Prophet Muhammad’s Relations with Christians

(An Islamic Perspective)

Seyfettin Erşahin*[1]

“…And thou wilt find the nearest of them in affection to those who believe (to be) those who say: Lo! We are Christians.” (al-Maida, 5/82)

Article Information/Makale Bilgisi                                                                   

Article Type: Research Article / Makale Türü: Araştırma Makalesi

Date Received: 13 November 2021/Geliş Tarihi: 13 Kasım 2021

Date Accepted: 16 December 2021/Kabul Tarihi:16 Aralık 2021

Abstract

As far as Prophet Muhammad’s relations with the Christians is concerned, there is a great deal of lay approaches that proved to be controversial, and a limited number of scientific studies conducted by both Muslim and Christian scholars. However, most of these studies demonstrate Christians to take an accusatory and aggressive approach, while Muslims to present an apologetic attitude as if there is an underlying feeling of inferiority complex that stems from feelings around inadequacy and insecurity. In this article, we present an Islamic perspective to the topic with references to the main Islamic sources, while also communicating a descriptive approach that is vary of the ongoing tensions that either defends or attacks the matter. The Islamic sources the article utilised hereby are the Holy Qur’an, canonicals of hadiths and sirah literature. In addition, there are refutations argued by the Christians, dates back to the 8th century. The scope of the framework also covers Muslim relations with Jews and Christians through the concept of ahl al-kitāb (People of the Book/Scripture, later including Sabians, Hindus, Zoroastrians, Assyrians etc.), and moves its emphasis on Christians alone. To note, members of divine religions such as Jews and Christians are…