1 reply »

1. “This latter inscription illustrates the use of al-#ilah in a Christian context.
   This means that use of the definite article with the generic term
   for god was seen as suitable to denote the Christian God. Indeed, the use of
   al-#ilah next to allah in a monotheistic context is also attested e.g. in a
   poem by an-Nabiga al- Dhubyani:20

   Lahum sˇimatun lam yutiha llahu gayrahum // mina l-qudi, wa-l-#ahlami gayri
   awazibi
   maqallatuhum dhatu l-#ilahi, wa-dinuhum // qawimun fa-ma yarjuna gayra
   l-awaqibi.

   “They have a virtue that God [allah] has given to no one but them, // [a virtue]
   of bounteousness, and unyielding prudence.
   Their scripture is that of God [al-#ilah], and their religion is one of rectitude,
   they only want (anticipate) the consequences [of their acts]”” (p. 38)

   Kiltz, David. “The relationship between Arabic Allah and Syriac Allaha” in Der Islam, v. 88. pp. 33-50

   Al-Nabigha al-Dhubyani was a Christian who lived in Arabia before the coming of Islam. If I am not remebering it wrong he came from Najd.

   I have changed the spelling of “yarjuna” and “al-Dhubyani” from the way the words are represented in Kiltz article, because this page does not seem to support some of the signs that he is using.

   Reply