Rhys Davids, T. W.
(1843–1922).
Influential promoter of P
li Buddhist studies in England.
Though not the first scholar of P
li, he did much to introduce Buddhist ideas to the British public, and in his Hibbert Lectures of 1881 announced the foundation of the P
li Text Society, of which he was the first chairman.
His vast output of work can be conveniently classified under the three headings of translation, history, and philology. The principal translations include
Vinaya Texts
, with H. Oldenberg (1881–5),
Dialogues of the Buddha
, with his wife C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1899–1921), and
Questions of King Milinda
(1890–4). His historical works include
Buddhism
(1878) and
Early Buddhism
(1908), while the great labour of his final years was the compilation of a P
li-English Dictionary, completed by W. Stede.
Ri
.
This may be spelt
or
; check at appropriate alphabetical order.
Rib
(Arab., ‘increase’). The taking of interest on capital investment, which is prohibited in Islam (e.g. Qur’
n 2. 278 f.). The Qur’
n allows profit through trade, but if there is investment, it must be on a profit-sharing basis.