Juan Gabriel of Teruel (also spelled Joan Gabriel; Latin name: Iohannes Gabriel Terrolensis; former Muslim name: Alí Alayzar) was a Spanish convert from Islam to Christianity known for translating the Quran into Latin during the early 16th century.
Juan Gabriel of Teruel | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alí Alayzar mid-15th century |
| Died | early 16th century |
| Other names | Iohannes Gabriel Terrolensis |
| Occupation | Translator |
| Years active | early 16th century |
| Notable work | 1518 Latin translation of the Quran |
Life
editJuan Gabriel was born sometime during the mid-15th century, likely in Teruel. He may have been the Faqīh (Spanish: Alfaquí) of Teruel during the 15th century, but was likely forced to convert to Christianity in 1502 due to the forced conversions of Muslims in Spain.[1]
He taught Arabic to Fray Joan Martí de Figuerola, a preacher who wrote that his knowledge of Arabic and the Quran was thanks to Juan Gabriel. Juan Gabriel died sometime during the early 16th century.[1]
Quran translation
editIn 1518, Juan Gabriel prepared a Latin translation of the Quran for Giles of Viterbo (Italian: Egidio da Viterbo), who had commissioned the translation for the purpose of converting Muslims to Christianity. Leo Africanus, a Muslim convert who was a godson of Giles of Viterbo, revised the translation in 1525.[2][3][4] The original manuscript has not survived, although other surviving manuscripts of the translation are Cambridge MS Mm. v. 26 (C) and Milan MS D 100 inf. (M).[5][6] MS D 100 Inf was copied by Scottish scholar David Colville in 1621, from a manuscript at the library of El Escorial in Spain. Colville later brought his manuscript to Milan. Today, it is archived at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana.[7] A critical edition of the Latin Quran translation was published by Katarzyna K. Starczewska in 2018,[3] which was a revision of her 2012 dissertation.[4]
Below is Juan Gabriel's Latin translation of Al-Ikhlas, the 112th sura of the Quran.[4]
1. Dic: "Est Deus unus,
2. Deus est potens,
3. non fuit generatus neque generabit,
4. et non ei aequalis cum eo."
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Starczewska, Katarzyna K. Thomas, David; Chesworth, John (eds.). "Juan Gabriel". Christian-Muslim Relations: A Bibliographical History. Volume 6: Western Europe (1500-1600). Leiden: Brill. doi:10.1163/2451-9537_cmrii_COM_28058.
- ^ Starczewska, Katarzyna K. (2022-09-05). "Translations from Arabic of Iberian Origin in Egidio da Viterbo's Qur'an". The Iberian Qur’an. De Gruyter. p. 399–420. doi:10.1515/9783110778847-015. ISBN 978-3-11-077884-7.
- ^ a b Starczewska, Katarzyna K. (2018). Latin Translation of the Qur'an (1518/1621). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. ISBN 978-3-447-10862-1. OCLC 1027703412.
- ^ a b c Starczewska, Katarzyna Krystyna (2012-11-29). "Latin translation of the Qur'ān (1518/1621) commissioned by Egidio da Viterbo. Critical edition and introductory study". Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ "Institution Finder". Gale. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ Starczewska, Katarzyna K. (2018). Latin Translation of the Qur'ān (1518/1621): Commissioned by Egidio da Viterbo. Critical Edition and Case Study (1 ed.). Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 978-3-447-10862-1. JSTOR j.ctv11sn5pr. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ Tommasino, Pier Mattia (2020). "Latin Translation of the Qur'ān (1518/1621), Commissioned by Egidio da Viterbo: Critical Edition and Case Study. Katarzyna Starczewska. Diskurse der Arabistik 24. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2018. cxxiv + 828 pp. €138". Renaissance Quarterly. 73 (1). Cambridge University Press (CUP): 311–312. doi:10.1017/rqx.2019.558. ISSN 0034-4338.