Louis Massignon, Catholicism and Islam: A Memoir Reflection

The article is a Memoir and Reflection, drawn from my direct acquaintance and friendship with the distinguished French Islamicist Louis Massignon between 1958 and 1962. It is a reflection on his unique place in Catholicism as a scholar and a witness of his faith and as a believer in the authenticity of Islam’s witness to God. To many of Massignon’s admirers and critics, his life and works stand for erudition of the first magnitude and his devotion typifies great humility and service to others. His drawing inspiration from the two faiths, and indeed the Jewish faith, however, suggests an enigma. After having published numerous essays and books and my translations of his major work on the Muslim martyr and mystic, al-Hallaj (858-922), the present article is an attempt to reflect still further on this enigma.