The Christian Encounter with Muhammad: How Theologians have Interpreted the Prophet

by Charles Tieszen

Overview

This book offers a fresh appraisal of Muhammad that considers the widest possible history of the ways in which Christians have assessed his prophethood.

To medieval Christian communities, Muhammad-the leader of a religious and political community that grew quickly and with relative success-was an enigma. Did God really send him as a prophet with a revelation? Was the political success of the community he founded a divine validation? Or were he and his followers inspired by something evil?
Despite their attempts, modern Christians continued to be puzzled by Muhammad. The Qur'an provided a framework for understanding and honouring Jesus; was it possible for Christians to reciprocate with regard to Muhammad?

This book applies the same analysis to both medieval and modern assessments of Muhammad, in order to demonstrate the continuities and disparities present in literature from the two eras.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350191211
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/12/2020
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Charles Tieszen is SIS Adjunct Professor for Islamic studies and Christian-Muslim relations at Fuller Theological Seminary, USA. He is an editor for the project Christian-Muslim Relations: A Bibliographical History, and he has also most recently published Cross Veneration in the Medieval Islamic World (I.B. Tauris, 2017) and Theological Issues in Christian-Muslim Dialogue (2018) .

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Muhammad as a Christian Catechumen: Sergius-Bahira and a Legendary Counter history
2. Muhammad as a Prophet of Inferior Monotheism: John of Damascus and a New History of the World
3. Muhammad as a Retrograde Moses of Minimal Significance: East-Syrian Christians and Public Discussions with Muslims
4. Muhammad as a Carnal Warrior and Scheming Ruler: West-Syrian Christians and Refutations of the Prophet
5. Muhammad as an Anti-Saint: Martyr Saints and Hamartiography of the Prophet
6. Muhammad as a Tainted Vessel of Christ: An Anonymous Counter-Chronicle of the Prophet
7. Muhammad as a Vanquished Anti-Hero: A Convert, a Translator and Polemic Exposing the Prophet
8. Muhammad as a Powerless Prophet to the Arabs: Paul of Antioch and Letters Written to Muslims
9. Muhammad as a Prophet and Colonial Goad for Persecutors: Mary Fisher and a Notorious Encounter with a Sultan
10. Muhammad as a Redundant Gabriel And Missionary Conscript: Samuel Ajayi Crowther and West African Mission to Muslims
11. Muhammad as a Signpost for Fellow Pilgrims: Lamin Sanneh and Christian Appreciation for the Prophet's Biography
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Throughout the centuries, Christian writings on Muhammad varied in tone though not so much in content. In response to Muslim veneration of Muhammad's prophecy, Christians accused Muhammad of being both a false prophet and an unwitting Christian. Using a range of Christian perspectives from different historical contexts, Charles Tiezsen has written an informed, accessible and very valuable contribution to the growing literature on Christian-Muslim studies.” —Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

“This is an extremely well-researched and careful presentation of Christian perceptions of Muhammad from late antiquity to modern times, from the Legend of Sergius-Ba'ira to Professor Lamin Sanneh. Each chapter will prove an invaluable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the long history of interaction between Christians and Muslims.” —Sandra Toenies Keating, Professor of Theology, Providence College, USA

“This book is a very welcome contribution to a growing scholarship on the intellectual history of Christian-Muslim relations.” —Diego Sarrió Cucarella, President of The Pontifical Institute for Arabic Studies and Islamology, Italy, Islamochristiana

From the Publisher