عنوان

Inter-Religious Relations in a Sectarian Milieu: Fatimid Rulers in Relationship to Their Melkite Christian Subjects in Palestine and Egypt

Number

TL56258

.Language of Text, Soundtrack etc

انگلیسی

Title Proper

Inter-Religious Relations in a Sectarian Milieu: Fatimid Rulers in Relationship to Their Melkite Christian Subjects in Palestine and Egypt

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Gertz, Steven Matthew

Subsequent Statement of Responsibility

Madigan, Daniel

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

Georgetown University

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

2020

Text of Note

155 p.

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Ph.D.

Body granting the degree

Georgetown University

Text preceding or following the note

2020

Text of Note

This dissertation undertakes a historical study of the Fāṭimid caliphate in Palestine and Egypt during the fourth/tenth and fifth/eleventh centuries in order to first, better understand how religious principles (ascertained through the study of law) and politics (ascertained through the study of history) interact in a sectarian milieu, and second, contribute to the study of Islamic religious identity formation as it concerns sectarianism within Islam and inter-religious relations with non-Muslims. It considers the juristic categorization (ḥukm) Fāṭimids employed regarding non-Muslims in the fiqh of the Fāṭimid jurist al-Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān, and it compares that with current research on Imāmī and Sunnī fiqh concerning non-Muslims. The study finds general agreement between Imāmīs and the Fāṭimids as to how Muslims should think about dhimmīs, with both groups placing dhimmīs in the category of mushrikūn. It also considers the relationship of Fāṭimid legal reasoning to caliphal policies during the reigns of al-ʿAzīz, al-Ḥākim, al-Ẓāhir, and al-Mustanṣir toward Christian dhimmīs, particularly those subjects living within range of Sunnī incursions and rebellions. It proposes that while it may not be possible to draw a direct line from the fiqh to a certain caliphal policy or action, it is possible to detect the indirect effects of jurisprudence in the various actions of the caliphs, some of which were beneficent and others punitive toward dhimmīs. Yet the Fāṭimid caliphs were often reactive in their policies, responding to provocations from the ʿAbbāsids as well as to the agency of the Christian dhimmīs living under their rule. The study concludes by reflecting on what we can learn about sectarianism and about Muslim religious identity formation from Fāṭimid caliphal interactions with Palestinian and Egyptian Christians. It suggests that, on balance, sectarianism in Islam was not beneficial for Christian dhimmīs, as they found it difficult to successfully navigate Fāṭimid-ʿAbbāsid tensions; and that Fāṭimid religious identity was shaped and maintained by three influences: the power available in the institution of the caliphate itself, the persistent influence of textual tradition, and friendship across religious lines.

Subject Term

Islamic studies

Subject Term

Middle Eastern studies

Subject Term

Religion

Subject Term

Theology

Gertz, Steven Matthew

Madigan, Daniel

Georgetown University

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y