Ibn Katib Qaysar (Caesar)

• He lived in the 13th century and came from a respected and influential family.

• He was known as Al-Ra’is al-awhad alam al-riasa Abu-Ishak Ibrahim ibn al-Sheikh al-Ra’is abi al-Thanaa ibn-al-Sheikh Safi al-dawla katib al-Amir alam al din Qaysar.

• He was a Coptic philologist and scriptural commentator.

• He wrote an introduction to the Coptic language, called Al-Tabsirah - Source of Insight on Coptic Grammar. A copy is in the National Library of Paris (Bibliotheque Nationale).

• He also wrote a commentary the Gospel according to St. Matthew, the Acts, the Epistles of St. Paul, some of the Catholic Epistles (Peter,

• James, Jude, and 2 Peter), and Revelation.

6

AWLAD (SONS OF) AL-ASSAAL

a. AL-MUTAMAN ABU ISHAQ IBRAHIM IBN AL-ASSAAL

• b. AL-AS ‘AD ABU AL-FARAG HIBAT-ALLAH

c. AL-SAFIY ABU AL-FADAIL

• They were eminent Coptic Orthodox scholars in the 13th century.

• Apparently they were from Sedmant in Upper Egypt, migrated to Cairo and settled there.

• Some of them worked in government services and other dedicated their lives to serving God.

• They had high ranking status during the Ayyubids era.

• They were well-educated in science, arts and languages, and were well known for their beautiful Arabic writings and to them is attributed the “Asaadi Arabic writing.”

• They excelled in Coptic, Arabic, Greek and Syriac languages.

• They wrote Arabic poems at a high level, were highly skilled in mathematics; and possessed a strong knowledge of Law and Canons, photography, chemistry and many different sciences.

Awlad Al-Assaal / Al-Mutaman

a.