Criticism and Diversity in the Tradition of Islamic Thought: The Case of Elias of Nisibis and Wazīr Abū’l-Qāsim al-Maghribī

Abstract

This study discusses Elias of Nisibis with the Marwānid wazīr in light of the Islamic criticism culture in the 11th century. That encounter is examined within the framework of Kitāb al-Majālis, written by Elias in Arabic. The debate between Elias of Nisibis, the Metropolitan of Nisibis and Abū’l-Qāsim al-Maghribī, the Marwānid wazīr, constitutes an essential example of mutual debate ethics. The dispute that Elias treats in seven sessions in his book shows that observing diversity is one of the main principles of Islamic thought. Therefore, it is pointed out here that the culture of criticism and the notion of tolerance are dominant distinctions within the tradition of Islamic thought. In addition, this study examines how Elias approaches Muslim-Christian debates and the method employed by himself. In this respect, it must be noted that Elias tries to use Islamic terminology and attempts to lead an argumentation over the interlocutors’ own Scriptures.

Keywords

• mervâniler
• nusaybinli i̇liya
• ebu’l-kasım el-mağribî
• kitābu’l-mecâlis
• müslüman-hıristiyan polemikleri
• i̇slam eleştiri kültürü
• marwānids
• elias of nisibis
• abū’l-qāsim al-maghribī
• kitāb al-majālis
• muslim-christian polemics
• islamic culture of criticism