Christianity and Islam

Since the rise of Islam, Christian-Muslim relations have varied from time to time and changed according to political and social conditions, this is notable since the very beginnings of Islam. During his lifetime, Muhammad reacted differently at different times to Jews and Christians depending on the reception they accorded him and also on his dealings with Christian states.

With Umayyad dynasty Islamic expansion reached its highest point. Islam was spread powerfully to the East and to the West. To the East they extended their influence into Transoxania, an area north of the Oxus River in today's Soviet Union, and went on to reach the borders of China.

The various Christian attitudes towards Islam were influenced by the diverse social and political elements with which Christians had to deal. As we mentioned previously, the religious minorities welcomed the change that came with Islam, whereas the Melkites, who connected their fate with the Byzantine Empire, received the new changes with fear and trembling.