Views of nineteenth and twentieth-century thinkers on Muslim-Christian interaction

Abstract

This article examines the historical and intellectual dimensions of Muslim–Christian relations, with particular attention to Western scholarship on Islam and the theological responses of Muslim and Christian thinkers. It traces significant developments in the study of Islam in the West, highlighting the contributions of prominent scholars and the influence of historical, intellectual, missionary and colonial contexts on the representation of Islam. The article then analyses Christian approaches to Islam through three principal theological categories: exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralism. In this context, it considers the perspectives of selected Christian scholars, including Georges Khodr, Wilfred Cantwell Smith and Hans Küng, focusing on their understandings of religious truth, salvation, the activity of the Holy Spirit and the possibility of interreligious dialogue. The discussion subsequently turns to Muslim intellectual responses to Christianity, examining the contributions of Ismail Raji al-Faruqi, Muhammad al-Talibi and selected contemporary Turkish scholars. Their approaches are explored in relation to theological boundaries, religious inclusivity and the prospects for constructive engagement. By bringing these perspectives into conversation, the article demonstrates that Muslim–Christian relations cannot be understood solely through the framework of historical conflict or doctrinal disagreement. Rather, they also encompass scholarly engagement, mutual criticism and sustained efforts towards greater understanding. The article concludes that meaningful dialogue requires intellectual integrity, accurate knowledge of religious traditions and respect for genuine theological differences.