Muslim writers on Judaism and the Hebrew Bible

About this book

Muslim Writers on Judaism and the Hebrew Bible deals with the way in which Judaism and its holy scriptures were viewed by nine medieval Muslim writers representing different genres of Arabic literature: Ibn Rabban al-Tabari, Ibn Qutayba, al-Ya'qubi, Abu Ja'far al-Tabari, al-Mas'udi, al-Maqdisi, al-Baqillani, al-Biruni and Ibn Hazm. After an introductory chapter on the reception of Biblical materials in early Islam and a presentation of the authors under review, the book focuses on their knowledge of Judaism and the text of the Hebrew Bible, and subsequently discusses issues frequently debated between Muslims and Jews, namely, the claim that the Torah contains references to Muhammad, and the assertion that the Torah has been both abrogated and falsified. In the appendix, texts by Ibn Qutayba and al-Maqdisi are offered for the first time in an English translation.