Abdallah ibn Abbas ibn al-Fadl
Quick Facts
Biography
Abdallah ibn al-Fadl al-Antaki ((in Arabic) عبد الله بن الفضل بن عبد الله المطران الانطاكي) was a deacon and translator active in Antioch during the middle of the eleventh century, during a period of renewed Byzantine rule over the city.He was responsible for a large number of patristic translations, as well as original theological and philosophical works.
Little is known of his life, apart from what can be gleaned from manuscripts of his texts.He was a deacon and the grandson of a bishop.He received an excellent education in both Arabic and Greek, having studied Arabic grammar with the famous poet Abul ʿAla Al-Maʿarri.Several of his works and translations were commissioned by notables from Antioch and neighbouring cities in Muslim territory.
His psalms were used in the first printed Arabic book, the Kitab salat al-sawai.
Works
- The Book of Benefit (Kitab al-Manfa‘a)
- Discourse on the Holy Trinity (Kalam fi l-lahut)
- Book of the Joy of the Believer (Kitab Bahjat al-Mu'min)
- Exposition of the Orthodox Faith (Sharh al-Amana al-Mustaqima wa-Ibanat Ghalat al-Ya'aqiba wa-l-Nastur 'Ala Sabil al-Ijaz)
- Questions and Responses on the Trinity and the Incarnation (Masa'il wa-Ajwiba hawla al-Tathlith wa-l-Ittihad)