Severus ibn al-Muqaffa

After a brief period serving the government in Fatimid Egypt, he decided to join a monastery and become a monk. Later, he was ordained bishop of al-Ashminayn by Patriarch Theophane (953-956). He gained prominence for composing many works in defense of Christianity, in addition to his skills as a debater, even within the Fatimid courts under Caliph al-Mu‘izz (969-975), where he defended Christian doctrine. Thus he became the first Coptic author to compose theological works in Arabic. His legacy endures in the Coptic Orthodox Church whose theological and spiritual writings continue to be published in Arabic, like those of Pope Shenouda III. ==Works==

Some of the most known works by Severus ibn al-Muqaffa are the following (for a list with 26 titles of works by the Author read Abū al-Barakāt, Catalog of Christian Literature in Arabic, which may have some different titles for the works we know presently.) : • Lamp of the Intellect (in Arabic مصباح العقل) • History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria (in Arabic تاريخ بطاركة كنيسة الإسكندرية القبطية). This is a compilation begun by Severus Ibn al-Muqaffaʿ and based on earlier biographical sources. It was continued by others including Michael, bishop of Tinnis (11th century, writing in Coptic, covering 880 to 1046), ibn Mufarrij, deacon of Alexandria., and Pope Mark III of Alexandria (for 1131 to 1167). • ''Affliction's physic and the cure of sorrow'' (In Arabic طبّ الغمّ وشفاء الحزن) • Book of The Precious Pearl, 15 Chapters. A book rich with Biblical and Patristic citations (especially citing the Greek Fathers of The Church, Athanasius, Cyril of Alexandria, Gregory Nazianzen, Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Thaumaturgus, Epiphanius of Salamis, Chrysostom, Severus of Antioch and Dioscorus of Alexandria). The book has 1161 Biblical citations and at least 191 Patristic citations. (Full title in Arabic: كتاب الدر الثمين في إيضاح الاعتقاد في الدين بما نطقت به أفواه النبيين والرسل الأطهار المؤيدين والأباء المعلمين والبطاركة المغبوطين علي تجسد رب المجد وصعوده وإرساله الباراقليط). • The Refutation Of Eutychius, of four parts and also known as The Book On The Councils (Arabic: كتاب المجامع). The book was written mainly to defend the position of the Jacobites who rejected the Council of Chalcedon against what has been brought up by the Melchite Patriarch Eutychius, or Sa'id ibn Bitriq, in his book known as the Annals Of Eutychius. • The Arrangement of the Priesthood, i.e. Information on Ranks in the Church, (Arabic: ترتيب الكهنوت). • The Book of Brief Explanation on the Faith, (Arabic: البيان المختصر في الإيمان). • The Explanation, (Arabic: كتاب الإيضاح , Kitāb al-īḍāḥ), 12 Chapters. The book is sometimes confused with the previously mentioned book of The Precious Pearl. • Stringing together of Jewel and Pearls, in answer to the doctrine of fate and divine decree (Arabic: نظم الجواهر والدرر ضد القائلين بالقضاء والقدر), Mistakenly-attributed to George Elmacin (ابن المكين). ==Notes==