AL-WADIH IBN RAJA’ (?-after 1009)

A Monk, apologist. The History of the Patriarchs devotes several pages to the story of al-Wadih, a Muslim who—through the witness of a martyr and the intervention of St. Mercurius—converted to Christianity and became a monk and priest. He became a friend of Sawirus ibn al-Muqaffa‘, with whom he is said to have spent considerable time in reflection and study.
He wrote at least three Arabic-language apologetic/polemical works in which he drew on Islamic sources; unfortunately, these works remain almost entirely unknown. Like Sawirus, al-Wadih is one of the pioneers of Copto-Arabic literature, but an evaluation of his place in the history of this literature must await the publication of some of his work.

GAWDAT GABRA