Islamic interpretations of Christianity: An Etic and Emic Approach

Myths are a type of literary genre that involve a traditional story used to explain a natural or social phenomenon. Given that my group had little to no discussion on any of the presented topics; this week me, myself, and I discussed and investigated Islamic interpretations of Christianity.

Islamic views towards Christianity share similarities of Western views towards Islam. These views may range from acceptance to outright rejection and marginalization of Christianity. Known as Christianophobia, the act of separating oneself from Christian culture and practices as much as possible. Ibn Taymiyya was a medieval Sunni Muslim scholar and is known as one of the most influential medieval writers in all of Islam. Ibn Taymiyya’s writings still have influence over people today in the 21st century. These people who are still influenced by his writings, much like the Orthodox Jews, try to separate their practices and views as much as possible from Western views and culture. According to Ibn Taymiyya the celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday or even the building of mosques around the tombs of Sufi Shayk’s are improper and a disgrace to Islamic traditions because of the Christian involvement (Ridgeon, 2002, pg.6). Those who share similar beliefs to Ibn Taymiyya follow the impression that if they refrain from incorporating Western culture into their lives, they will stay a true Muslim and pass into the afterlife happy. On the flip side of the coin, the inclusion of Western culture and beliefs lies the poet and philosopher Nasir Khusraw. Nasir believes that because Judaism, Christianity and Islam all possess a Holy Book which he claims to be of divine origin (Ridgeon, 2002, pg.7), inclusion of these beliefs or acceptance of them allow one to stay a true Muslim.

The emic approach to Islamic interpretations of Christianity is simple. Those who are Islamic either reject the ideas, beliefs and values of Western culture or welcome them. If they choose to reject the ideas, they follow in the path of Ibn Taymiyya’s myth that if one includes themselves within Western culture, they disgrace Islamic traditions and do not pass into the afterlife happy. If they choose to welcome Western culture and Christianity, they then line up their beliefs with Nasir Khusraw, in which he states that because Christianity is in possession of a Holy Book of divine origin, they remain a true Muslim.

From an etic perspective I feel either rejecting or welcoming Western culture and Christianity is up to the individual and them alone. Those who reject Christianity and Western culture simply believe the myth that involving themselves with Christianity makes them a disgrace to Islamic traditions. Whereas, welcoming Western culture and Christianity according to Nasir Khusraw’s myth, allows one to stay a true Muslim. Outsiders may view these choices and practices as old age and exclusive. As a matter of fact, these choices represent traditions, faith, and the future of the Islamic belief system.

References:

el-Leithy, Tamer. (2002). Islamic Interpretations of Christianity by Lloyd Ridgeon. Middle East Studies Association Bulletin. 36. 52-53.

H. Corbin, ‘Nasir-i Khusrau and Iranian Ismailism,’ in The Cambridge History of Iran: Volume 4, ed., R. N. Frye (Cambridge 1975), pp. 520-42 and 689-90