Cross-Religious Cultural Agency: The Liminal Features of Jewish Converts to Islam in Early ʿAbbāsid Iraq

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ABSTRACT By focusing on Jewish converts in early ʿAbbāsid Iraq, this article examines individual cases to propose a methodology for assessing the cultural agency of converts. It argues that the liminal qualities of converts – marked by marginality and ambiguity – offer key insights into their cultural impact. Through an exploration of both historical figures and literary representations, the article highlights the liminal nature of early Jewish converts in ʿAbbāsid Iraq. The central argument is that an enduring, sometimes marginal, affinity with their former communities rendered these converts liminal figures, positioning them as effective cultural agents who could navigate and influence multiple cultural domains. This analysis, therefore, introduces a framework for understanding the social dynamics that made converts pivotal in shaping diverse fields of Islamic knowledge.