Language:
English
Year of publication:
1999
Titel der Quelle:
The Majlis
Angaben zur Quelle:
(1999) 128-136
Keywords:
Yaʻqūb ibn Killis,
;
Jews History 10th century
;
Islam Relations To 1500
;
Judaism
;
Christianity and other religions Judaism To 1500
;
History
;
Muslim converts from Judaism
;
Antisemitism History
Abstract:
Presents a Jewish source on the existence of a "majlis" (discussion of competing faiths) held in the court of the Fatimid vizier Ibn Killis (10th century), a convert from Judaism, who replicated this institution from the court of the Caliph al-Mu'izz. Christian-Arab sources on the "majlis" have a decidedly anti-Jewish slant, but they indicate that freedom of speech and non-recrimination were the rule. A Muslim source depicts Ibn Killis' conversion, and his unfavorable views of Jews. A Jewish source found in the Cairo Genizah, a Judeo-Arabic account, suggests that an Arabic translation of prayers from the Siddur of Saadya Gaon was ridiculed by Ibn Killis and other Muslims at the "majlis". This offensive insult to Judaism is described as having shocked the Jewish participants, which perhaps motivated the response preserved in the Genizah. This response stresses the superiority of Judaism and its prayers.
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