Muslim-Christian Polemics in Safavid Iran - Paperback

by Alberto Tiburcio (Author)

This book explores the history of Muslim-Christian theological exchanges in Iran during the 17th and early 18th centuries. Focused on the work of the renegade missionary 'Ali Quli Jadid al-Islam (d. 1734), it contributes to ongoing debates on the nature of confessionalism, interreligious encounters, and cultural translation in early modern Muslim empires. By disentangling the connections between polemics and other forms of Islamic learning and by emphasizing the Shi'i character of the case in question, this study accounts for the dynamism of polemics as an ever-evolving genre capable to adapt to different historical contexts.

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'Demonstrates how polemical literature can shed light on the theological and philosophical debates and draws attention to the exchange of ideas in a wider connected intellectual history of the period. A valuable contribution.' Sajjad H. Rizvi, University of Exeter 'A welcome addition which makes a particularly valuable contribution to the question of conversion and religious disputation at the time, with an eye to the question of whether the originally European concept of confessionalism is applicable to early modern Iran.' Rudolph Matthee, Munroe Chaired Professor of History, University of Delaware Explores theological debates between Muslims and Christians in Iran in the 17th and early 18th centuries Focused on the work of the renegade missionary 'Ali Quli Jadid al-Islam (d. 1734), this book contributes to ongoing debates on the nature of confessionalism, interreligious encounters and cultural translation in early modern Muslim empires. By disentangling the connections between polemics and other forms of Islamic learning and by emphasising the Shi'i character of the case in question, Alberto Tiburcio accounts for the dynamism of polemics as an ever-evolving genre capable of adapting to different historical contexts. Key Features - Provides case studies on Muslim-Christian polemics in early modern Iran - Aids our understanding of interreligious relations in the Islamic world - Explores cross-cultural interactions in the early modern period - Contributes to debates on confessionalisation in the Middle East, with a focus on Shi'ism Alberto Tiburcio is Postdoctoral Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. He previously held a research appointment at the Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies at the Philipps University of Marburg. Cover image: 'Sepulere De Seid Ibrahim, ' depicts three men among tombstones at the 'Sepulcher of the Saint Ibrahim, ' 1633 to 1637 from Very Unusual Travels in Muscovy, Tartary, and Persia, 1727. Photo by Interim Archives/Getty Images Cover design: [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-4046-2 Barcode

Author Biography

Alberto Tiburcio (PhD McGill 2015) is Postdoctoral Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. He previously held a research appointment at the Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies at the Philipps University of Marburg.