Dissertation Defense: Steven Gertz
Candidate Name: Steven Gertz
Major: Theological and Religious Studies
Thesis Advisor: Daniel Madigan, S.J.
Title: Inter-Religious Relations in a Sectarian Milieu: Fatimid Rulers in Relationship to their Melkite Christian Subjects in Palestine and Egypt
This dissertation undertakes a historical study of the Fatimid caliphate in Palestine and Egypt during the fourth/tenth and fifth/eleventh centuries in order to better understand how religious principles (ascertained through the study of law) and politics (ascertained through the study of history) interact in a sectarian milieu, and contribute to the study of Islamic religious identity formation as it concerns sectarianism within Islam and inter-religious relations with non-Muslims. It considers the juristic categorization (hukm) Fatimids employed regarding non-Muslims in the fiqh of the Fatimid jurist al-Qadi al-Nuʿman, and it compares that with current research on Imami and Sunni fiqh concerning non-Muslims. The study finds general agreement between Imamis and the Fatimids as to how Muslims should think about dhimmis, with both groups placing dhimmis in the category of mushrikun. It also considers the relationship of Fatimid legal reasoning to caliphal policies during the reigns of al-ʿAziz, al-Hakim, al-Zahir, and al-Mustansir toward Christian dhimmis, particularly those subjects living within range of Sunni incursions and rebellions. It proposes that while it may not be possible to draw a direct line from the fiqh to a certain caliphal policy or action, it is possible to detect the indirect effects of jurisprudence in the various actions of the caliphs, some of which were beneficial and others punitive toward dhimmis. Yet the Fatimid caliphs were often reactive in their policies, responding to provocations from the ʿAbbasids as well as to the agency of the Christian dhimmis living under their rule. The study concludes by reflecting on what we can learn about sectarianism and about Muslim religious identity formation from Fatimid caliphal interactions with Palestinian and Egyptian Christians. It suggests that, on balance, sectarianism in Islam was not beneficial for Christian dhimmis, as they found it difficult to successfully navigate Fatimid-ʿAbbasid tensions; and that Fatimid religious identity was shaped and maintained by three influences: the power available in the institution of the caliphate itself, the persistent influence of textual tradition, and friendship across religious lines.