'Ammar al-Basri; Michel Hayek trans. [Syrian Nestorian Christianity]

APOLOGIE ET CONTROVERSES: ['Ammar al-Basri] (Orient Chretien 5)

Dar Al-Mashriq, January 1977. First Edition. Hardcover with Dust Jacket. Editio Princeps of the two treatises by Syrian Nestorian Christian, Ammar al-Basri, The Book of Evidence and The Book of Questions and Answers, which comprise the first systematic account of the Christian faith written in Arabic. Newly discovered in the 1970's, al-Basri's extraordinarily learned work of philosophical theology is a striking new revelation of the intellectual life of Nestorian/Arabic Christianity. While al-Nadim listed al-Basri among the writers of the Mu'tazilah, nothing was known about him until he was identified as the writer of newly discovered British Museum Arabic MS 801. Michel Hayek's edition here is its first appearance in print. 91 (French Introduction), 267 (Arabic Text) pp. 8vo, sewn binding in yellow cloth. Some very trivial shelfwear to the tips, very clean and sharp otherwise; DJ tips worn. 'Ammār al-Baṣrī (d. 850, Basra) wrote the first Christian systematic theology in Arabic. In these two apologetic works first discovered in the 1970's, al-Basri gives a defense of Christian beliefs from Muslim charges of heresy and blasphemy, arguing for the divine inspiration and historical accuracy of the Gospels, the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the Incarnation, the crucifixion, the resurrection of Christ, and the nature of the afterlife. Throughout, Al-Basri develops his theology as both deeply contextual within 9th Century middle-East, and dialogical in conversation with Muslim thinkers. (See Sidney H. Griffith review in Journal of Near Eastern Studies, 39.3; Mark Beaumont, Ammar al-Basri's Arabic Apologetics). NEAR FINE / Very Good. Item #507935
ISBN: 2721456024

Price: $250.00