Christian Apocalyptic Texts in Islamic Messianic Discourse: The ‘Christian Chapter’ of the Javidan-nama-yi kabir by Fadl Allah Astarabadi (d. 796/1394)

In Christian Apocalyptic Texts in Islamic Messianic Discourse Orkhan Mir-Kasimov offers an account of the interpretation of these Christian texts by Fadl Allah Astarabadi (d. 796/1394), the founder of a mystical and messianic movement which was influential in medieval Iran and Anatolia. This interpretation can be situated within the tradition of ‘positive’ Muslim hermeneutics of the Christian and Jewish scriptures which was particularly developed in Shii'i and especially Ismai'li circles. Fadl Allah incorporates the Christian apocalyptic texts into an Islamic eschatological context, combining them with Qur'an and hadith material. In addition to an introductory study, the book contains a critical edition and an English translation of the relevant passages from Fadl Allah’s magnum opus, the Javidan-nama-yi kabir.