Q&A: The Arabic Language in Maimonides’ Book of Commandments and the Introductory Principles
The Arabic Language in Maimonides’ Book of Commandments and the Introductory Principles
Question
The Rabbi wrote in his book The Spirit of the Law, p. 24, as a conjecture, that Maimonides wrote the Book of Commandments and the introductory principles in Arabic so that everyone could be persuaded by his arguments.
In his letters he says this explicitly (Shilat edition, p. 222), and this is his wording: “And I regretted greatly that I composed it in the Arabic language, because everyone needs to read it…”
Answer
Nice. I’m glad I was right. Thanks.
Discussion on Answer
It can be understood that he wrote it in Arabic so people would read it, and then regretted it. But even according to your interpretation, the Arabic was intended so that Arabic speakers would read it, and then he realized that this was still a limitation.
What is written in the letter can’t be interpreted any differently from the way I explained it. I wasn’t addressing the conjecture itself about why he chose Arabic.
Either way, the regret is the result of the limitation… “because everyone needs to read it.”
He writes, “I regretted that I composed it in Arabic,” and the regret is because everyone needs to read it.