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This pseudonym was used by a Nestorian author about 825 in defense of Christianity in reply to 'Abdallāh ibn Ismā'īl al-Hāshimī, the pseudonym of a Muslim author. This is one of the most important texts in Arabic Christian apologetic literature in reaction to Islam (analysis and bibliography are in Graf, 1944, Vol. 1, pp. 135-45).
Despite the importance of this text, it would appear that the Copts in the Middle Ages were not acquainted with it, although they possessed other, rare apologies, such as those of the Nestorians 'Ammār al-Basrī (c. 820) and Hunayn ibn Ishaq (d. 873), or that of the Melchite Qustā ibn Lūqā (d. c. 912). The Copts came to know this text only in the nineteenth century, and authors such as the qummus SARJIYŪS (Sergius) were able to make use of it owing to the two editions made in Cairo (1885 and 1912) by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
Khalil Samir, S.J.
Note: The DACB uses the transliteration system of the Encyclopedia of Islam (2nd ed.), dropping the diacritical marks on the kha, dtaa, saad, and daad.This article was reprinted, with permission from The Coptic Encyclopedia, vol. 1, copyright © 1991 by Macmillan, New York, U.S.A., edited by Aziz S. Atiya. All rights reserved.