publication was assembled number for this this publication over aa number material for assembledover of years. leave of absence from the Harvard Center of Middle A leave from Middle absence the Harvard Center years. Eastern Studies preparation for for enabled me to concentrate Eastern Studies enabled concentrate on the preparation publication of Samau'al's IfJ}.im (and Ibn Kammiini's Samau'al's Ifh1m KammuinS'sTanqnt). publication Tanqih). I A. R. Gibb, am the Director of the Center, Professor H. am grateful Director to the Professor Gibb, Center, grateful Founfor consideration of my plans. A Rockefeller Founfor his his sympathetic Rockefeller consideration my plans. sympathetic helped make plans practicable. practicable. dation make these dation grant these plans grant helped I am indebted ~1rs. Martha ~1artha Smith put the manuscript indebted to Mrs. Smith who put manuscript into and Charles Wendell whose invaluable help into shape, and Charles Wendell whose to invaluable help II enjoyed shape, enjoyed during work. the work. various stages stages of the during various It gives great pleasure pleasure to thank whose facilities facilities me great thank the libraries librarieswhose gives me II was was privileged privileged to use in particular, those made availuse and, those who made availand, particular, able basic manuscripts. able the the basic manuscripts. The notes notes marked may be of which follow marked "B," follow the translation, "B," which translation,may reader interested details and and bibliography. bibliography. value the reader further details value to the interested in further Both in Arabic Both English, the pages pages of the basic basic manuscript Arabic and and in English, manuscript are indicated are parallel indicated in order order to facilitate facilitate the the identification identification of parallel passages. passages. Los Angeles, 1964. Los Angeles, April April 1964.
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to
Contents Contents
15
Introduction Translation Translation
33-93 33-93
Silencing Silencing the Jews Jews
33-73 33-73
The Conversion Conversion (Autobiography) (Autobiography)
74-88 74-88
An Anonymous An Anonymous Epistle Epistle
89-90 89-90
The Reply Reply
91-93 91-93
B Notes Notes
94-102 94-102 103-104 103-104
Index Index Arabic Arabic Section Section The Texts Texts
Arabic and Appendix: Hebrew sources and Hebrew sources on Samau'al on Samau'al Appendix: Arabic
11 11
from the the usual usual abbreviations, Apart from have abbreviations,the following Apart symbols have following symbols been been used notes: used in the the notes: Baron S. and Religious Religious History History of of the Jews, Jews, S. W., A Social Social and 2nd 2nd ed. ed. (New 1952- )) York, 1952(New York, .Bergmann J., Apologelik im neutestamentlichen im neutestammtlichen Jiidische Apologetik J., Jiidisc~e Bergmann Zeitalter (Berlin, Zeitalter (Berlin, 1908) 1908) B., fuifs et Chretiens dans Ie monde monde occidental occidental Blumenkranz Blumenkranz Chretiens dans le B., Juifs 1960) 430-1096 (Paris, (Paris, 1960) Clair~TJSdaJl W., A A Manual Manual of the Leading Mohammedan Mohammedan Obthe Clair-Tisdall of Leading jections to Christianity to (London, 1912) 1912) jections Christianity(London, Encyclopaedia of Islam E Islam E I Encyclopaedia of Elbogen I., judische Gottesdienst Gottesdienst(Leipzig, I., Der jiidische 1913) Elbogen (Leipzig, 1913) c. Litteratur GAL Geschichte C. Brockelmann Brockelmann GAL Geschichteder der arabischen arabischenLitteratur (Weimar-Leiden, (Weimar-Leiden, 1898-1942) 1898-1942) S - Supplementband Supplementband L., The Legends Jews The the Jews Ginzberg L., of the Ginzberg Legends of (Philadelphia, 1925-47) (Philadelphia, 1925-47) Ibn Hazm Hazm IH IH Ibn Qayyim IQ Qayyim IQ S., Das Leben Leben Jesu jesu nQ£h jUdischen Quellen Krauss nach jiidischen Kraus Quellen (Berlin, (Berlin, 1902 1902)) Shorter Encyclopedia of Islam (Leiden, SEI Shorter Encyclopedia (Leiden, 1953) of Islam 1953) geschichte der Polemik zwischen zwischen Juden M., UZ ]uden ur geschichte "Zur Schreiner der Polemik Schreiner und M uhammedanern" (in Zeitschrift Zeitschrift und Muhammedanern" der Deutschen M orgenliindischen Gesell.. Gesell. der Deutschen Morgenldndischen schall, v. 42) schaft, 42) SPL M. Steinschneider, Polemisc~e und und apologetisch' Steinschneider,Polemische apologetische Literatur Literatur in a:rabischer S prache in arabischer Sprache (Leipzig, 1877) (Leipzig, 1877) E., Alttestamentliche Alttestamentliche Bibelkritik Bibelkritik in Stein Stein in der der spaetspaethellenistischen Literalur (Lwow, hellenistischenLiteratur (Lwow, 1935) 1935) Hebrew-Aramaic-Arabic Pentateuch Hebrew-Aramaic-Arabic Taj Pentateuch Taj (Jerusalem, (Jerusalem, 1895-1901) 1895-1901) A., H eflenistic Civilization ]6UJS Tcherikover Tcherikover Civilization and the lJws and the A, Hellenistic (Philadelphia, (Philadelphia, 1959) 1959) 12 12
13 13
14: 14
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Samau'al Samau'al al-Maghribi, mathematician, scholar, mathema.tician, distinguishedscholar, al-Maghribi, aa distinguished in what and lived in what is today and physician the twelfth twelfth century, century, lived Syria, today Syria, physician of the and in Iraq and Iran. Born and brought up in the Jewish faith he became and Iran. the faith became Born brought Jewish up Iraq he wrote aa convert to Islam, tract against the Jews convert to wrote aa tract Islam, whereupon Jews whereupon he against the to which an docuto an autobiography. These two docuhe later later appended which he These autobiography. appended historical value. ments are of considerable interest and and historical value. considerableinterest ments are
The The Author Author
Samau'al mentions Samau'al mentions in his his autobiography that his Yehuda his father father Yehuda autobiographythat b. man of considerable b. Abiin, in Hebrew learnconsiderableaccomplishments Hebrew learnAbin, aa man accomplishments and writing, both prose writing, both and verse, had emigrated from the West. ing and had from West. ing and verse, emigrated prose has been been suggested It has that the father can be identified with a minor that the father can minor identified suggested Hebrew Hebrew poet the time. time. After After settling settli~g in the the East, perhaps to East, perhaps poet of the escape persecution under under the the Almoravides, Yehuda married married into aa Almoravides, Yehuda escape persecution 1 distinguished family in Baghdad. distinguishedfamily Baghdad.' Samau'al's first Samau'al's first teacher teacher was was his his father good father who later later employed employed good for his instructorsfor instructors his gifted son. Up age 13, Hebrew, Bible and son. to and the Bible gifted Up age 13, Hebrew, its its commentaries commentaries formed formed the curriculum curriculum in which which there there is no trace trace of talmudic talmudic study. study. At the same same time, time, from from age age 10 to 13, Samau'al 13, Samau'al read read first first the the Arabic Arabic fiction fiction literature literature of his his day day - stories, stories, anecanecdotes, popular popular romances romances of knighthood; knighthood; later later he read read the works works of dotes, historians historians (Tabari (Tabari and and Ibn Miskawayh Miskawayh in particular). particular). He shows shows acacwith Arabic quaintance with Arabic poetry.2 Mter boy reached the age After the reached quaintance poetry.2 boy age of and pursued only only secular secular studies: studies: mathematics, mathematics, astronomy, astronomy, and 13, he pursued the theory theory and and practice practice of medicine.3 medicine. 3 Before Before he was twenty twenty he was 1. The data on Samau'al's Samau'al's father father are are sifted sifted by by H. Schirmann Schirmann in v. VI of the Bulletin Bulletin of the Hebrew Hebrew Poetry Poetry Research Research Institute Institute [Jerusalem, [Jerusalem, 1945] 1945] pp. pp. 297 297 sq. sq. Cf. GAL GAL I 488, 488, S I 892; 892; ALJ ALI under under Samuel Samuel b. Abbas. 2. The text published published here here contains contains a few verses verses from from Mutanabbi. Mutanabbi. The unpublished work work on erotica erotica is replete replete with poetical poetical quotations. quotations. Cf. Ahlwardt's Ahlwardt's published Berlin Berlin Catalogue, Catalogue, No. 6381. The medical medical aspect aspect of this this work work is discussed discussed by by L L. Leclerc, Histoire HiJtoir~ de la La medicine medicine arabe, arabe, v. II II (Paris, (Paris, 1876) 1876) pp. pp. 14-18. 14-18. Leclerc, 3. His teachers teachers are are listed in the autobiography. autobiography.
15 15
an accomplished practitioner, and began began the composiaccomplished student and practitioner, composisition and medical sition of a series series of works works on mathematical mathematical and medical subjeeu. subjects. 4 His attainments won him wide recognition. recognition. It has been shown that Samau'al won a place place in the history Islam.66 history of science in medieval Islam. The The most distinguished Baghdad was the phiphidistinguished of his teachers in Baghdad
6 losopher-physician Perhaps a colleague Abui-l-Barakat.6 colleague of SamauPerhaps losopher-physician Abii.-I-Barakat. 'aI's Hebrew poet Isaac, son of Abraham Ibn Ezra, 'al's was the young young poet 7 the globe-trotting poet-scholar-commentator, from Spain. Spain.7 It is reglobe-trotting poet-scholar-commentator, markable that by converttwo disciples that the teacher and these 'two disciples ended by Judaism to Islam. The old man took the step toward the ing from The step ing end of his life. The poet was full of remorse, The poet remorse, and eager nullify eager to nullify his conversion. It was left to Samau'al to defend, justify, defend, justify, and uphold uphold the transition to the dominant faith. It seems see...~ that Samrau'al physician to important important personSamau'al served as physician
his Ta'rikh hukama' (ed. Lippert, 4. Ibn al-Qifti 646/1249) in his Lippert, LeipTa'rikh al l}ukami' al-Qifti (died (died 646/1249) Leipzig, p. 209) note to Samau'al's and works. works. It seemed devotes aa note Samau'al's life anQ seemed to him him 1903, p. zig, 1903, 209) devotes that Samau'al born in Spain was born whence he migrated Samau'al was father to the migrated with his father Spain whence the conversion was successful East. mcntion~ that fa-~asuna isthat the conversion was successful (wa-aslama East. He mentions (wa-aslama fa-hasuna islimuhu). between Samau'al clash between Samau'al and and Ibn Ibn al-Khashshib knew of a clash al-Khashshab (G.AL limuhu). He knew (GAL S v. problems. mathematical problems. Muslim savant, v. I 493 f.), savant, on mathematical f.), a Muslim Ibn U ?aybica (died follows suit his 'Uyiin al-'anbA' suit in his Abi Usaybica Ibn Abi 'Uyiin al-'anbi' 668/1269-70) follows (died 668/1269-70) v. II, p. note is (ed. A. Mueller, p. 30 f.). His note based on one by is based Cairo, 1884, 1884, v. by Mueller, Cairo, al-Latif b. as well as as on Ibn Muwaffaq b. Yiisuf Ibn al-Qifal-Din 'Abel 'Abd ai-Latif Yisuf ai-Baghdadi al-Baghdadi as al-QifMuwaffaq aI-Din GAL v. is full li. '.Abd al-La~if (died 629/1231, GAL S v. I, p. 880) is full of praise for Saal-Latif for Sati. 'Abd (died 629/1231, p. praise r.nau'al's attainments. mau'al's attainment.? his Ta'rikh Mukhtasar al-duwal al-duwal [ed. A. Bar Ta'rikh Mukhta~ar A. Salihani, Hebraeus (d. 1286' in his Bar Hebraeus Salihani, (d. 1286' Beirut, 18~, p. p. 377] authors. earlier authors. merely reproduces 377] merely Beirut, 1890, reproduces the earlier AI-$afadi his Wafi Osiris v. IX, Rosenthal in Osiris AI-Safadi (died Bodl., cf F. Rosenthal Wafi (Ms Bodl., (died 1363) in his also mentions 1950, p. 560 n. D. 21) 21) repeats earlier 4ata data but also mentions that that he saw saw a 1950, p. repeats the earlier reference eighty-five works. works. Samau'al's listing reference to an autograph listing of eighty-five autograph of Samau'al's 5. F. p. 561, characterizes characterizesone of the the works-against 1950 p. Osiris IX 1950 F. Rosenthal Rosenthal in Osiris works-against and well-documented astrologers-as well-documented exposition "an unusually unusually vigorous vigorous and exposition of the astrologers-as "an as exemplified ~dea of progress progress in scholarship, mathematics." He idea exemplified in the field of mathematics." scholarship, as Samau'al grew as aa Jew, luggests: grew up fact that that Samau'al cultural milieu "The fact milieu of aa Jew, in the cultural up as suggests: "The for his minority have been responsible his intellectual intellectual outlook. outlook. It responsible for appears to have minority group, group, appears which most most of those educated in the Muslim made problems which those educated for problems Muslim him receptive made hinl receptive for consider unimportant as a rule, majority civilization take for for granted civilization would, rule, consider would, as unimportant and take granted majority ." ... became afraid his own boldness .. .. ." own boldness afraid of his somehow became . . He somehow mathematical work Recently an analysis of Samau'al's mathematical work AI-Bahir fi-l-~isab Samau'al's Al-Bahir fi-l-Hisab analysis Recently showed place au tout premier premier rang author 1nerite merite d'etre place that the author showed that algebristes rang des algebristes Mabes. This work also valuable because it preserved preserved various various points points of earlier valuable because is also work is earlier arabes. authors. claims discovery Where Pythagoras authors. \\'here revelation, says says Samau'al, Pythagoras claims discovery by revelation, Samau'al, he method which which is devoid devoid of the doubtful (Samau'al) proceed by by a method doubtful eleclaims to proceed (Samau'al) claims his own that his are so so numerous ment boot. He mentions Dlentions that own writings numerous and is original ment and original to boot. writings are Adil Ambuba that by .Adil AI-Mashriq 1961. all. Of. Cf. the study Ambuba in Al-Mashriq 1961. list them them all. cannot list that he cannot study by 6. See note note B96. B96. Hebrew poetry poetry in Spain work on Hebrew and Provence, Schirmann's work v. I. 7. Cf. H. Schinnann's Provence, v.I. Spain and and T. (Jerusalem, v. II (1956) 687 f. 1954) 624-28, and (Jerusalem, 1954)
16 16
8 'age3. practiced in Iraq, Iraq, Syria, and Adharbayjan. Kurdistan, and Syria, Kurdistan, Adharbayjan.At ages.8 He practiced
the time time of his his conversion Islam he lived lived in Marigha, where he conversion to Islam Maragha, where physician to local dignitaries and on friendly terms with promwas was physician and terms promdignitaries friendly inent personages. He mentions with their their inent personages. contacts with Jews mentions no contacts Jews or with communal work took far away communal life. life. His travels travels and and work took him far from his away from father for for whom whom he shows shows affection father affection and and respect. respect. Upon Upon learning learning of his conversion, the set out from Syria out from his son's son's conversion, the ,father father speedily set Syria to Maspeedily ragha, but died in Mosul on his way. but Mosul his died way. ragha, 9 Maragha principality which which was one of the was the capital the Maragha9was capital of a principality nwnerous numeroussplinter states that that arose ruins of the Seljuk arose on the ruins splinterstates Seljuk empire empire 10 and persisted during period of the It was past the and persisted the period the Crusades. Crusades.10 was past the during the middle of the time politically, that Sathe twelfth twelfth century, Samiddle time that century, a stormy stormy politically, mau'al there, iri H/1163, that there. And was there, in 558 H/1163, settled there. And it was that he emmau'al settled embraced the amidst the congratulations of Muslim dominant faith, amidst the dominant Muslim braced faith, congratulations patrons who rejoiced friends and patrons that the distinguished friends and scholar had had rejoiced that distinguishedscholar finally 11 That same began seen the light true faith. same night faith.'1 light of the true finally seen night he began his refutation refutation of Judaism: alto pen pen his the Jews" Jews" (If\lam (Ifham alJudaism: "Silencing "Silencing the show that Yahiid). He tried tried to show justified in abandoning Judathat he was justified he was Yahud). abandoningJudathat the and that the Jews were benighted, ism, benighted, unreasonable, unreasonable, ignorant, and ism, and Jews were ignorant, and inconsistent. At least one retort - with Samau'al's rebuttal - has 13 Four years been preserved.12 preserved. 12 Four was later a new new edition been edition13 was shaped. Here years later shaped. Here Samau'al the story his visions visions in which Samau'al adds: adds: (1) the which he talked talked to story of his his his namesake, and to to the the Prophet the Prophet Samuel, and namesake,the Muhammad; Prophet Samuel, Prophet Muhammad; (2) explanation why made ,the public earlier; had not not made the visions visions public (2) an explanation why he had earlier; 14 (3) an autobiographic outline. an outline.14 (3) autobiographic rather unpleasantly Sanlau'al boastful about Samau'al is rather about his his m'other's mother's famfamunpleasantlyboastful ily, providential guidance about providential towards the light his very since his ily, about guidance towards light since very served and wrote for for the princes 8. Thus he served lor wrote princes of Maragha Maragha (of and/or Pahlawan (of the Pahlawan rulers of Hisn house), the rulers ~isn Kayfa and aa Baghdad wazir Mu'ayyad Kayfa (Ortokids), Baghdad wazir (Ortokids), and Mu'ayyad alabu Isma'il. Isma'il. Cf. Cf. Goitein Goitein in HUCA v. 34 (1963): din abii data on the mediGeniza data medi(1963): Geniza cal profession. profession. s. v. and Lands 164 f.; EI s. 9. Le Strange and s. s. v. Ildegiz, Strange Lands Ildegiz, Pehlewan; Pehlewan; A. Godard, Godard, Notes Athar-e Iran Notes in Athiir-e Iran I (Haarlem, Dynasties 171. Lane Poole Poole Dynasties 171. The hishis(Haarlem, 1936); 1936); Lane tory and of the town town is is not very clear. The tory of the local dynasties dynasties of the region region and very clear. house ruled Ahmadil house Ahmadil ruled for for over over a century century 505-624, 505-624, H. Cf. E. I. 2 ed. ed. s.v. s.v. Ahmadili; R. Guseinov, Cf. Ahmadili; R. XII-XIII WJ. Siriiskie istochniki zw. istochniki XII-XIII Guseinov, Siriiskie ob ob Azerbaidzhane Azerbaidzhane (Baku, pp. 119-126. 119-126. (Baku, 1960) 1960) pp. 10. This ,vas was the time time when to the West, star of Saladin Saladin West, in Syria-Egypt, Syria-Egypt, the atar was beginning to rise. . . was beginnling rise. 11. 11. Cf. Cf. below below in the autobiography. autobiography. 12. This is the sarcastic sarcastic anonymous 12. below. addressed to Samau'aI. Samau'al. Cf. Cf. below. anonymous epistle epistle addressed 13. 13. In 562/1167. 562/1167. 14. On the autobiography Arab. Autobiographic A.tobiogrtzphi. 27 f. autobiography cf. F. Rosenthal, Rosenthal, Arab. (.4nalecta Orientalia XIV, Rome, (Analecta Orientalia Rome, 1937). 1937).
17 t·7
about his his achievements birth, and about in study, achievementsin medical work, and tit... birth, and litwork, and study, medical erary activity. erary activity.
Of U Of his his later later years in 570 can be be learned. learned. He He died died in 570 H. H.t5 years nothing nothing can It seems seems that that his his progeny also It also practiced medicine. progeny practiced medicine. The The Book Book
in its The "Silencing" its present form is is aa pamphlet some fIffif"Silencing"in present {onn pamphlet of some thousand words, the thousand consisting of a) the antiJewish treatise, words, consisting a) b) anti-Jewish tratise, b) the author's author'sautobiography. is of an the The latter is something Jewlatter an antisomething of anti-Jewautobiography. ish treatise treatisein its its own own right. ish whole work work is, meis, then, then, aa piece right. The whole piece of medieval directed on on behalf behalf of of Islam Islam against dieval polemics and Judapolemics directed Jews and Judaagainst Jews ism. With With his his usual usual self-admiration, ism. author indicates the author indicates that that since since self-admiration,the previous treatises by Muslim authors are ininauthors are previous polemic polemic treatises by distinguished distinguishedMuslim has adequate, he has decided to use his "inside knowledge" of Jewish decided use his "inside knowledge" adequate, Jewish and affairs affairs to to ~ist scriptures assist the the community in its the believers its believers in scripturesand community of the with the disputations disputationswith the Jews. Jews. teen teen
The The Background Background The polemic literature of Islam Islam is directed, for the most most part, polemic literature directed, for part, the far more against far more numerous and powerful Christians; the Jews numerous and against Jews powerful Christians; the are considered are considered only passing. Still, time to time, time, specifically from time Still, from only in passing. specifically tracts have it is not surprising anti-Jewish polemic tracts have appeared, and anti-Jewish polemic appeared, and suspising to find them., find that that it was was the Jewish Jewish converts converts to Islam Islam who produced produced them, supplying the the font font of information infonn'ation and and argumentation argumentation against against JudaJudasupplying ism. 16 Christian Christian converts converts to Islam Islam also also served served as as a quarry quarry of Islamic Islamic ism.'6 both polemics againt both scripturary faiths. Indeed, Christian views and faiths. Christian and views polemics againt Indeed, scripturary attitudes by the ever-growing ever-growing mass mass attitudes concerning concerning Jews, Jews, brought brought along along by of Christian Christian converts converts to Islam, Islam, could could not fail fail to percolate percolate into Islam.17 Islam. I " 15. Ibn Ibn al-Qifti al-Qifti gives gives the the date date of of death death as close close to 570 570 H., H., Ibn Ibn Abi Abi Usaybi'a U~aybica and and Safadi ~afadi as 576. 576. Ibn Ibn Abi Abi Usaybi'a Usaybi'a mentions mentions that that Samau'al Samau'al died died young young (mata (mata shiibban). This This probably probably means: means: under under the the age age of of fifty. fifty. Samau'al's Samau'al's lifetime lifetime may may shdbban). be be presumed presumed to to have have been been about about 520-570H/1126-1175. 520-570H/1126-1175. The The name name Al-Maghribi AI-Maghribi occurs occurs in in Adharbayjan Adharbayjan as a name name of of physicians physicians and and scholars scholars at at a later later period. period. 16. It It is sufficient sufficient to to glance glance through through the the list list of of polemic polemic tracts tracts in in SteinschneiSteinschnei.. der's der's Polem-Lit. Polem-Lit. (1877) (1877) p. p. 110 110 sq. sq. (which (which of of course course could could be be supplemented supplemented to see see the the prevalence prevalence of of polemics polemics between between Christians Christians and and Muslims, Muslims, and and now) to now) the the impact impact of of converts. converts. Cf. Cf. E. E. Fritsch Fritsch Islam Islam und und Christentum Christentum im im Mittelalter Mittelalter (Breslau, (Breslau, 1930). 1930). 17. 17. By By the the middle middle of of the the ninth ninth century, century, aa Nestorian Nestorian had had written written against against Jews and and was was followed followed by by aa flow flow of of Christian Christian polemics polemics that that dealt dealt with with IsIsJews lam lam but but did did not not mince mince words words about about the the Jews. Jews. Cf. Cf. SPL SPL 45, 45, 416. 416.
18
The Koran,18 became aa mine passages. mine of anti-Jewish Koran,"8of course, course, became anti-Jewish passages. emHadith did used and The l:Iadi~h lag behind.'9 behind. 19 Popular preachers used and emdid not not lag Popular preachers 20 the Koran, and bellished such bellished such material. commentatorsof the material.20Scholars, Scholars, commentators Koran, and historianssought past. historians times past. elucidation of references referencesto the the Jews sought elucidation Jews of times from the Old and the Passages from became the Testament became and the New Testament Passages instock-in-trade stock-in-trade of the disputants. are divinely disputants. If the scriptures divinely inscriptures are the Muslims spired, Muslims reasoned, must contain contain references references to the reasoned, they spired, the they must advent advent of Muhammad the Muhammad and and Islam. Islam. If they they do - why why do not the see and understand them; if they do not they must scripturaries see and understand must them; they scripturaries they have have been been either partially distorted, either wholly or tampered distorted, forged, wholly or partially forged, or tampered know with possibly do not know with (tabdil, the scripturaries Besides, the (tabdil, ta~rif). tahrif). Besides, scripturariespossibly the interpretation (taJwil). the right still may contain alal(ta'wil). The scriptures right interpretation may contain scripturesstill lusions (aclam). Muslims held that scriplusions to Islam Islam and and the the Prophet that Muslims held Prophet (aclam). scriptures, by divine and dispensations can by divine command command be changed, tures, laws, laws, and changed, dispensationscan discarded, earlier ones, for earlier or entirely substitutedfor discarded,substituted ones, or abrogated (naskh). (naskh). entirely abrogated at Attempts at solution of the problem along with questions solution the Attempts problem along exegesis, questionsof exegesis, history, and logical resulted in an imlogical consistency history, theology theology - and consistency - resulted broglio. Rationalists quick to ridicule were quick the fervour theoridicule the fervour of the theoRationalistswere broglio. 21 logians of all three faiths. all three faiths.21 logians Jewish centhe Karaites Karaites of the the 8-10th 8-10th cen· schismatics, especially Jewish schismatics, especially the turies, subjected post-biblical various Jewish turies, institutions, especially subjected various Jewish institutions, especially post-biblical Iore,22 partially known and this this was was partially known to Muslims. Muslims. criticism,and lore,2 to criticism, their attempt In their intellectual ferment themselvesto the the intellectual ferment adjust themselves attempt to adjust its influence, in the Islamic had to produce Islamic world world and and to its had influence, the Jews Jews produce refutations of early references and refutations and disputations. Such early anti-Jewish anti-Jewish references disputations. Such 18. Christian Andrae in Der Ursprung 198 f.) draws attention attention to the Christian 18. T. Andrae Ursprung (p. (p. 198 f.) draws polemic of the Prophet. \)rigin arguments in the anti-Jewish origin of many many of the arguments anti-Jewish polemic Prophet. IA. 1937. 19. G. Vajda 19. G. 1937. Vajda in JA in The Joshua Starr Starr Memorial Memorial Volume M. Perlmann Perlmann in The Joshua Volume (Nevi 20. M. (New York, York, 1953) and in lQR and 1954. JQR 1954. can be felt in Khayyt's 21. Khayyafs K. or in Rau's 21. The atmosphere al-Intisar or utK. al-Inti~r Razi's utatmosphere can by P. Kraus Kraus in RSO aI-Ma'am's (ob. terances published by terances published Cf. al-Ma'arr!is RSO 1935. Cf. (ob. 1058) views, 1058) views, ap, Nicholson Studies Islamic Poetry Poetry (Camridge, pp. 144££, Studies in Islamic (Camridge, 1921) 144ff, ap, R. A. Nicholson 1921) pp. 160ff, p. 43£. 173ff. Cf. and ZDMC Baron V, Goldziher in REJ 47, p. 43f. and ZDMG 62, Baron Cf. Goldziher 160ff, 173ff. V, 82-6, 82-6, also Cf. 103..8, Mann in HUCA v. 12/13, also Rosenthal's study Cf. Judah (Phila., 1949). 1949). 103-8, Mann study (Phila., Judah Rosenthal's
M. More REI 106 p. 100 are the following 100 sq.; More recent recent are studies: G. G. Vajda 106 p. following studies: Vajda in REJ sq.; M. Zucker's volume on Saadia's translation and and exegesis Saadia's translation Zucker's volume York, (Hebrew; New York, exegesis (Hebrew; 1959); papers by by F. Gabrieli and L. Gardet L'elaboration de Gabrieli and Gardet in the volume volume L'elaboration 1959); the papers Alexander l'Islam 'Islam (Paris, sources of Hiwi, in the Alexander Jul. Guttmann, Guttmann, On the sources 1957); Jut. (Paris, 1957); Marx Festschrift York, 1950); Nyberg's study diMarx Festschrift (New Classicisme et de1950); H. S. Nyberg's (New York, study in Classicisme clin l'Islam (Paris, din culturel culturel da1lS dans l'histoire l'histoire de de l']slam (Paris, 1957). 1957).
22. Cf. L. Nemoy, Nemoy, Karaite Karaite Anthology Anthology (New Haven, Haven, 1952).
19
refutation of Islamic tenth century still found refutation Islamic arguments found in the tenth century arguments is still works of Saadia the Karaite, Saadia Gaon works Gaon and and the Karaite, al-Qirqisani.2! al-Qirqisani.2 the polemics against by the Special paid to polemics attention was was paid Jews by against the Jews Special attention great Spanish man of letters, Ibn I:!azm,24 who devotes over a hunover hunwho devotes man Ibn Hazm,24 letters, great Spanish and dred pages pages solely positions: criticizing biblical and dred criticizingbiblical solely to routing routing Jewish Jewish positions: and talmudic lore; denouncing detestable Jewish traits; and inveighing talmudic detestable lore; denouncing inveighing Jewish traits; against the employment of Jewish rise of Jewish the employment the rise and the Jewish against Jewish dignitaries dignitariesand discu~ions and beofficials officials in Islamic mentions discussions and disputes Islamic states. states. He mentions disputes between Muslims take the the offensive offensive in tween Muslims and and Jews; Jewish-attempts Jews; Jewish attempts to take them; the wavering position of many Muslims in evaluating them; Jewish evaluating Jewish many Muslims wavering position and scriptures and their claim He is eager and Christian claim to authenticity. Christianscriptures and their authenticity. eager calculapoint out the illogical statements, wrong calculato point the contradictions, contradictions,illogical statements, wrong inabove all, historical misstatements, and above tions, geographical and historical all, intions, misstatements,and geographical and anappropriate utterances about prophets, especially about God God 'and and the prophets, especially anappropriate utterances thropomorphisms ( tajsim ) that occur in the scriptures. Questions that occur thropomorphisms(tajsim) scriptures. Questions are posed on authorship, manner, and purpose of composition are posed and purpose time, manner, composition authorship,time, of the biblical biblical books. however, may may have had books. This This important have had work, however, important work, only circulation on account limited circulation account of the the author's author's precarious only limited precariousrepureputation in Muslim Muslim scholarly circles resulting from his his intransigence tation scholarly circles intransigence resulting from 25 in adhering views.25 theological views. unpopular thedlogic.al adhering to unpopular Samau'al, century later over a century later at another another end of the the Islamic Islamic Samau'al, over wrote world, wrote his compendium polemics against the Jews his of after the world, Jews after compendium polemics against the reading some of earlier literature on the subject. some earlier literature reading subject.
The Pole'micist The Polemicist Thus preserved Muslim polemics diMuslim compendium earliest preserved diThus the earliest compendium of polemics rected against the Jews and their faith was produced by their and faith was rected specifically Jews specifically against produced by the convert to Islam, Samau'al. The "Silencing" contains the convert the Jewish Samau'al. contains Islam, "Silencing" Jewish following (fa~l): 1) sections (fasl): transmis1) opening; 2) abrogation; following sections abrogation; 3) 3) transmisopening; 2) cf. 2; 5) and Muhammad; sion; Muhammad; 6) being the claim to being sion; 4) 4) cf. 5) Jesus Jesus and 6) the claim chosen people; 7) the Jews chosen people; the Bible; Bible; 8) Bible; 9) 8) composition compositionof the Bible; 9) Jews Saadia's Amanit 23. Amanat (ed. S. by S. 23. Saadia's S. Landauer, was translated translated by S. Landauer, Leiden, Leiden, 1881) 1881) was }{osenblatt published by by L. Nemoy Rosenblatt (New'Haven work was was published L. Nemoy (New Haven,J 1948). Qirqisani's Qirqisani's work (New 'York, Islam (v. p. 292 been pubpub292 sq.) had been York, 1939-43). The chapter chapter on Islam (v. II p. sq.) had lished by I. Friedlacnder Friedlacnder in Zeitschrift Zeitschrift fiir fur Assyriologie Assyriologie v. XXVI. lished by XXVI. K. al-Fi~al; 24. Asin Palacios Abenhdzam, especially Palacios Abenhdzam, 24. J(. M. Asin al-Fisal; M. especially v. II (Madrid, (Madrid, 1928) 1928);j The Shorter Shorter Ency~lopaedia The Islam, s.v.; M. Perlmann PAAJR XVIII Perlmann in PAAJR XVIII [1949]. [1949]. Encyclopaediaof Islam, R. Rrunschwig Homenaje a Millas-Vallicrosa Millas-Vallicrosa v. I. (Barcelona, anaBrunschwig in Homenaje (Barcelona, 1954) 1954) anafine !ection section on Judaism lyses amhid. tenth century Tamhid. lyses aa fine Judaism in the tenth century Baqillani's Baqillani's T Goldziher in ZDMG ZDMG 66 p. 166. 25. J. Goldziher 166. J. Friedlaender in Orientalische Orientalische Studien Studien J. Friedlaender (Noeldeke Fests&hrift I 1906), p. 268. (Noeldeke Festschrift 1906), p.
20
on Islam; Islam; 10) levirate, segre10) objectionable Jewish law; levirate, objectionable aspects aspects of JeYtish segregation; 11) Rabbanites and Karaites; 12) epilogue: Karaites; 12) epilogue: sins and folgation; 11) U lies of the Jews., The "Silencing invalidate the Jews. The "Silencing" thus attempts, attempts to invalidate views of the Jews practices as sheer folly. Jews and to deride their practices folly. The faith of the Jews The Jews is based on their concept scriptures, concept of the scriptures., as a of the past and their validity of the scriptures' reliability record validity scriptures' reliability past for the future. The The critique critique of transmission is to demonstrate that first premise premise is a fallacy; the first fallacy; the theory theory of abrogation abrogation is to underpremise. Now Now the deck has been cleared for the atmine the second premise. tack on the Jews' practice: clinging position on the Jews' practice: clinging to their false position scriptures, they wrong notions about Jesus and Muhammad; entertain Muhammad; wrong Jesus scriptures, they to own people; and their ritual and law they falsely claim be God's they falsely people; contain degrading practices and nonns. norms. But the author degrading and absurd practices apparently beyond denunciation denunciation and to exgo beyond apparently thinks it is his task to go plain the source and origin practice, plain origin of the wrong wrong theory theory and wrong wrong practice, on from· symptoms to diagnosis and etiology. The reader thereto go from The go symptoms diagnosis etiology. explanation as to the true origin of the Torah and fore is offered an explanation Torah origin The Torah is a compilathe inlpJied basis of the Jews' behaviour. The Torah implied Jews' compilapriests had a vested interest in by Ezra, The priests tion by Ezra, the Aaronid. The maintaining the rule of the Torah, Torah, and through through it their own rule maintaining in the Second Commonwealth, Davidic House. Commonwealth, to the exclusion of the Davidic That the latter tainted and denigrated in the scriptures. That is why is denigrated why scriptures. The is moulded by 1) an internal factor -- the rabThe Jews' behaviour Jews' by 1) preserve the Jewish by segregation to preserve bis who seek -to from, Jewish community community by segregation from, and animosity toward, non-Jews, non-Jews, and 2) 2) an external factor - the animosity toward, Gentiles' attitude toward the Jews, Jews, and the position Jews, a position of the Jews, people scattered exile among the Gentiles. The Jews are exin The thus among Jews people posed to oppression and persecution from without, and to fraudulent posed oppression persecution misleading misleading from within.
put, rather unThus the discussion of the "Jewish "Jewish question" question" is put, expectedly, ingenious historical and social observations. terms of ingenious expectedly, in tenns passes on from diagnosis Physician that he is, is, Samau'al passes Physician diagnosis to therais prescribed. peutics. Evidently, conversion to Islam However, the peutics. Evidently, prescribed. However, call to the mosque is as simple as it might appear at first. not first. simple might appear mosque proved to be without Judaism without foundation. But why Judaism is proved why conversion anon se'quituT to Islam? It would have been too glaring a turn to glaring non sequitur to tum dominant majority without an enquiry the faith of the dominant majority without enquiry into its tenets and precepts precepts. It is at this point point that a different aspect aspect of Samau'al prominent. becomes prominent.
21 21
T M RGliouIisI The Raiort Samau'a! as the the rationalist. Samau'al paleS rationalist. Reason Reason is the the supreme arbiter supreme arbiter pose as between proofs proofs and concerning facts, between and arguments faiths. As facts, men, men, faiths.. arguments concerning there are various for Reason there are various faiths, Reason to decide decide which which is the the right faiths, it is for right one. To the that aa faith faith is based one. extent that based on alleged reports the extent alleged reports of past past events the transmission monoevents and and on the transmissionof such such reports-and the three three monoreports-and the theistic for Reason theistic faiths faiths all depend on such-it such-it is for Reason to test test the the reports. depend on reports. and again pure logic logic as Again as the spring Samau'al harps his Again and again Samau'al harps on pure spring of his conversion. take the has had conversion. True, had visions visions that that urged him to take the True, he has urged him final final step. But actually, all the the arguments had knownknown all insists, he had actually, he insists, arguments step.. But for conversion for Islam. . To his patron conversionbefore before embracing Islam. his who launches launches embracing patron who him in the the community him of true believers he does mention the true he does believers not mention the community four years visions. visions. For mention of them, For four them, not only years he suppresses any mention suppressesany only for fear but mainly because he wants people to underfor fear of ridicltle, wants people underridicule, but mainly because set of syllogisms and stand and deductions that leads him to stand that that it is a set deductions leads that him syllogisms Islam. Logic will show show that that the the three three faiths faiths and and their their respective founders, Logic will respectivefounders, Moses, Jesus, and have equally and Muhammad, claims to to valid claims Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, may may have equally valid recognition, in which case - this conclusion is not drawn - Islam recognition, be the the most might be most inclusive faith (holding in esteem inclusive faith esteem the the founders founders of might (holding in Judaism and Christianity) just as J ud1aism is the most exclusive (as and as the most exclusive Judaism Christianity) just Judaism (as it rejects the claims of both Christianity and Islam). the claims both and rejects Islam). Christianity Samau'al however, against possibility. Samau'al stumbles, another logical stumbles, however, against another logical possibility. must one one of the \Vhy choose one prophethood an9 one choose the three three faiths? faiths? Why and Why must Why prophethood at all? religion at an? Neither Neither can can be logically demonstrated, or proved. or demonstrated, religion logically proved. In aa most passage, Samau'al most revealing Samau'al hastens hastens to get from the the revealing passage, get away away from unwholesome discussion position by remarking that unwholesome discussion of the the skeptic that skeptic position by remarking the prophets prophets and religions religions - all of them - taught taught the good good life and maintenance of institutions contributed to contributed to social social weUare, and of the the welfare, maintenance institutionsand 26 polity. polity.26 Samau' ai, beginning beginning with proud reason, with pragmatic pragmatic with proud ends with Samau'al, reason, ends prevailing opportunism: accommodation to existing and to prevailing opportunism: accommodation existing society society and religious attitudes. man of the the world, attitudes A man the Islamic Islamic world, he world, of the world, he religious seeks belong" fully. He is proud of its achievements, and has no seeks "to "to belong" and has achievements, fully. proud with the what is to him patience with petty particularism particularism of what the petty an ossified him an ossified patience a remnant of an older and obsolete civilization. minority, a remnant older and civilization. obsolete minority, Thus basic aspect its Thus there there is 3a second second basic tract with with its Samau'al's troct aspect in Samau'al's 26. Cf. F. Rahman, R:1hmaD, Ptophecy Ptophecy in Islam lsltnn (London, (London, 1958) p. 40 f., ff. 1958) p. f, 59 If.
22 22
on ~ the ope one hand waveJ:ing: on the hand unfettered as to the unfettered Reason, doubt as. wavering: Reason, doub~ other validity of faith; on the other hand, logicaB.y equal validity the hand, validity faith; logically equal validity of all faiths, social aD the social value of religion; and rmany value and accommodationto to faiths, religion; finally,J accommodation the convenience of the leading the convenience surrounding civilization. It demonleading surroundingcivilization. demonstrates the gravitation strates gravitation of the marginal man man to the focal Of the marginal focal points points of social environment. his his social environment. new here, 1nere polemics or There is hardly either in the the polemics or in here, either hardly anything anything new the the rationalistic rationalisticattitude. attitude. Elements Elements of both both can can be traced traced to earlier earlier must have sources, been absorbed by our and must have been absorbedby our author author in his his reading sources, and reading and However, no, direct source or major influence be and discussion. discussion.However, no direct source or major influence can be not name discerned. predecessors in the discerned.The author author does does not name any his predecessors the any of his field, does mention mention them them in a general be would be field, though though he does general way. way. It would particular interest: of particular interestto detennine whether he knew determinewhether knew the work work of Ibn Ibn 1:Iazm had written with whom who had written a century earlier and Hazm who and with whom he he shows shows century earlier rouch However, it would rather appear that both used comwould rather much affinity. that both used comaffinity. However, appear mon sources independently. Sets of biblical passages to confound mon sources independently. Sets biblical passages confound the Jews the advent of Islam, the Islam, a critique Jews and/or indicating indicating the advent critique of the for rational oral precepts oral law, search for rational interpretation ancient precepts law, a search interpretation of ancient along rationalistqueries these had had a wide wide circulation. with rationalist circulation. A along with queries - all these number of them monotheistic communities communities and can be traced the monotheistic number traced in the and them can their as well their sects, as well as among Zoroastrians and Manicheans. The same as Zoroastrians and Manicheans. same sects, among interreligious discussion partidiscussionthat that on the one hand contributed to partihand contributed interreligious san.c;hip, zeal, fanaticism, fanaticism, and bigotry, did, other hand, and bigotry, the other did, on the hand, in sanship, zeal, rome minds minds pave pave the way toward the weakness of the some toward recognizing the way weakness the recognizing disputants' claims, the dependence of their views upon certain histhe their hiscertain views disputants' claims, dependence upon torical and the and social social circumstances, the relative relative good various torical and circumstances,and good in various systems. The result was the notion of "equal validity" of proofs, result notion arwas systems. "equal validity" proofs, arand indifferentism (of both mystic guments, and the the rise rise of a mood mood of indifferentism guments,and (of both mystic and 27 skeptic) and tolerance. tolerance.27 skeptic) and Samau'al influence of this trend, but was Samau'al shows shows the the influence was unable this trend, unable to follow it consistently. follow consistently. He combines combinesrelativism relativismwith intoleranceagainst with intolerance against the possible possible crithe JeV\Ts the their tenets, and their and ignoring critenets, avoiding Jews and avoiding and ignoring the the dominant tique faith he is is ch'arnpioning. dominant faith tique of the championing. It is strange that he shows shows no acquaintance literature strange that acquaintance with the literature of Islamic Islamic theology and philosophy. His only reference is to the raand rareference theology only philosophy. tionalist tionali.~ preface preface to KalIla wa-Dimn'a. This is much Kalla wa-Dimna. much as as if somebody somebody in our day were problems on the the basis basis our day were writing social problems religion or social writing on religion of a Shavian preface or Sinclair Lewis.28 Shavian preface or a novel novel by Sinclair Lewis.28 by 27. Ai. M. Perln18nn Perlnann in JQR /QR 1950. pb)'SiciaD. Of. Samau'als reference reference is to the epistle 28. SamautaJs Cf E.. I. epistle of Bardhawayh Bardhawayhthe physicin.
LV. L2v.
23
stands to reason It stands was acquainted reason that that our author was with the phiour author phiacquainted with but was not eager betray that knowledge losophical literature to that in literature but not eager betray losophical knowledge·in designed to commend him to pious readers who regard phiaa tract him readers who tract designed commend regard phipious losophy path to godlessness. 29 as the path godlessness.29 losophy as What Samau'al possibly has to say What the "Jewish Samau'al has "Jewish question" say on the question" is possibly aa reflection of such Jewish intellectuals as were not not as such intellectuals were reflection of the thought thought Jewish or the or able, or trained, to follow the path of the philosophers inclined, or to follow the able, trained, inclined, path philosophers from older contemporary Maimonides (whose Samau'al from Saarlia Saadia to Maimonides (whose older contemporarySamau'al people, and was) in in their the Jewish and their cogitations the destiny Jewish people, was) cogitations on the destiny of the on for its its continued continued existence. existence. on a rationale rationale for Impact Impact rrhe disthe Silencing and the the disVita mentions mentions the the success success of the The Vita Silencing and plausible. semination countries.This seems seminationof copies several countries. seems plausible. copies in several Later polemic literature Later polemic literatureof Islam Islam usually shows the d~rect direct or ininusually shows this type direct influence of the Silencing. important work work of this direct influence Silencing. An important type was was Qarafi's with numerous numerous Qarafi's (d. (d. 684/1285) 684/1285) al-Ajwiba-I-fakhira, al-Ajwiba-l-fakhira, with ms. in the British Museum excerpts from the the Silencing. Indeed aa ms. the British Museum of excerpts from Silencing. Indeed Qarafi's remark: "most tract has has (the "most of this this (the copyist's?) marginal remark: Qarafi's tract copyist's?) marginal by Samau'al." discourse is from from the the Silencing Samau'al." discourseic; Silencing by Likewise, Ibn Qayyim leans heavheavLikewise, Ibn Qayyim al-Jauziya (XIV century) century) leans al-Jauziya (XIV in on the Silencing both in his Hidayat aI-\1ayara, and in the work ily the both his and the work Hidayat al-hayara, ily Silencing Ighathat al-lahfan min ma~a'id ash-shaytan. The quotations min masa'id in al-lahfan the ash-shaytan. Ighathat quotations the so latter are very extensive. latter are very extensive.s Through works the the influence influence of Samau'al must have these works Samau'al must have spread Through these spread even even further. further. When, after Samau'al, the Baghdad hundred years When, aa hundred Samau'al, the Jewish Baghdad Jewish years 'after CritMan~iir b. Kammilna, physician-philosopher Sacd b. his Critb. wrote his Mansiir Sacd Kammuina,wrote physician-philosopher ical Inquiry Inquiry into the Three Faiths, he used Samau'al's tract as the tract as into the Three Faiths, used Samau'al's diMuslim polemics most polemics diand typical most representative summary of Muslim typical summary representativeand and quoted Samau'al's arguments against the rected Jews, Samau'al's the and rected against arguments against against Jews, quoted 31 Jews. by aa Muslim upon Samau'al. author again draws upon rebuff by Samau'al.83 Muslim author again draws Jews. A rebuff 29. Cf. I. Goldziher zuden den antiken islamischen Orthodoxie Orthodoxie zu Goldziher Stellung. alten islamischen Stellung der alte1i r'VissenJchaften (Abh., Nyberg in Classicisme, S. Nyberg 1916); H. S.. Classicisme, p. 134 f. (Abh., Berlin, Wissei:schaften Berlin, 1916); 30. M. Perlmann Journal of Jewish Bibliography Bibliography (New Perlmann in the Journal 1942) (New York, York, 1942) of Jewish and in Stu.di Levi della Vida, v. II (Rome, Studi orientalistici orientatistici in onore di G. Levi 1956). (Rome, 1956).
31. Ibn Kammiina's book is known known from from quotations Pol. Lit. Kammnna'sbook Steinschneider'sPol. quotations in Steinschneider's and Mansur 1bn Kanlmuna etc. (Berlin, lbn Kanmmtina and in L. Hirschfeld, Hirschfeld, Sa'd b. Mansur (Berlin, 1893); 1893); cf. ·analysis by D. H. Balleth MGW/ 1925. Baneth in MGWJ 1925. analysis by
24
In Jewish is mentioned times with with opSamau'al is mentioned aa few times sources, Samau'al Jewish sources, opAlprobrium toward the renegade. Presumably he mentioned by Almentioned is toward the by Presumably renegade. probrium ~arizi (d. ca. 1225).32 The chronicler Yosef Sambari (17 c.) has aa has Yosef ca. chronicler Sambari harizi (17 c.) (d. 1225).32 about him: "He compiled the book "Silenc~ rhymed prose remark book remark about him: "Silencrhymed prose compiled ing," black black as book for as coal, and claimed for the the claimed to have have compiled coal, and ing," compiled aa book faith of Ishmael, Ishmael, and faith and God· God separated him for for evil evil from from all all the the tribes tribes separatedhim of Israel. book which Israel. lie HIe made made many which he distributed this book distributed many copies copies of this to king dignitaries in order to order to find find favour favour with his his new corecoreand dignitaries king and ligionists. "33 ligionists."33 Arabic tract We should an Arabic should also also mention mention an translated into into Latin, tract translated Latin, and Western languages,. which has been erfrom Latin Latin into into many erand from Western which been many languages, roneously connected M arrocani with Samau'al connected with Samau'al (Epistola Samuelis Marrocani (Epistola Samuelis roneously ad R. Isaacum contra errores errores Judaeorum).8 ]udaeorum) .34
T ext and Edition and Edition Text The oldest the Silencing Tehran ms. oldest known known text the Tehran ms. which which text of the Silencing is the claims handwriting, and of aa ms. ms. in Samau'al's claims to be aa copy Samau'al'shandwriting, and is dated dated copy'of 685/1286. 685/1286. Only the not the Instead, the the tract tract appears the autobiography. here, not Only autobiography.Instead, appears here, tract by an an exchange of epistles: one sent Samau'aI followed by tract is one sent to Samau'al is followed exchange epistles: and containing obviously malicious and after his conversion, his and an ironmalicious after and ironconversion, containing obviously by Saical ical query about his his conversion; other rebuttal by Sathe other the rebuttal conversion; the query about mau'al. of. this exch1ange exists in Istanbul also. mau'al. A copy of this Istanbul exists also. exchange copy TIle extant in The Tehran Tehran text differs substantially from that in all the text differs that extant all the substantiallyfrom other some passages appear in a different order; whole pages other copies: a some different whole order; passagesappear copies: pages do not appear of the other texts appear here the other texts do here at all. all. Thus Thus the the earliest availearliest available text gives that of all all the able text from that the other other texts. texts. version different different from gives aa version There peculiar to this this version: is aa further There is further detail detail peculiar the Hebrew version: the Hebrew transliteraquotations, which appear the other texts in Arabic Arabic transliteraall the other texts quotations, which appear in all tion and Hebrew characters tion and translation, charactersas here in Hebrew as well (in translation,appear appear here to an to reproduce the Hebrew script of original an attempt ms. from from the the Hebrew original IDS. attempt reproduce script which the the Tehran Where it differs from the other Where it which Tehran ms. ms. was was copied). from differs other copied). 32. In the third maqama. maqama. connect the Silencing with Abr. b. Daud's Emvn.tl R. Kaufmann tried to connect RaDaud's Emuna D. Kaufmann Silencing with rna (RE] (l~EJ v. X) believe that ma that this thesis is valid. valid. X) but there is no reason to believe Neubauer REJ REJ v. V. 33. Published by Neubauer Published by Adversus Judaeos ]udtUos (Cambridge, p. 228 Bqp. 34. Cf. A. L. Williams Williams Adversus sq. 1935) p. (Cambridge, 1935) The written by b., a The Latin translation of an Arabic tract written Latin tract claims to be a translation convert to Christianity. ChristUa1lit~. Jewish convert
25
texts, the Tehran ms. shows greater struco greater simplicity exposition and strucsimplicity of exposition 1S ture. All these data entitle us to put put it into a category by itself. itself.s category by Presumably, original text written bePresumably, we have here a copy copy of an original in 562 H., in the years i.e. fore the Vita was penned 558-562 H. H., years 558-562 penned The preservation of the epistles points in the direction. The The preservation same The epistles points epistles presumably explain why Samau'al was forced to his write epistles presumably explain why Vila, persist in his claim that pure pure logic Vita, to persist logic and mere consistency consistency of meditation had led him to Islam; and that only only the timing timing of his oonversion by the inspired conversion was to be explained explained by inspired visions he had had in 558, report during 558-562 H. 558, which visions he had not seen fit to report during 558-562 The Hebrew characters were too strange to the Muslim copyists strange copyists and were later dropped, possibly by the author himsdf. himself. There dropped, possibly by is no doubt that all the other texts follow another version, the later version, expanded expanded version. This ~rould years the author, would suggest suggest that over a number of years dictating his tract to copyists (as he himself mentions in the while dictating copyists (as the Yita), polished up original text, adducing new arguments. Vita), polished up original arguments. Not adducing only the author's meticulousn~ but the necessity to rebuff his op. ~ meticulousness, only necessity ponents, whose interest was aroused by by the disc~ons discussions following ponents, following the appearance changes in the appearance of the tract, made Samau'al introduce changes by stages, original original text; whether this was done by stages, resulting resulting in the later version, or in a single revision of the original tract, there was some original single the original order and sequence. The revised version disruption of The original disruption sequence. prepared along with the autobiography) was probably probably prepared along autobiography, in which case it can be dated 562/1166-7. 562/1166-7. Chlonologically, 732/1332." Cairo, dated 732/1332." Chionologically, the next ms. is that of Cairo, It includes the later (longer) version and the Vita. Its contemporary (longer) contemporary is the incomplete containing portion of ms. (735/1334-5) (735/1334-5) containing a portion incomplete Paris IDS. 37 the Silencing and the complete Vita. Silencing complete Vita.37 35. Cat. and Cat. (Ettesami) (Ettesami) of the Majlls Library I 184; II 593. The epistles Majlis Library epistles to and and in the ms. by IstaDbul. Samau'al appear here and ms. Fatih Fatih S141, by S:unau'al appear here 3141, Istanbul. 36. this manuscript manuS
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