Faris O. Nofal

Scopus Publications

On Early Samaritan ʿAqīdah: A Source Analysis of Ṣadaqah al-Sāmirī’s Kitāb al-Iʿtiqād
Faris O. Nofal
Journal of Islamic Manuscripts, 2026
The Samaritan theological treatises, written in Arabic between the 11th and 18th centuries, have been largely, and unjustly, overlooked by scholars. Unlike early hymnographic and midrashic literature, most of the works produced by this tradition’s representatives remain unpublished and unstudied. Meanwhile, Samaritan theology exemplifies an interesting model of interaction between a closed ethnic-religious community and its broader Muslim environment. The aim of this article is to analyse the sources of Ṣadaqah al-Ḥakīm’s The Book of Belief ( Kitāb al-Iʿtiqād ) to clarify its relationship with Islamic religious and philosophical discourse on the one hand, and with the works of Samaritans on the other.
Directions of Samaritan religious and philosophical thought in the 11th – 18th centuries
Studia Religiosa Rossica, 2026
“Let His Will Permit Me…”: The Druze Shrines of Southern Syria
Faris Nofal
Kunstkamera, 2026
The article presents the findings of a field study of Druze shrines in the al-Suwayda Governorate. On the basis of the collected materials, the author attempts to classify the surveyed Druze sanctuaries, to clarify their role in the folk religion of the region, and to reconstruct the mythological foundations of these documented cults. The main body of the work is preceded by a brief overview of the history of the Druze community, the arrival of the first Druze in the Levant in the 12th century, and the fate of the Tanukhid and Maʽanid states. The second section provides data on thirty-two sanctuaries in southern Syria, their distribution into cells (ḥuǧrāt), shrines — maqāmāt and mazārāt, each analyzed separately in terms of the reasons for their construction, their chronology, and the structure of typical Druze sacred spaces. The third part of the article describes the Druze ritual practices associated in one way or another with the existence of these shrines: pilgrimage, prayers, vows, offerings, and vigil rites. The article also discusses evidence concerning the judicial role of Druze shrines, as noted in informants’ accounts. Referring to the community’s key doctrinal text, the “Epistles of Wisdom,” the author concludes that the folk religion of the Druze of Syria largely develops in parallel with the doctrinal “monotheism” of the initiated, thus preserving archaic, pan-Arabian features such as the erection of cenotaphs or the veneration of local saints, who are believed to be capable of answering the pilgrims’ prayers. At the same time, the visual symbols found in the shrines, as well as the shrines themselves, to this day serve as identity markers for Druze communities, which for the most part consist of the uninitiated.
COMPARISON OF RELIGIONS IN THE MEDIEVAL ARAB AND LATIN TRADITIONS
Schole, 2026
Munajja ibn Sadaqah’s Eschatology in the Context of Samaritan Theology in 11th–12th Centuries
Religiovedenie, 2025
Religious and Philosophical Views of ʼAbū al-Ḥ̣asan al-Ṣ̣ūrī III. Natural Philosophy
Voprosy Filosofii, 2025
The Theology of God’s Oneness (Tawḥīd) in Munaǧǧā Ibn Ṣadaqah’s Religious and Philosophical Thought
F. O. Nofal
Concept Philosophy Religion Culture, 2025
The article deals with the philosophical and religious study of the Samaritan concept of al-tawḥīd — “the oneness of God” and is based on the “Book of Differences [between Jews and Samaritans]” (Kitāb al-H̱ ilāf), composed by Munaǧǧā ibn Ṣadaqah al-Sāmirrī, also known as “the Son of the Poet” (Ibn Šāʿir). The relevance of the study is due to the both the unexplored theological systems of the Samaritan writers’ legacy and their connection with the Muslim tradition. Munaǧǧā, as a Samaritan thinker of 12th – 13th centuries, followed Arab-Muslim discourse in his teachings; this was no exception in the field of theology, Muʻtazili’, Ashʻari’ and Maturidi’ versions of which became widespread in Samaritan circles as well as Peripatetic metaphysics. Munaǧǧā considers al-tawḥīd theory in its Muslim aspects — tawḥid al-ḏāt (“the oneness of Divine Substance”), tawḥid al-ṣifāt (“the oneness of Divine Attributes”) and tawḥid al-afʿāl (“the oneness of Divine Action”). “The oneness of Divine Substance” means an absolute numerical and qualitative uniqueness of God in His essence; Munaǧǧā proves it by Mutazilite arguments, directed against dualistic doctrines of East. Another impact of Mutazili’ thought is obvious in tawḥid al-ṣifāt concept, which requires, according to Munaǧǧā, the ontological equivalence of Divine Essence to His attributes; this kind of equivalence makes any multiplicity in God’s eternal and unchangeable Substance impossible. “The oneness of Divine Action” explains the connection between God and world’s variability. Since God is the Actor par excellence, all created actions belong to Him — as Munaǧǧā notes, universally and particularly; in this case, the Samaritan theologist adapts Maturidi’ concept of al-kasb, “appropriation”: human appropriates created, in accordance to his free will, action through created might (qudrah). The impact of Arab Peripatetic philosophy on Munaǧǧā’s theology is evident from his use of terms “necessary — possible” (wāǧib — mumkin); at the same time Munaǧǧā criticizes peripatetic theory of emanation and universal nature of Divine Knowledge and Might. In conclusion the author compare Munaǧǧā’s theological concepts with relevant teachings of ʾAbū al-Ḥasan al-Ṣūrī stated in “the Book of Slaughter” (Kitāb al-Ṭabbāẖ) — the first speculative work of Samaritans. Finding that while Ibn Šāʿir adopts a kalamic-peripatetic synthesis, merging terms used in both traditions, relying on Muʻtazili’ ʼ theology of attributes and Maturidiʼ anthropology, al-Ṣūrī follows the philosophy of kalam in its natural and theological themes, rejecting the concept of emanation and the division of intelligibilia into universal and particular. This article continues the work of its author on Kitāb al-H̱ ilāf, the first part of which was published in 2024.
Religious and Philosophical Views of’Abū al-Ḥasan al-Ṣūrī I. God and His Attributes
Voprosy Filosofii, 2025
Тhеоrу оf асtiоn in Аrаb Мuslim аnd Sаmаritаn рrimаrу sоurсеs: а fоrmulаtiоn оf thе рrоblеm
Filosofskii Zhurnal, 2025
Religious and Philosophical Views of ʼAbū al-Ḥasan al-Ṣūrī II. God and Created Universe
Voprosy Filosofii, 2025
“Samaritan Mysticism”: Religious and Philosophical Teachings of Ibrāhīm al-Qabāsī
Gosudarstvo Religiia Tserkov V Rossii I Za Rubezhom State Religion and Church in Russia and Worldwide, 2025
“The Samaritan Illuminationism”: the reception of Ishraqi' philosophy in Samaritan theology of the 18th century
Filosofskii Zhurnal, 2024
“I'M ALONE WITH MY SOUL…”: ABOUT AL-FĀRĀBĪ'S SOURCES IN HIS “THE HARMONY BETWEEN TWO SAGES”
FARIS O. NOFAL and
Schole, 2024
“OH, THOSE WHO WORSHIP THE ACCURSED CALF!” — FOUR APOLOGETIC TREATISES BY IBRĀHĪM AL–‘AYYA
Faris Nofal and
Manuscripta Orientalia, 2022
The space in mutakallimūn teachings (Viii–xiii cent.)
Faris Osmanovich Nofal and
Philosophy of Religion Analytic Researches, 2021
The Last Day of creation M. Naimy's mystical manifesto
F. O. Nofal
Voprosy Literatury, 2021
Apologetic treatises by ibrahim al-'ayyah and the samaritan theology of the 18th century
Faris Nofal
Vestnik Pravoslavnogo Sviato Tikhonovskogo Gumanitarnogo Universiteta Seria I Bogoslovie Filosofia Religiovedenie, 2021
“Philosophical robinsonade” of Ibn al-Nafis
Faris O. Nofal and
Filosofskii Zhurnal, 2021
Religious and philosophical doctrine of Ibn Al-Moqaffa (Based on the material of the treatise answer to Ibn Al-Moqaffa, the heretic by Al-Qasim Ar-Rasi)
Faris Nofal
Vestnik Pravoslavnogo Sviato Tikhonovskogo Gumanitarnogo Universiteta Seria I Bogoslovie Filosofia Religiovedenie, 2019
Art and "Gnosis": Al-'Aqqād and his philosophy of the Creative Act
Voprosy Filosofii, 2017

Faris O. Nofal

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Scopus Publications