Maimonides, Abraham ben Moses (1186–1237)

Jewish theologian, mystical pietist, physician, and the only son of Moses Maimonides, with whom he studied rabbinics, philosophy and medicine. Upon his father’s death, Abraham became the spiritual and temporal head of Egyptian Jewry and a leading rabbinical authority. Using this position, he propagated a form of Jewish pietism, introducing ideas and ritual practices inspired by Islamic mysticism. Moving beyond defence of his father’s legal and philosophical writings, Abraham’s most important work, Kifayat al-‘Abidin (Complete Guide for Devotees) – a monumental compendium of jurisprudence and religious philosophy – develops his own pietist interests. It attracted something of a following in its time but also met with concerted Jewish opposition to its Sufi-inspired ideals.