Theodore Abu-Qurrah

Theodore Abū Qurrah (c. 750 – c. 825) was a 9th-century Melkite bishop and theologian who lived in the early Islamic period. Born in Edessa (modern-day Şanlıurfa), Mesopotamia, he served as the Bishop of Harran. He was among the earliest Christian writers to compose works in Arabic, alongside figures like Abu-Ra'itah of Tikrit and Ammar al-Basri. His writings aimed to defend Christian doctrines against challenges from Islam, Judaism, and dissenting Christian groups, often employing the language and concepts of Islamic theologians, leading him to be described as a Christian *mutakallim*. His theological discussions focused on core Christian tenets such as the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Sacraments, as well as practices like facing east in prayer and the veneration of icons. Abū Qurrah also engaged in philosophical arguments, notably using a thought experiment in his *Questions of Priest Musa* to support Chalcedonian Christianity. He is also known for translating pseudo-Aristotle's *De virtutibus animae* into Arabic. Some of his works were translated into Greek and circulated in the Byzantine Empire.