Yahya Christian Bonaud (1957 – 26 August 2019),[1] also known as Yaḥyā ʿAlawī (or Yaḥyā Bonaud) was a French Islamologist, philosopher, writer, translator, commentator of the Qur'an in French, and a professor at the Jāmī Theological Center at Al-Mustafa International University in Iran.[2]
Christian Bonaud | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | Yaḥyā ʿAlawī |
| Born | 1957 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany |
| Died | 26 August 2019 (aged 61–62) Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
| Occupation | Islamologist, philosopher, writer, translator |
| Language | French, German, English, Persian, Arabic |
| Nationality | French |
| Period | 1979–2019 |
| Notable works | L'Imam Khomeyni, un gnostique méconnu du XXe siècle |
Early life
editChristian Bonaud was born in 1957 into a Catholic family in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. They lived in (Germany) and Algeria until he was ten-years old, then moved to Strasbourg.[3]
Influenced by the works of René Guénon, a French Sufi metaphysician, Bonaud converted to Islam in 1979.[4] He began to study Arabic.[5] Studying Islamology eventually led him to the writings of Henry Corbin (1903–1978)[6] about Shia Islam.
Under the guidance of Amadou Hampâté Bâ (c. 1900/1901–1991), an African gnostic and spiritual leader of the Tijaniyyah, he re-converted to Shia Islam[7] and adopted the name Yahya Alawi (Arabic: يَحْيیٰ عَلَوِي, romanized: Yaḥyā ʿAlawī). Bonaud did his doctoral dissertation in French on Ruhollah Khomeini, which was reprinted and published as the book L'Imam Khomeyni, un gnostique méconnu du XXe siècle ("Imam Khomeini, an unknown gnostic of the 20th century"). While writing his thesis, he spent seven years in Iran studying under the guidance of Sayyed Jalal-ed-Din Ashtiani.[8]
Death
editHe died at sea in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in a marine accident on Monday, 26 August 2019. He was making a visit to the African continent to address Muslims about the month of Muharram and the guiding principles of Husayn ibn Ali. His body was transferred to Mashhad, Iran (where he had lived for fifteen–years prior) for his funeral rites and burial. He was 62 years old.[9]
Works
edit- L'Imam Khomeyni, un gnostique méconnu du XXe siècle [Imam Khomeini, an unknown gnostic of the 20th century] (in French). ALBOURAQ. 1997. ISBN 978-2841610471.[10]
- French translation of the Qur'an[11]
- Le soufisme: Al-tasawwuf et la spiritualité islamique (in French). 1991.[11]
- Rituals of the Islamic Revolution[11]
References
edit- ^ "Larijani condoles death of French philosopher Yahya Bonaud". 28 August 2019.
- ^ "J'ai travaillé sur l'imam Khomeiny, sur ses œuvres spirituelles et philosophiques". iqna. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- ^ "دکتر کریستین بونو (یحیی علوی)". Islamshia. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
- ^ "روحم در ادیان دیگر جز اسلام آرامش نداشت". farsnews. Retrieved 12 September 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "مراسم بزرگداشت پروفسور کريستين يحيي بونو برگزار شد". sahebkhabar. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
- ^ "روحم در ادیان دیگر جز اسلام آرامش نداشت". tasnimnews. Retrieved 12 September 2005.
- ^ "Christian Bonaud". hawzah. Retrieved 25 July 2005.
- ^ Staff writer. "موسسه فرهنگی ترجمان وحی". cthq. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
- ^ "درگذشت ناگهانی "دکتر یحیی بونو" مستبصر فرانسوی و عضو برجسته مجمع جهانی اهل بیت(ع) + عکس". abna24. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ^ Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Ayatollah Ruhollah (3 July 2015). The Mystery of Prayer: The Ascension of the Wayfarers and the Prayer of the Gnostics. BRILL, 2015. ISBN 9789004298316.
- ^ a b c "روایت فیلسوف فرانسوی از دین اسلام". mashreghnews. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.