Islamic Daciva and Christian mission: Positive and negative models of interaction between Muslims and Christians

Abstract

Abstract The history of relations between the Muslim and Christian worlds has been predominantly one of discord and confrontation. There have been instances of mutual acceptance and amicable co‐existence, but the influence of these has been lost under the cumulative, negative impressions gained from conflict. Of the positive and negative models of interaction between Muslims and Christians, it is the latter that have been most influential. This is especially to be seen in the matter of Islamic dacwa and Christian mission which have become identified as part of the battle between the two religions, whether a theological contest over ‘truth’ or a political weapon of colonial rule. This paper looks at the political and historical contexts of the theological debate between Islam and Christianity and seeks to discover whether this is inherently negative or whether there is the possibility of a positive interaction between followers of the two religions.