العلاقة الفكرية بيـن الإسلام والمسيحية بيـن الصراع والحوار ............................................. Intellectual Engagement between Islam and Christianity: From Conflict to Dialogue

Abstract

The seeds of Christian-Muslim interaction were sown by the Quran itself through the several verses that invite Muslims to ponder upon the signs of the One God of both the religious traditions as well as verses debating various doctrinal and institutional issues. While a substantial part of this interaction was limited to the polemical and thus intellectual arena, the memory and impression that has transferred through generations of Christians and Muslims has been that of sheer hostility perpetuated by events such as the Inquisition, the Crusades and more recently the colonization of Muslim lands. This article however charts the course of the intellectual discourse that unfolded between Muslims and Christians giving way to cordial social relations. Moving from the medieval to the modern period, it goes on to highlight how many orientalists, hand in glove with colonial powers, did great disservice to this interaction by deliberately caricaturing Islam and Muslims. It contends that in contemporary times, the dialogical movement seems to have salvaged, even if superficially, a sense of cordiality between the followers of both the religions. It finally ends with a few suggestions for followers of both the religious traditions which could hopefully provide a new direction to their relationship and further bolster their interaction.