Author of the eleventh century, or earlier; according to Steinschneider, possibly identical with ?afz (?efe?) b. Ya?lia?. ?afz al-?u?i translated the Book of Psalms into Arabic rime. Moses ibn Ezra, in his "Kitab al-Mu?a?arah," quotes a passage from the introduction, and Psalms 55:22-23 of this translation ("Bodl. Libr. Hunt.," No. 599; Neubauer, "Cat. Bodl. Hebr. MSS." No. 1974; see Schreiner in "R. E. J." 21:106). Steinschneider recognized a manuscript in the library of the Escurial ("Codex Ambros." No. 86, copied in 1625 by Colville) as this translation of ?afz al-?u? As it contains evidences of Christian influence, Hammer designated ?afz as a "Jewish renegade"; for the same reason Neubauer makes him an Arabicor Syrian Christian, while Steinschneider maintains that the author was a Jew, and that the traces of Christian influence are due to later additions or emendations. Solomon ibn Gabirol quotes sentences of ?afz al-?u?
The name "al-?u?i" is doubtful. In one instance the reading is "al-Fu?i," which Schreiner (c.) regards as correct; "al-?u?i," however, appears more probable. It is generally supposed to mean "the Goth," e., the Spaniard, but according to Neubauer the author might have come from ?u? in Balkh (see Ya?ut's "Mushtarik," 4:251; but comp. Harkavy in "R. E. J." 30:318).