Some aspects of the meaning of Abraham in the life, works and thought of Louis Massignon

Abstract

This thesis aims at studying the life, works and thought of Louis Massignon and at demonstrating how they find their unity in the God of Abraham. It is not a chronological study but a study of the principal themes of his works, following the pattern he often used -- the five pillars of Islamic religious and social life: alms giving which includes the respect of the guest and his word, prayer seen under the aspect of intercession, pilgrimage, sacrifice exemplified in fasting and a witness to faith in the Judgment of God. In chapter VI an attempt is made to study the evolution of the thought of Massignon from 1914 to 1947 concerning some aspects of the Christian-Mus1im encounter which, for him, points to the Judgment