Abstract

Amongst formative inspirations for Zannini, sometime of the Xaverian Fathers, were the commitment of Francis of Assisi, the poor man of dialogue, and the Vatican II document Gaudium et Spes. Arabic studies in Milan were augmented by intensive periods in Cairo, where the author was exposed to the work of IDEO as well as studying with Muslims at the American University of Cairo. Doctoral studies focused on the influential Qur'an commentary, the Jalalayn. The chapter highlights teaching and practical Christian-Muslim work in Bangladesh, making the Muslim faith better known to the Christians of the Subcontinent, and responding to local scholarly Muslim initiatives in dialogue with Christians. The author undertook further studies at Tübingen, Yale and Chicago before returning to his native Italy to teach at PISAI and research and write on relations between Islam and Italy on both popular and academic levels.

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