Investigating Abū ‘Īsā al-Warrāq’s Methodology in the Study of Christian Doctrine of Trinity Based on His al-Radd ‘Alā al-Tathlīth (The Response to Trinity)

Abstract

This paper seeks to investigate the methodology of Abū ‘Īsā al-
Warrāq, the classical Muslim scholar, in the study of Christian doctrine of trinity
with special reference to his master piece al-Radd ‘Alā al-Tathlīth: Al-Juz’ al-
Awwal Min Kitāb al-Radd ‘Alā al-Thalāth Firaq Min al-Naṣārā (The Response
to Trinity: The First Part from the Book in Response to the three Christian Sects).
The aim of this research is to investigate al-Warrāq’s polemical discourse
consisting of arguments, disputes and refutation, while responding to the claims
of three Christian sects, Malkiyyah (Melkites), Nasṭūriyyah (Nestorians)
and Yaʿqūbiyyah (Jacobites) in relation to the concept of trinity. The significance
of this research stands on its suggesting of new insights for young scholars and
students of comparative religion in dealing with Christian doctrine of trinity,
as addressed by the content of al-Warrāq’s original script. This study starts
with an introduction, which is followed by a discussion on: (1) Abū ‘Īsā al-
Warrāq’s brief chronology, (2) his selected work(s) on the study of religion,
and (3) his methodology in the study of Christian doctrine of trinity through
selected statements from his original work. Descriptive and analytical methods
are employed in the entire research. This study concludes that Abū ‘Īsā al-
Warrāq’s methodology, which is of a polemical-critical-refutative nature
based on pure human reasoning, is relevant to the contemporary scholarship
of comparative religion, through which sound responses can be provided to
issues related to God, cosmology, man, eschatology, ethics, rights, freedom,
tolerance, leadership, etc.