Salih al-Jafari
- Died
- 668 AH
- Born in
- -
Salih al-Jafari (d. 668 AH / 1270 CE) was an Egyptian Muslim judge and scholar known for his polemical and comparative theological treatise Takhjil man harrafa al-Tawrah wa-l-Injil ("Shaming Whoever Corrupted the Torah and the Gospel").
Identity and Lineage
His full name was Abu al-Tuqa Salih ibn al-Husayn ibn Talha ibn al-Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn al-Husayn al-Hashimi al-Ja'fari al-Zaynabi, and he was known by the title al-Taqi. While some bibliographical entries erroneously recorded his kunya as Abu al-Baqa, biographical sources establish it as Abu al-Tuqa. His lineage traces back to Ja'far ibn Abi Talib of the Banu Hashim clan of Quraysh.
Career and Scholarly Contribution
Al-Jafari served as the judge (qadi) of the Upper Egyptian city of Qus. His scholarly work focused on interfaith polemics and textual criticism of biblical literature. His principal work, Takhjil man harrafa al-Tawrah wa-l-Injil, approached theological disputes through direct examination and textual analysis of biblical writings rather than purely abstract theological arguments. In manuscript collections and catalog traditions, the treatise has also appeared under alternate titles, including al-Radd 'ala al-Nasara ("Refutation of the Christians") and al-Bayan al-wadih al-mashhud min fada'ih al-Nasara wa-l-Yahud.
Death
Al-Jafari died in Cairo at the beginning of the month of Dhu al-Qi'dah in 668 AH (June 1270 CE).
Answer updated
List of Works
Takhjil man Harrafa al-Tawrah wa al-Injil (Shaming Whoever Distorted the Torah and the Gospel) is a polemical work dedicated to refuting Judaism and Christianity through comparative scriptural analysis and textual criticism. Aiming to engage Christian and Jewish interlocutors directly through their own canonical texts rather than abstract theological speculation, the work examines biblical writings, prophetic predictions, and theological doctrines across ten chapters.