A study of Muhammad’s attitudes towards Christians from the Qur’an

Abstract

This thesis intends to explore and understand Muhammad’s attitudes towards Christians from the Qur’an. Clearly, Muhammad does not hold a consistent attitude towards Christians, but a recognition-denial pattern of attitudes is suggested according to the analysis of the Meccan Suras and the Medinan Suras in this thesis. Muhammad’s recognition and denial of Christians are believed to be driven from his personal interest and religious ideas. Inclusivism is Muhammad’s approach to promote Islam, by which he is able to claim his rightful prophethood, like all other Christian prophets. At the same time, Muhammad’s denial of the divinity of Jesus and the division of Christian communities ensures Islam to be the absolute right path.