Sulayman al-Ghazzi
Sulayman al-Ghazzi | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Gaza | |
| Church | Melkite Church |
| Diocese | Diocese of Gaza |
| See | Gaza City |
| Personal details | |
| Born | ca. 940 |
| Died | ca. 1027 |
Sulayman Ibn Hassan al-Ghazzi(alsoSolomon of GazaorSamunas,ca. 940 - 1027) was an Arab Christian poet andbishop of GazainFatimidPalestine.[1][2]His work provides insights into the life ofMelkite Christiansin the Holy Land during the persecutions of caliphal-Hakimand hisdiwanis the earliest known collection ofArabic poetrydealing specifically with Christian religious themes.[3]
Life
[edit]Though there are no outside sources about Sulayman's life, his life has been reconstructed from his highly personal verses byNéophytos Edelby.It seems that Sulayman entered a monastery as a youth after his father (called Hasan, Basila or possibly both) abandoned his mother. However, shortly aftertaking his vowshe left the monastery to lead a secular life (possibly working as aKatib), got wealthy and married. In his old age he lost not only his wife, but also his son and then only grandson (named Ibrahim) as well as his wealth.[4]Sulayman finally returned to the monastic life and was eventuallyordainedbishop around the age of eighty, not least due to his great learning which becomes evident from his writing. He died some time after 1027.[5]
Work
[edit]Though there have been other important Christian Arab poets such as the pre-Islamical-Nabigah al-Dubyanior the court poetal-Akthal al-Taghlibi,Sulayman al-Ghazzi is the first to compose poetry on specific Christian themes and speaking about his Christian faith.[5]His writings provide insights into the lives of Christian Arabs during theFatimid Caliphateand protest the persecutions under caliphal-Hakimas well as thediscrimination endured by the Christian populationand the destruction of Christian sides such as theHoly Sepulchrein Jerusalem or thechurch of Saint Georgein Lydda.[1]Sulayman also mentions the Palestinian monasteries he visited and wrote apologetic treatise of aChalcedonian creedagainst various heresis.[2]
Nevertheless, Sulayman's most important literary achievement is his Diwan.[5]It consists of 97qasidasamounting to over 3,000 lines encompassing various religious topics, dating to the last third of the 10th century to the first third of the 11th century. The poems deal with various topics the sins of his youth and personal tragedies, the defence of orthodoxy, the persecution and humiliation endured by the Christians during his time.[3]The dominant themes are the interconnectedness of his personal tragedy, his Palestinian environment and his highly developed theology of Incarnation. Central are twoChristologicalideas: first, that Christ is God, present as well in theNewas theOld Testamentand second, that Christ is fully united to humankind. This unity is achieved in that when Christ died, humankind died, and when he ascended into Heaven, he brought humankind with him.[5]
The oldest manuscript that record his work dates to the year 1116.[3]The poems of Sulayman were frequently sung or set to music.[1]
References
[edit]- ^abcMasalha, Nur (24 February 2022).Palestine Across Millennia: A History of Literacy, Learning and Educational Revolutions.Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 122–123.ISBN978-0-7556-4296-0.Retrieved16 January2024.
- ^abHeyer, Friedrich (2000).2000 Jahre Kirchengeschichte des Heiligen Landes: Märtyrer, Mönche, Kirchenväter, Kreuzfahrer, Patriarchen, Ausgräber und Pilger(in German). LIT Verlag Münster. pp. 137–138.ISBN978-3-8258-4955-9.Retrieved16 January2024.
- ^abcNoble, Samuel (17 December 2010). "Sulayman al-Ghazzi". In Thomas, David; Mallett, Alexander (eds.).Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History. Volume 2 (900-1050).BRILL. pp. 618–622.ISBN978-90-04-21618-1.Retrieved16 January2024.
- ^Reynolds, Daniel (2021). "Death of a Patriarch: Early Islamic Palestine". In Pohl, Walter; Kramer, Rutger (eds.).Empires and Communities in the Post-Roman and Islamic World, C. 400-1000 CE.Oxford University Press. p. 205.ISBN978-0-19-006794-6.Retrieved22 January2024.
- ^abcdNoble, Samuel; Treiger, Alexander (15 March 2014).The Orthodox Church in the Arab World, 700–1700: An Anthology of Sources.Cornell University Press. pp. 160–163.ISBN978-1-5017-5130-1.Retrieved15 January2024.
