PRINCIPLES FOR INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE.pdf - CUEA

and to spread in Arabia. Politically he used his power to impose his
religion and oppress those who did not submit to his principles.
Richard Bell comments:
But when Muhammad’s power began to spread in Arabia his attitude
towards the Christians soon began to cool. Any real alliance or even
peaceful accommodation was indeed impossible from the first. 21
Finally, Muhammad’s knowledge of Christianity began to grow as he
met orthodox Christians. Of course the real encounter between
Muhammad and the Christians took place at Medina where
Muhammad met a Christian community from Najrân, with whom he
discussed in depth. 22 In the discussion, Muhammad discovered
some differences between his doctrine and that of the Christians.
From that time, he gave new laws and directives to his followers; and
the face of the Islamic world changed (Cf. Q.9,34; 9,31; 5,51; 5,5;
9,29). Bell concludes:
When, therefore, Muhammad came to close quarters with Christians it
was bound to go with them as it had gone with the Jews. He might
recognize Jesus as a prophet as the greatest of previous prophets. He
did that. But differences between the belief and practices on the
Christians of that day, and the cardinal doctrines and practices which he
inculcated were bound to appear, some of which Muhammad could not
accept or approve: and Christians, however far they might approve of
some of his teachings, could not accept him as the present day
mouthpiece of God on earth whom it was their present duty absolutely to
obey. 23
Furthermore, when Muhammad had learnt that Christians believed in
a living Christ exalted at the right hand of God, the encounter turned
into a clash.
Despite clashes and misunderstandings, Muhammad still
distinguished pagans and idolaters from the people of the book.
Somehow he still respected the Christians, so much so that the
discussion with them of Najrân did not urge him to expel them
because they refused to accept his religion, but gave rise to the pact
of Najrân. The pact was very important because it tolerance
concerning religion in a Muslim state. That tolerance implies respect
to each religion, even though the payment of a tax was the condition
21 Richard Bell, op. cit.,p. 151.
22 Jean-Marie Gaudel, Encounters and clashes. Islam and Christianity in history. (Rome: Pontificio
Istituto di Studio Arabi e Islamici, 1984), p. 12.
23 Richard Bell, op. cit., p. 152 .
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