Samir Khalil Samir
Encyclopedia
Samir Khalil Samir is an Islam
ic scholar, Semitologist, Orientalist
, Syriacist
and Catholic theologian
based in Lebanon
.
and undertook the study of Philosophy
, Theology
and Islamic studies
. He graduated with a thesis on oriental Catholic theology and Islamic studies. Thereafter, he established 20 schools for reading and writing in Egypt
and then taught for 12 years at the Papal Oriental Institute in Rome
.
In 1986, he moved to Lebanon during the civil war there and now teaches at the Saint Joseph University
, specialising in Catholic theology and Islamic studies.
At the same time he created the research institute CEDRAC
in Beirut
, which collects literature on the Christian heritage in the Near East. He is also a Professor at the Papal Oriental Institute and at the Centre Sèvres (Jesuit Faculty of Theology and Philosophy) in Paris
. He holds the same post at the Maqasid Institute in Beirut, where uniquely he teaches the Imams about Christianity and at ISSR in USJ teaches Muslim studies. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Graz
, Tokyo
, Al-Azhar University
, and Georgetown University
, at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Washington, D.C.
.
Samir is the author of 40 books and over 500 articles. He advises numerous church leaders and politicians in Europe and the Near East
. He also held discussions on daily life with Muslim youths in the Paris Banlieue
prior to the unrest in 2005.
His main interests are: the Christian Orient, Islam and the integration of Muslims in Europe, as well as relations between Christians and Muslims. In July 2006, he drew up a peace plan for the Near East.
Father Samir has said that "the pope kissing the Quran was a shock for many Christians in the Middle East. They thought it meant that the Quran is divine, which is of course not what he meant at all".
He also made many contributions to the Coptic Encyclopedia.
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic scholar, Semitologist, Orientalist
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
, Syriacist
Syriacist
A Syriacist or Syrianist is a specialist in Syriac language and Christianity. Specifically, British, French, and German scholars of the 18th and 19th centuries who were involved in the study of Syriac/Aramaic language and literature were commonly known by this designation, at a time when Hebrew was...
and Catholic theologian
Roman Catholic theology
Roman Catholic theology comprises the "Roman Catholic teachings" of the Catholic Church which bases its conclusions on Scripture and Sacred Tradition, as interpreted by the Magisterium. The Church teaches that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, keeping of the Ten commandments and...
based in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
Life
Samir joined the Jesuit order in 1955 in Aix-en-ProvenceAix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
and undertook the study of Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and Islamic studies
Islamic studies
In a Muslim context, Islamic studies can be an umbrella term for all virtually all of academia, both originally researched and as defined by the Islamization of knowledge...
. He graduated with a thesis on oriental Catholic theology and Islamic studies. Thereafter, he established 20 schools for reading and writing in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and then taught for 12 years at the Papal Oriental Institute in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
In 1986, he moved to Lebanon during the civil war there and now teaches at the Saint Joseph University
Université Saint-Joseph
Saint Joseph University is a private Catholic higher institute of education founded by the Jesuits in 1875 in Beirut, Lebanon, known for its school of medicine and its hospital, Hôtel-Dieu de France. The Lebanese state officially recognizes the university and the diplomas it grants in accord with...
, specialising in Catholic theology and Islamic studies.
At the same time he created the research institute CEDRAC
CEDRAC
CEDRAC is the abbreviated name of the research and documentation center for Arabic Christianity....
in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, which collects literature on the Christian heritage in the Near East. He is also a Professor at the Papal Oriental Institute and at the Centre Sèvres (Jesuit Faculty of Theology and Philosophy) in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He holds the same post at the Maqasid Institute in Beirut, where uniquely he teaches the Imams about Christianity and at ISSR in USJ teaches Muslim studies. He has been a visiting professor at the University of Graz
University of Graz
The University of Graz , a university located in Graz, Austria, is the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria....
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University
Al-Azhar University is an educational institute in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 970~972 as a madrasa, it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. It is the oldest degree-granting university in Egypt. In 1961 non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum.It is...
, and Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Samir is the author of 40 books and over 500 articles. He advises numerous church leaders and politicians in Europe and the Near East
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
. He also held discussions on daily life with Muslim youths in the Paris Banlieue
Banlieue
In francophone areas, banlieues are the "outskirts" of a city: the zone around a city that is under the city's rule.Banlieues are translated as "suburbs", as these are also residential areas on the outer edge of a city, but the connotations of the term "banlieue" in France can be different from...
prior to the unrest in 2005.
His main interests are: the Christian Orient, Islam and the integration of Muslims in Europe, as well as relations between Christians and Muslims. In July 2006, he drew up a peace plan for the Near East.
Father Samir has said that "the pope kissing the Quran was a shock for many Christians in the Middle East. They thought it meant that the Quran is divine, which is of course not what he meant at all".
Works
- Christian Arabic Apologetics during the Abbasid Period (750-1258) by Samir Khalil (ed.), Jorgen S Nilesen (Herausgeber) Brill (Dezember 1993)
- Cento domande sull´islam. Intervista a Samir Khalil Samir, a cura di Giorgio Paolucci e Camille Eid (Genova : Marietti, 2002), 14+223 pages = ISBN 88-211-6462-4 (13 ).
- Rôle culturel des chrétiens dans le monde arabe, coll. Cahiers de l´Orient chrétien 1 (Beyrouth : CEDRAC, 2003), Samir Khalil Samir, 60 pages = ISSN 2-1682-6574 (4 ).
- Cien preguntas sobre el islam, Una entrevista a Samir Khalil Samir, realizada por Giorgio Paolucci y Camille Eid (Traduccion espanola: Miguel Montes), Madrid : Ediciones Encuentro, 2003, 223 pages = ISBN 84-7490-689-X.
He also made many contributions to the Coptic Encyclopedia.
Secondary literature
- Studies on the Christian Arabic Heritage: In Honour of Father Prof Dr Samir Khalil Samir SJ at the Occasion of His Sixty-Fifth Birthday (Eastern Christian Studies) by R. Y. Ebied (ed.), Peeters (2005)
- "Der Friedensplan für den Nahen Osten von Samir Khalil Samir": L'hebdomadaire italien « L'Espresso », 28. July 2006
- "Le plan de paix en dix points du Vatican", Hervé Yannou « Le Figaro », 30. August 2006.
Awards
- Alexander von Humboldt Forschungspreis, 2005
- Vétéran de la Culture au Liban et dans le Monde Arabe, 2007