Qur'anic Christians
An Analysis of Classical and Modern Exegesis

Examines the Muslim perception of Christianity and Christians.

Jane Dammen McAuliffe (Author)

9780521364706, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 26 April 1991

356 pages
23.6 x 15.9 x 2.8 cm, 0.708 kg

"...this is a book in which the sources are read accurately and intelligently." MESA Bulletin

The Muslim perception of Christianity and Christians is an issue of longstanding debate among scholars of both Islam and Christianity. In this book, Jane McAuliffe analyses a series of passages from the Qur'an that make ostensibly positive remarks about Christians. She conducts this analysis through a close examination of Muslim exegesis of the Qur'an, spanning ten centuries of commentary. In this effort to trace various interpretations of these passages, the author attempts to determine whether these positive passages can justifiably serve as proof-texts of Muslim tolerance of Christianity. She finds that commentators have consistently distinguished between the vast majority of Christians, who are denounced for having turned from the true word of God, and a small minority, who accepted the prophethood of Muhammed and are praised.

Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part I. Qur'anic Commentary and Commentators: 1. Text and tafsir
2. From Tabari to Tabataba'i
Part II. Qur'anic Commendation of Christians: 3. Nazarenes of faith and action
4. Followers of the Qur'anic Jesus
5. Steadfast and submissive
6. The promised bounty of piety
7. The praiseworthy amity of Christians
8. Christians as pre-Qur'anic Muslims
9. Compassion, mercy and monasticism
Conclusion
Works cited
Index of Qur'anic verses
Index of names and subjects.

Subject Areas: Islam [HRH]