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8
C
. If Christianity is nearly two thousand years old and Islam
more than fourteen hundred years, why were these discussions
not held centuries ago?
M.
Many Asian and African countries of Muslims were
colonized by Britain, France, Holland, Belgium, Spain and
Portugal over the past 2 to 3 centuries. Thousands of Christian
missionaries tried to convert as many Muslims as they could by
whatever means they had. (by bribing the poor with medical
treatment, clothes, food, jobs etc but very few were converted.)
After the Second World War thousands of Muslims from Asian
and African countries were immigrating as workers and
professionals to the Western Hemisphere, which brought them
more in contact with the Christians. Also Muslim students were
active in introducing Islam to their fellow students.
C.
Do you see any other reasons why many dialogues are held
nowadays between the Muslims and Christian missions?
M.
I think the gap between both is becoming smaller as each is
more tolerant, although both are still competing in getting more
converts.
We Muslims feel closer to the
sincere Christians
than to the
Jews, or the idol worshippers and the atheists.
The Qur’an clearly says in
Surah.5:v 82
: “Thou wilt find the most
vehement of mankind in hostility to those who are muslims (to
be) the Jews and the idolators. And thou wilt find the nearest of
them in affection to those who believe; those who say: Lo! We
are Christians. This is because there are among them priests and
monks (i.e. persons entirely devoted to the service of God, as are
the muslims) and because they are not proud.”