From the first centuries of Islam to well into the Middle Ages; Jews and Christians produced hundreds of manuscripts containing portions of the Bible in Arabic. Until recently; however; these translations remained largely neglected by Biblical scholars and historians. In telling the story of the Bible in Arabic; this book casts light on a crucial transition in the cultural and religious life of Jews and Christians in Arabic-speaking lands. In pre-Islamic times; Jewish and Christian scriptures circulated orally in the Arabic-speaking milieu. After the rise of Islam--and the Qur'an's appearance as a scripture in its own right--Jews and Christians translated the Hebrew Bible and the Greek New Testament into Arabic for their own use and as a response to the Qur'an's retelling of Biblical narratives. From the ninth century onward; a steady stream of Jewish and Christian translations of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament crossed communal borders to influence the Islamic world. The Bible in Arabic offers a new frame of reference for the pivotal place of Arabic Bible translations in the religious and cultural interactions between Jews; Christians; and Muslims.
#278839 in Books 2014-02-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.90 x 1.00 x 6.00l; 1.15 #File Name: 0691162409336 pages
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2 of 11 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy Adele Z. SilverThoughtful synthesis of politics; art; and society