This document discusses the history of dialogue between Islam and Christianity from the 6th to 18th centuries. It began with a period of ignorance and fear between the two religions. Later, after the 12th century, Western scholars began learning from Islamic philosophy and science, while the Crusades led to violence. In the 18th century, Western study of other cultures like Islam emerged. The document also discusses figures like St. Francis of Assisi who promoted peace between Christians and Muslims. Key Islamic principles of dialogue mentioned are inviting others with wisdom, arguing in gracious ways, and concepts like equity, justice, kindness and negotiation.

1. Islam andIslam and
ChristianityChristianity
Dialogue orDialogue or
MonologueMonologue
Joshva RajaJoshva Raja

2. Islam and ChristianityIslam and Christianity
 First period – 6First period – 6thth
to 12to 12thth
Century – Ignorance,Century – Ignorance,
fear, suspicion.fear, suspicion.
 The prophet instructs: “O people of the
scripture come to a word that is equitable
between us and you.” (3/64)…do not argue
with the people of the scripture except in a way
that is best.”
 “And were it not that Allah checks the people,
some by means of others, there would have
been demolished monasteries, churches,
synagogues and mosques in which the name
of Allah is much mentioned” (22/40).

3. Second Period afterSecond Period after
1212thth
CenturyCentury
 Firstly, the Christian world begins to know the
Islamic civilisation and its religion through its
source – the Koran. At this same time, Western
scholars began to be influenced by Muslim
philosophy, scholastic knowledge, and world view.
 The second phenomena of this period is its
marking by blood, as the first of seven crusades
begin. In this time, the Islamic caliphate and its
state was very strong, but when the Moguls
successfully took Baghdad in 1258, they gave the
Christian world the courage to believe it could
conquer the Islamic world in war.

4. After 18After 18thth
CenturyCentury
The end of the 18th century marked the
beginnings of Western concern about the
East, especially the Chinese, Indian, and
Muslim worlds through the study of
anthropology and sociology.
Orientalism - Edward Said -Orientalism - Edward Said -
http://www.freezaoui.org.nz/docs/lecture03http://www.freezaoui.org.nz/docs/lecture03
.pdf.pdf

5. St Francis of AssisiSt Francis of Assisi
 Francis began his prophetic resistance to theFrancis began his prophetic resistance to the
violence of the Crusades by meeting first withviolence of the Crusades by meeting first with
his own religious leaders, begging Cardinalhis own religious leaders, begging Cardinal
Pelagius, the Christian commander, to stop thePelagius, the Christian commander, to stop the
fighting. Pelagius refused.fighting. Pelagius refused.
 Francis then took a companion, Illuminatus andFrancis then took a companion, Illuminatus and
set out, unarmed and filled with love for hisset out, unarmed and filled with love for his
"enemy" brother, to visit the Sultan of Egypt,"enemy" brother, to visit the Sultan of Egypt,
Malik-al-Kamil. The men of the Sultan's armyMalik-al-Kamil. The men of the Sultan's army
captured Francis and Illuminatus and draggedcaptured Francis and Illuminatus and dragged
them, beaten and exhausted, before the Sultan -them, beaten and exhausted, before the Sultan -
just as Francis had wished.just as Francis had wished.
http://www.tentofabraham.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=22

6. Islam and ToleranceIslam and Tolerance
 We have Honored (We have Honored ( karramnakarramna ) the Children of) the Children of
Adam [withAdam [with karamkaram , that is, 'noble nature'] and, that is, 'noble nature'] and
carried them on land and sea, and provided themcarried them on land and sea, and provided them
with good things, and preferred them greatly overwith good things, and preferred them greatly over
many of those We created. Quran 3:64many of those We created. Quran 3:64
 Those who believe (in the Quran ), and thoseThose who believe (in the Quran ), and those
who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and thewho follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the
Christians and the Sabians ,- any who believe inChristians and the Sabians ,- any who believe in
God and the Last Day, and work righteousness,God and the Last Day, and work righteousness,
shall have their reward with their Lord; on themshall have their reward with their Lord; on them
shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Quranshall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Quran
2:622:62

7. References for tolerance andReferences for tolerance and
dialoguedialogue
 Say: "We believe in God, and that which hasSay: "We believe in God, and that which has
been sent down to us, and sent down onbeen sent down to us, and sent down on
Abraham and Ishmael, Isaac and Jacob, andAbraham and Ishmael, Isaac and Jacob, and
the Tribes, and in that which was given tothe Tribes, and in that which was given to
Moses and Jesus, and the Prophets, of theirMoses and Jesus, and the Prophets, of their
Lord; we make no distinction between any ofLord; we make no distinction between any of
them, and to Him we surrender (them, and to Him we surrender ( MuslimunMuslimun ))
Quran 3:83-84.Quran 3:83-84.
 "Let there be no compulsion (or"Let there be no compulsion (or
coercion) in the religion (Islam). Thecoercion) in the religion (Islam). The
right direction is distinctly clear fromright direction is distinctly clear from
error." (2:256)error." (2:256)

8.  Surah 109, thus:-Surah 109, thus:-
O you disbelivers, I do not worship what youO you disbelivers, I do not worship what you
worship. Nor do youworship. Nor do you
worship what I worship. Nor will I ever worshipworship what I worship. Nor will I ever worship
what you worship. Nor will Iwhat you worship. Nor will I
ever worship what you worship. Nor will youever worship what you worship. Nor will you
ever worship what I worship.ever worship what I worship.
To you is your religion and to me is my religion.To you is your religion and to me is my religion.
 [3:199] Surely, some followers of the previous[3:199] Surely, some followers of the previous
scriptures do believe inscriptures do believe in GODGOD, and in what was, and in what was
revealed to you, and in what was revealed torevealed to you, and in what was revealed to
them. They reverencethem. They reverence GODGOD, and they never, and they never
trade awaytrade away GODGOD's revelations for a cheap price.'s revelations for a cheap price.
These will receive their recompense from theirThese will receive their recompense from their
Lord.Lord. GODGOD is the most efficient in reckoning.is the most efficient in reckoning.

9. Islamic principles of DialogueIslamic principles of Dialogue
 Invite (all) to the Way of thy LordInvite (all) to the Way of thy Lord
with wisdom and beautifulwith wisdom and beautiful
preaching; and argue with them inpreaching; and argue with them in
ways that are best and mostways that are best and most
gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best,gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best,
who have strayed from His Path, andwho have strayed from His Path, and
who receive guidance.who receive guidance.
 ——Al-Qur’an, 16:125Al-Qur’an, 16:125

10. Dialogic principlesDialogic principles
 Al Qist (equity)Al Qist (equity)
 Al-adl (Justice)Al-adl (Justice)
 Al-birr (Kindness)Al-birr (Kindness)
 Peace, Justice, Negotiation, KindnessPeace, Justice, Negotiation, Kindness
 ref – Quran LX 8ref – Quran LX 8