LUKÁŠ DE LA VEGA NOSEK
HUSITSKÁ TEOLOGICKÁ FAKULTA UNIVERZITY KARLOVY
HUSSITE THEOLOGICAL FACULTY OF CHARLES UNIVERSITY
THE MUSLIM FAITH UNDER FIRE FROM REASON: HUNAJN IBN ISḤĀQ (Z. 873) VERSUS ABŪ ALHASAN
ʿALĪ B. YAHYĀ B. AL-MUNAJJIM (Z. 888)
Abstract: This study presents an analysis of a treatise by the Nestorian translator Ḥunayn b. Isḥāq
(d. 873), which was conceived in response to an exhortation to convert to Islam written by Abū
al-Hasan ʿAlī b. Yahyā b. al-Munajjim (d. 888), a renowned Muslim of Persian descent. The study
presents the contents of the treatise, and, on the basis of direct quotations, notes the specifics and
characteristics of Hunayn´s thought. It concludes by presenting the key idea that in this Christian-
Muslim controversy, more than faith, it is about the proper use of reason and rational thought.
Keywords: Ḥunayn b. Isḥāq (d. 873); by Abū al-Ḥasan ʿAlī b. Yahyā b. al-Munajjim (d. 888); theology;
philosophy; christian-muslim polemics; reason; arab christianity; nestorian theology
THEOLOGICAL REVIEW, Vol. 95, 2024, No. 1 – 2, Number of Article 3, p. 34 – 46.
DOI: 10.14712/12117617.95.1-2.3