Remarks on the Latin version of the epistles of al-Hāshimī and al-Kindī

Abstract

In the present paper I examine the characteristic features of the Latin translation of the epistles attributed to al-Hašimi and al-Kindi, one of the main documents of the polemic literature against Islam as written by Estern Christians. After a revision of the issues of authentication, authorship, data fixing raised by the Arabic version, I examine the resources that translators make avail of in order to adapt the contents and the style of the text to the way of thinking of the Western readers. Lastly, I focus on the influence the Arabic version exerted on some polemicists such as P. Alfonso, R. Martí, R. Llull, P. Pascual and the authors of the so called Gregorian report.