When Christians First Met Muslims | Prof. Michael Penn

CC: 🇺🇸🇪🇸
If history matters, then getting right the history of the first encounters of the world’s two largest religions-Christianity and Islam-really matters. In this fascinating video, Prof. Michael Penn, the Teresa Hihn Moore Professor of Religious Studies at Stanford University, sheds light on the extremely important but little-known aspects of the early history of Christian-Muslim encounters.
Prof. Penn's books referenced in the video:
- When Christians First Met Muslims: A Sourcebook of the Earliest Syriac Writings on Islam
amzn.to/319d36z
- Envisioning Islam: Syriac Christians and the Early Muslim World (Divinations: Rereading
Late Ancient Religion)
amzn.to/2ZQV74f
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Website: www.emir-stein.org
Script:
If history matters, then getting right the history of the first encounters of the modern world’s two largest religions-Christianity and Islam- really matters. The problem is, we likely have that history wrong.
The received story of Christian-Muslim interactions is a story of unrelenting military conflict beginning with Islamic expansion shortly after the birth of the new religion in seventh-century Arabia, and ending with the siege of Constantinople, with a few crusades thrown in the middle for good measure. Now there’s nothing factually inaccurate about this narrative. The problem is simply that it’s only a small part of a much larger story. Let me explain…
Early Christianity is primarily seen as a religion of the Mediterranean Basin that spread with the Roman Empire, and was recorded in Greek and Latin. But, a large number of early Christians lived in what would be modern day Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Eastern Turkey, while generally writing in a dialect of Aramaic called Syriac.
Due to a series of fifth-century theological controversies, most western Christians considered these Syriac Christians heretics and essentially wrote them out of history. My own research focuses on how the history of Christianity changes if we no longer ignore that for centuries the geographic center of Christianity was not Rome or even Constantinople but rather Baghdad.
The recovery of this essentially lost history of Christianity profoundly affects our understanding of early Christian-Muslims relations. Again, let me explain…
The prophet Muhammad was born around the year 570 in the city of Mecca. According to Islamic tradition, his prophecy began in 610, when he first received divine revelation; in 622, he fled to the city of Medina to escape persecution; there, he and his growing followers thrived, and, eight years later, he triumphantly led a Medinan army into Mecca, where he died in 632.
His first successor, oversaw the beginning of a dramatic expansion often known as the Islamic Conquests. Muslim forces experienced unbelievable success in the following decades. In just a few years they took over the entire Persian empire and two thirds of the Eastern Roman or Byzantine empire. They soon controlled all of North Africa, Spain, and were only repelled in France. In the eastern Mediterranean, military conflicts between the Islamic and Byzantine empire continued for over eight centuries, resolved only in 1453 when Islamic forces finally took the city of Constantinople, what is modern day Istanbul.
However, this well-accepted narrative is overly simplified because there are only a handful of modern scholars who can read writings in Syriac from the majority of early Christians who lived under Muslim rule. The problem is if you stick to Greek and Latin sources, you are building your history of Christian reactions to Islam solely on the writings of Christians who were primarily in military conflict with Muslims.
But up to half of ancient Christians lived in the Middle East and had a very different experience with Muslims than did most Greek and Latin Christians, with any military encounters over in just a few years. By the 640s, they were firmly within the Islamic empire.
How then would the history of Christian-Muslim relations change if, instead of reading Christians often at odds with Muslims, we focus on Syriac Christians who had daily interactions with Muslims and thus a much more direct knowledge of Islam.
I wrote two books exploring how in the Islamic Empire, these Christians held key government positions, attended the caliph’s court in Baghdad, collaborated with Muslim scholars to translate Greek knowledge into Arabic, accompanied Muslim leaders on their campaigns against the Byzantines, and helped fund monasteries through donations from Muslims-including money from the caliph himself. Middle Eastern Christians ate with Muslims, married Muslims, bequeathed estates to Muslim heirs, taught Muslim children, and were soldiers in Muslim armies.
...

[@kp5602]

When Umar Al Khatab (RAA) [He was the 2nd successor to Prophet Muhammed PBUH] arrived in Palestine, he asked "Where can I Pray?" A priest said "You can pray here, in the Church" Umar refused, and said "I fear that if I pray here, Muslims would say "This is where Umar prayed" and build a mosque on this church" And he prayed outside of the church, in Palestine you can still find "The Mosque of Umar bin Al-Lhattab" right next to the original church, both of them are still operating. It is sad to see the christians/muslims arguing in the comments, you are missing the point of this video!

[@markjapan4062]

MOHAMMED WAS NEVER IN JERUSALEM.. NEVER A PROPHET

[@jacksoninc.4062]

Alhamdulillah

[@senadzri]

As the prof mentioned, the Assyriac Christians interactions with Muslims ranging from overtly antagonistic to downright friendly. I like the fact that there were honest discussions about this, using references and knowledge without sabotaging one another. The degree of acceptance of where the discussion is heading however do ranges depends on the nature of certain culture, some find it beneficial, some find it insulting. May Allah make us patience in our akhlak.

[@ted9030]

Man I love Umar so much

[@غاليةعيدوعجم]

And aja sofia church and

[@virality6765]

I am dissapointed with the fact that he didnt mentioned ethiopian which is one of the first nations to accept christianity even before europeans did , and had early interaction with first muslims even helping mohamed followers to hide in their kidgom while hiding from persecutors.

[@imlaqahmad7325]

Yes, fully agree with you. It was Ethiopians who gave shelter to early Muslims escaped persecution from Makkah.

[@massinissa175]

​@@imlaqahmad7325 Al najashi did , also he is the only non Muslim man who prophet Muhammad peace be upon him prayed for after he died

[@disuser-lp3qv1tm8f]

The Prophet performed the funeral prayer for him because he had converted to Islam. You can't pray the funeral prayer for non-Muslims.

[@thirdeffect]

Tawheed/ Tewaheedo/ The One ☝🏽📿🤝🏽

[@maikamal7024]

It's called the first migration , where early Muslims seeked refuge in Ethiopia because their king , who was Christian, was greatly known for his justice. I believe his name was Najashi.

[@DC-wp6oj]

2 billion muslims believe Jesus will return to earth and restore peace and order. I think most christians dont know that aspect of our faith.

[@youielz5335]

Steel Nerves well I’m sure you do you good practicing Christian/Muslim Love you for being so kind and sharing that information (:

[@cudanmang_theog]

Islam's Jesus was the antichrist

[@Muhamad-Ryzky.]

2023 ..MUSLIM IS 2.1 BILLION ALHAMDULILLAH FROM INDONESIAN

[@MasterAlexxx.Dominant1LLC]

​@@Muhamad-Ryzky.So you agree with the top comment?

[@AfghanPalestinianMujahed]

​@@MasterAlexxx.Dominant1LLCevery Muslim will agree

[@lemanelemso4063]

One word , "Peace"

[@theguyver4934]

I am a muslim and i respect my christian siblings

[@areesonist]

@@Izanagi057 I'm muslim and I respect christians

[@omer_hyderabadi]

@@Izanagi057 Yes he does

[@asdallah2159]

Hey, Jesus has died on the cross so that (perhaps for everyone) we may be forgiven for our sins (and perhaps, there is more). Jesus rose from the dead! 🙏 Please accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through him.🙂🙂

[@areesonist]

@@asdallah2159 In Islam Jesus is a prophet not a god so I believe in Allah as god and Jesus as a prophet.

[@adamel-falou7581]

@@Izanagi057 how are you telling someone how they fell about another, As Muslims, although we disagree with other religions, we still respect them as fellow humans.

[@thebrainhacker4486]

even the first muslims who were persicuted were protecd by a BLACK christian king named Nages of Ethiopia. and was prophet Mhammed (pbu) who send them!

[@bani1094]

First time that muslims were meeting christians were when they were seeking refuge in that time Ethiopia.

[@R8V10]

Eloh (hebrew) = God Ilah (arabic) = God Alaha (aramaic) = God Allah (arabic) = God

[@_.-._.-._.-_.-._.-._.-_.-._.-]

̮ ̮،؛🪽 ̮ ܏ ̮ ̮ ̮ ܏ ̮ ̮ ̮ ̮ الله أكبر ̮̮ ̮ ̮ ̮ ̮ ̮🖤 ̮ ̮ ܏ 🤍 ̮ ̮ ̮ ̮ ܏ ̮ ̮ ̮ ܏ ̮ ̮ ̮ ̮ ̮̮

[@EduardCelda]

Yes your allah is a greatest has two right hands with five fingers and one leg that is your allah?

[@Reedanimzthestupe]

​@@EduardCeldaallah mentions multiple times in the quran that there is nothing like him. So his features are not at ALL like our features.

[@geraldpreston9078]

Isaiah 14:13 (KJV) For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: Isaiah 14:14 (KJV) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. The word for ascend in Hebrew is alla. Allah is not God’s name. It is satan’s name. He is saying he will ascend above God.

[@Reedanimzthestupe]

@@geraldpreston9078 bro is not thr sharpest in the shed 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🗣️🔥🗣️🔥❗❗‼️‼️

[@mariasalome5525]

I am a Christian and I find it easier to live with Muslims than with Jews.

[@ashamj7701]

Hi which country you live

[@Kree-gr5gs]

Where you at Buddy

[@JEHOVAHJESUSISGOD]

​@@Kree-gr5gs Exactly, tell him to go live in Afghanistan 😅 I prefer ISRAEL 🇮🇱 💪💪

[@Cano644]

​@@JEHOVAHJESUSISGOD they will accept them if he is not threat

[@OlderRockRocks]

You obviously don't live in germany.😂🤣

[@maddame...7200]

If Muslims and Christians stick together, the world would be in peace

[@حسينمحمد-غ1ص3ع]

That is what Quran teaches us I am supporting freedom and peace ✝️❤☪️

[@mralchemist3976]

No.....if opec start dumping the dollar and us rubel tomorrow we gonna go to ww3

[@caulkercracker9732]

there would be no LGBT

[@MustafaAli-lb8dq]

It will happen during the end times. Both of us will fight Jews according to Prophecy. Besides, most Muslims don't Christians as enemies unlike Jews.

[@einsam_aber_frei]

How about the LGBTQ communities and atheists?

[@haroonabdullah2893]

many christians first met Muslims during the Prophet's time peace be upon him and many of them converted to the Truth after they found the Prophet. #exchristian ALHAMDULILLAH

[@TanoAgarioa]

Patrick O’Connor Allah there is no got but He

[@friendlycreature6375]

I feel sorry for you. I recently left Islam. All religions are man-made. Nothing divine about them.

[@fayaqun0]

Alhamdulillah

[@musthafa.m48]

Today also converting Islam is fastest growing religion in world

[@worldlypersonal1042]

Trash. Superficial. That is the truth of history.

[@paulbalkissoon5851]

This is what I expected from early Christian and Muslim community, reading the Quran one will wonder why it always make reference to the people of the book.

Why? To condemn all religions but their own.

[@unicorn1620]

Yeah, to subjugate them to Dhimmi then inevitably do what the Hadiths say for the end times. It's bad.

[@Yam_Yam305]

@@unicorn1620 let me paraphrase your words, it's just tax for comphensation of aiding safety and economic growth and much more, there were also exception to those jizya for specific individuals.. chill out. Those taxes(jizya) were lesser than the tax(zakat) that muslims owed to the society.

[@unicorn1620]

@Yam_Yam305 No, that is not accurate. Jizya was up to 50%. Zakat is 2.5% and only goes to Muslims. Dhimmi status also commands the humiliation and subjugation of Jews and Christians. There is segregation and all kinds of other horrible discriminatory laws. The dawah ain't working, brother.

[@blakelevi4006]

It is the last (chronologically written) books of the Quran, that got very violent. Muhammed‘s relationships were quite messy 😅

[@adnango1990]

Islam isn't a New Religion , it is there at the Beginning from Adam (Aws) .

[@narminagasimova1952]

No, he was not even Adam, but Mohammad!

[@rafio.subzero]

Ahahahaha 😆😆😆 yeah right..

[@sandipanbhattacharya8269]

Wrong from prophet Muhammad

[@PrimarySchool-yw1rf]

​@@narminagasimova1952 adam(peace be upon him) was first prophet while muhammad(peace be upon him) was our last prophet

[@spicybiryani2617]

I have a Christian friend in my class (I'm in Pakistan so it's rare to find Christian cuz 97% is Muslim) and she's the kindest person in my class! I'm a really anxious person and feel overwhelmed asking for help but I don't talking with her at all! Even though we are not close, I can really tell she has a wonderful personality. Our Islamyat teacher also tries not to make her uncomfortable or feel offended. Y'all are great!

[@rajatrj5714]

Who was asiya Bibi ... A Christian girl who you wanted to kill on false blasphemy charge . Where you wanted to convert her . She refused your dawah .. you blamed her for blasphemy and tried to kill her .

[@MuhammadHamza-pn2pi]

​@@rajatrj5714 so you were present in the court hearing or what? There are millions of Christians here and they are living their life normally. Why would someone try to forcefully convert her when there weren't any incentives in doing so, she wasn't any significant personality.

[@theteamxxx3142]

@@MuhammadHamza-pn2pi isn’t forced conversion useless ? It wouldn’t be sincere and therefore basically invalid

[@fiasco-08]

Kindly invite her to Islam and save her from hellfire forever

[@spicybiryani2617]

@@rajatrj5714 I have no idea about the case what you're talking about but Muslims don't support forced conversions, it's haram.

[@ShaikhMaaz.]

We cannot thank enough our Christians brothers and sisters for their help in translating Greek books to Arabic. It’s such an underrated thing. Love from a Muslim. Peace ✌️

[@schnitzel4584]

You shouldn't talk so nice to us according to the Quran.

[@sebaceousgland5123]

When someone does something nice for us, we will appreciate it and acknowledge it. The Quran doesn't say to refrain from that.

[@rafinaufalal-mochtaripohan8538]

In fact, this is what we can found in Quran: Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes - from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. (60:8)

[@sugarmore10]

@@schnitzel4584 please don't lie.

[@blyatpotato9484]

@@schnitzel4584 If we shouldn't tslk nice to you where is our Da'wah supposed to go to? just between ourselves?

[@akhf9334]

Am just gonna throw this fact here. Do you know that the first Christian church in the world was in iraq

[@lordburn5347]

I am Christian I hope we both have peace for ever

[@Saladid]

After Jesus (peace be upon him) returns inshallah

[@SerenityWithin101]

As a Muslim, I hope the very same thing, and it will happen, as @Saladid said, upon the return of Jesus

[@asdallah2159]

Hey, Jesus has died on the cross so that (perhaps for everyone) we may be forgiven for our sins (and perhaps, there is more). Jesus rose from the dead! 🙏 Please accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through him.🙂🙂

[@SerenityWithin101]

@@asdallah2159 I respect your believe, but in Islam each one is hold accountable for their own sins and deeds, thinking that someone died for our sins (according to Islam) will make us take them for granted, and do more sins and think that they're forgivable because someone died for us, I'm not judging you for what you believe in of course, I'm just giving you the Islamic perspective on the matter, I also want add that we do have redemption in Islam, I don't want you to jump to the conclusion that we don't make sins, of course we do, however, if the sin doesn't include hurting someone, we ask for forgiveness and God promises to forgive no matter how big these sins are because he's more merciful than our own mothers, BUT, if we hurt someone, God will never forgive us until that person truly does, that's justice

[@talhaniazi9721]

peace make good time ....good time make men weak and dumb ...bad time make men wise ..

[@ahsanimam73]

We are humans, different beliefs and ethnicities, that’s it, we should be friends and respect each other, not be racist or disrespect somebody because of faith.

[@intellectracoon]

I live and Baghdad and one of my closest friends is a Christian.

[@mohnabiel]

the 5 dislikes are from people with full hatred in their hearts.

[@ammaarloverofhumanity7388]

They are ignorant may the Almighty guide them.

[@myazid3587]

And now 11

[@minnicute2497]

Well said 😆😆😁😃😀

[@antoniom4099]

Those are the intelligent people.

[@Harris.S]

@@ammaarloverofhumanity7388 Aameen

[@cessealbeach]

Emir-Stein Center I hope you get a Million Subscribers soon..serving humanity

[@EmirSteinCenter]

Many thank! You can help us by sharing widely and encouraging people to subscribe.

[@algeriennesaffaires7017]

Im a Muslim living in USA and when i see the Christians how much respect they give me i acctually remember the good history time i read about when Christians lived in peace under muslims rules and how islam protect people with other beliefs. Even there's some racism but its a little compared to the good, thanks American Christians

[@unicorn1620]

It wasn't peace. It was Dhimmi status. Not peaceful for the Dhimmi at all. This peace crap is a supremacist lie and revisionist history. It was hell for the Dhimmi for 1,400 long years.

[@salimsam174]

The similitude of Jesus before God is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was. (Quran Chapter Al-Imran 3:59)

[@kurohyou00]

Absolutely right it is.

[@rationalreasons3165]

In the holy Quran there is a chapter named "Sura Maryam" for the mother of jesus. Mary=Maryam. Jesus=Isa Moses=Moosa Nova=Nooh David=Davood Abraham =Ibrahim Soloman =sulaiman

[@worldwar339]

*Islam is Only Non-christain Faith which says "Believe and trust in Jesus (PBUH)* *Proud to be a Muslim* *Alhamdulillah*

[@leonardofavasoli2052]

The “Jesus “ (Isa) that the Koran speaks about has very little resemblance of the Jesus of the Holy Bible; was not crucified so was not resurrected. Not the Son of God so did not die for the sins of the world. The Jesus of the Bible died for me and washed my sins away. The “Isa” of the Koran has nothing to offer me.

[@bilalahmad9946]

Proud Muslim coz i have lot of Christian friends even we are eating and sharing food 'our friendship is strong...Insha'Allah it will be in future too.

[@ammaarloverofhumanity7388]

Knowledge is power and ignorance is for the weak, so I thank you for the knowledge I gained from this, I am a human before a Muslim, and I respect all religions

No such thing in Islam.

Islam is unknown to you & your life is not protected by Allah the supreme God over all other gods (jesus or his father). Islam has bo idea of any God the Father & denies such idea as blasphemy.

[@jafryaly]

Very nice video. These details might be unknown in western countries, but are very well recorded by Arabo-islamic historians, we've had them in histroy classes in primary school, and they are portrayed in Arabic historical movies and TV series. I find it very odd that historians interested in this topic wouldn't think about checking history books written by islamic historians.

[@JamesCraft-rc8sx]

Im a Christian farmer from Northern California, I love my Muslim brothers and sisters :) Isa is coming back and we will have peace! Inshallah ❤️

[@BinImadAlAteeqi]

Very refreshing, and as a muslim researching early Islamic (and Christian) history i immediately purchased this book and cant wait to read it. Thank you for this effort, i look forward to writing a review.

[@joeleviackerman4124]

im Muslim and i got alot Christian's friends, and I love them so much

[@MrKhan11111]

We are belongs to Abrahamic faith (Christians Muslims,Jews) but modern politics makes us haters! Bt I know I can't hate the people who are also the pages of my religion!!!!

[@mtaz7998]

Muslims and Christians first met at the Kingdom of Axum or or the Aksumite Empire , the King Ashamat al-Negashi gave refuge to several Muslims in the Kingdom of Aksum in 614 AD .

[@kulsumh1334]

This comment section is so wholesome. Peace be upon you all ♥️

[@محمدالبحباح-س1ذ]

لقد نسيت البحث في العلاقات بين الرسول الكريم والحبشة .. علاقات مميزة كانت مع الحبشة.. وفي لحظة هامة وحساسة في تاريخ الإسلام.

[@velxgintoki9552]

Years before the Prophet and his follower move from Mecca to Medina, he had given an order to his followers to move from Mecca to the Kingdom of Abbysinia (probably in current Ethiopia and Somalia) mentioning how the kingdom's king rule justly according to the Christian teaching. In Muslim tradition, when the Meccan send an emmisary to the King asking him to handover the Prophet's follower to them, the King rejects the demand after coming into knowledge of what the Prophet preach. He also famously said "The different between your religion (Islam) and my religion is no larger than this small stick". So yeah, Muslim and Christian have a long-standing history living together as a community, it's the politic that make us hate each other

[@ameraljabr405]

Wow! I never thought of it this way. I always had this roman/western perspective when viewing Christianity. I almost forgot that Jesus's followers were non romans in the beginning and lived in the Middle East. Thanks for the great video

[@farukhalvi1988]

Very interesting professor. I'd just like to mention the very first encounter of Muslims with Christian's was when warqa bin naufil a Christian businessman who explained to her cousin Khadija RA the first wife of Muhammad Saaw about the first revelation that he recieved in the cave Hira and actually acknowledged the prophecy quoting 'Injeel' of that time. But since you are a scholar on the subject matter you would already know that. But this is common knowledge among the Muslims.

[@FrizTheGamer]

In the ancient times, Muslims and Christians were the closest of people but today social media is destroying it

[@khaledalshaheen5841]

Love and peace to all, may Allah ( God ) bless who read this message while drinking green tea 👍

[@thatguy596]

I am muslim. I pray for peace upon all my true Christian brothers ❤️

[@theguyver4934]

Just like biblical and historical evidence proves that jesus and his apostles were vegatarians biblical and historical evidence also proves that the trinity, atonement, original sin and hell are very late misinterpretations and are not supported by the early creed hence its not a part of Christianity I pray that Allah swt revives Christianity both inside and out preserves and protects it and makes its massage be witnessed by all people but at the right moment, place and time The secred text of the Bible says ye shall know them by their fruits So too that I say to my christian brothers and sisters be fruitful and multiply Best regards from a Muslim ( line of ismail )

[@Halaqa]

That was amazing and beautiful! Definitely checking out your books, professor! Great work!

[@cafeespresso99]

Thank you - I learned something new today about the significance of Syriac writings in understanding pre-Roman Christianity

[@Sahil-ol2tf]

If entire world's Christians and muslim become friends half of the problem will solved ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤

[@abusayeedmdshahabuddin677]

Islam is the right religion in the world.

[@MohammedAhmed-py4rk]

I love Christians because Allah says in the Quran that they love Muslims ❤

[@naicumo2150]

What an eye-opening video, just wow. Thank you, professor or anyone related to him or to the research, if you are reading this. That was an incredible, concise and scientific video. Thank you.

[@hansryan05]

Jews, Muslims & Christians have more in common than we realise…

[@sajedeid3903]

You should talk about how Muslims went to Christian Ethiopia to get their support against heretics when Islam was very little and new. The Christians were amazed when they heard that the angel Jebraeel mentioned mother Mary in the Quran and then they gave Islams their full support and considered Islam as a continuation for Christianity.

[@karolkupec2044]

That is right, we have to grow love for everyone regardless of their religion or not, that is the true mark of people of God.

[@jamesmay3848]

Almost everything in this video is factually correct. However, it’s pronounced Muslim not Muzlim 😂

[@cloudrain9670]

Many thanks Emir-Stein Center for sharing this unknown information about the harmonious inter relationship between the two Communities.It was eye opening. Too much love from Dhaka Bangladesh.

[@ghassanmina]

I am personally a Lebanese christian but not from a Syriac liturgical culture. I agree with him on the Christians and Muslims relationship is not originally a violent relation even with Greek speaking people who used to form the majority in the coastal cities and major cities in the Levant like Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Antioch... The Christians originally had a clear seperation between the governor (Roman Emperors) and the church and the church did not have any real power. For example if an emperor used to adopt what we call today the non-chalcedonian denomination he used to persecute the others and vice versa (not always) The majority of the Roman emperors used to follow the chalcedonian denominations what we call today Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Protestants... When the Muslims came (occupied) the Levant they even received an aid from the non-chalcedonian bishop of Damascus which facilitated the fall of the city. We have little information about the Ghassanids who used to be non-chalcedonians and where local governors in the Levant and their role in the fall of the Roman rule in the province of Syria. anyways what I want to say is the early christians did not have the concept of a state religion and they used and still till today in the Arab world respects the law imposed by the rulers. The concept of religious state started in western Europe by Charlemagne who was the first king appointed by the church. The early church never appointed a king or an Emperor and should never get involved in politics.

[@ahmedirfansamad]

My Christian brothers and sisters need to know Islam by reading Koran-Hadith, not from media.

[@engritta1898]

Nowadays peoples perspective have changed weakness in faith and less respect and more hatred i think its nearer to doom.

[@danishinsight7686]

Your videos are really inspiring and it creates a harmonious relationship between two big followers of Abrahamic faiths.

[@huurair6523]

I m Muslim. Greetings and peace to all my Brother's and sisters of Christianity.

[@ikka489]

God bless your efforts to plant brotherhood in Christians and Muslims

[@97ty]

The Persians and the Romans for 700 years fought each other and neither one defeated the other.. The Muslims in 4 years defeated them with an army of no more than 30,000

[@adalhussain558]

You cannot blame religion for the wrong doing of mankind.

[@ripntear8487]

I takes courage to speak the truth. Thank you for this video.

[@MAHMOUD-MICHAEL-CAESAR-AJAJ]

may god almighty reward and bless u amen!! finally, some beautiful truth coming off the lips of my lovely Christian brother.

[@khazms]

This was a really informative video. I did not know any of this. I'm a little mind boggled. It's significant but such information was lost, suppressed or simply no one cared about.

[@adamsheartoftiger9565]

After these things, still most of Kurds do not believe Islam, I am as a Kurdish my religion is Christian catholic.

[@johannsapir-nevalcoux2468]

Prof. Michael Penn, you omit to say that the Caliph had to rule over Christians first for the Muslim-Christian friendship to happen. What's differentiating Syriac Christians and Mediterranean Christians is that the Syriacs were already under Islamic rule, and the Mediterraneans were fighting to remain sovereign over their nations. Exactly the same thing happened in Spain: Jews and Christians were thriving, but they had to be under Islamic rule first.

[@yasirgul248]

Christians and Muslims are brothers of the book

[@cooltobemj9160]

I love how nowadays we are equal by race and religion peace for all god bless you all of you ❤️❤️❤️

[@oshguru]

We have more in common with each other than we do differences. There are some dark forces that want us to focus only on our differences while ignoring the fact that we are more similar to one another. We all need to be aware of that in order us to always chose peace over war .

[@user-xi5tp5iw7f]

Islam and Christianity is the same...we just have a different way. In my opinion we have to go the meaningful way. The way which make sense.

[@hashakb]

I guess the first Christian who's name was "Nijashi shahabsha" the priest and the king of "Habsha" in today Ethiopia who met the Companion followers of Holly Prophet Muhammad SAWW. For the purpose of peace refuge for few years from the enemies of Mecca residents. The king granted the offer for stay with safety. MashAllah

[@FasikawBini]

love u ethiopians

[@max30888]

Exceptional illustration of the truth behind the narrow approach of such important history ❤💯

[@TessiDiaztd]

Lets love eachother without seeing only the religions 🙏 we still are humans and love is the first mandament so love your other without seeing what their religion is .

[@bondealikhan2674]

I am Muslim Christian and Muslim are the power of this earth.

[@AbdulRahmanSyed-iv3qn]

I just need this kind of comments

[@jivanselbi3657]

many thanks Prof. Michael, I grew up in area where we had many Christian friends, we played togther, attended school together..never looked at each other as '' people in conflict'' yes our families did tell us to respect their faith and their church and they are ''people of the book, followers of Jesus, a mighty prophet of Islam'' .. had not the colonialist Europe disturbed the situation, no conflict would ever occured in Muslim world. Human beings are free to choose what to believe, greed destroys human relations, be it of the same faith

[@theguyver4934]

Just like biblical and historical evidence proves that jesus and his apostles were vegatarians biblical and historical evidence also proves that the trinity, atonement, original sin and hell are very late misinterpretations and are not supported by the early creed hence its not a part of Christianity I pray that Allah swt revives Christianity both inside and out preserves and protects it and makes its massage be witnessed by all people but at the right moment, place and time The secred text of the Bible says ye shall know them by their fruits So too that I say to my christian brothers and sisters be fruitful and multiply Best regards from a Muslim ( line of ismail )

[@bullviking463]

I am muslim and I knew from childhood that the connection between Muslims and Christians is very big ✓

[@adriansalinas7374]

Islam conquered hearts of people , and offered unprecedented social equality unheard off during those days ,that certainly explain the fast expansion in those yearly days

[@yamakbats]

Please, people need to do more research on this topic, it is too important to be lost in history! I cannot stand the toxic discourse on 'Muslims vs the West/Muslims vs Christians' anymore 😣

[@Lion_Hamza]

The best proof for the good relationship between muslims and Christians is egypt. Before the conquest of egypt by muslims, egypt was a Christian country. But even after the conquest, Christianity stayed in egypt and is strong till today. The biggest church in the middle east was build in egypt today.

[@hafidismail8305]

A muslim can't be a muslim unless he beleives in all prophits before islam. We both worship the same god. We should always ask our god to spread peace not conflict amoung us. We both make more than 60% of the world population. Let us help weaker seqments of socities. Let only do whatever peacful and positive in our countries and ask god to quide us to the truth and understanding . Let us invest in peace not wars. I have great respect to those pioneers of researchers who only present commonality between muslims and christians.Our common enemy is the devil and ignorance . God bless us all.

[@84Terminator]

Baghdad did not exist before 8th century. Christians were respected in Koran, but Koran emphasized monotheism “ Tawhid “ that’s why Muslims had to limit their contact with Christians. And yeah there’s a huge history of peace between Muslims & Christians, overwhelms the history of war.

[@Lukisbyidda]

In Malaysia, Christians and Muslims celebrates Christmas and Eid together. We live peacefully. Maybe sometimes just a small arguments (that’s normal as we share similarities and differences). Every year in my neighbourhood they invite us to Mosque and eat there for food festival like Ramadhan. We go to their weddings too. They are so many muslims friends they are so blessed with hospitality whenever you come to their place just feel like home. We live like brothers. F-k the west media, pro islam-phobia and anything like that which making Christian and Muslim fight each other. Just because your country can’t manage people to respect each other, doesn’t mean other believers are bad too. What you think just reflect yourself back and is a shame. Nothing wrong living in Muslim country. We still can build a church as many as mosque, our politician leaders are Muslim and Christian.

[@SerenityWithin101]

Well said, respect

[@mj_4658]

Im a muslim in middle school and have many christians friends

[@wernerheisenberg6806]

Love to all my Christian brothers and sisters

[@KJ6182]

Muslim here, but my favorite journalist Chris Hedges got me watching this channel.

[@ivanos_95]

That's a beautiful portrayal of the Islamic conquest, however every Christian that collaborated with the Islamic-Caliphate against his fellow Christians was nothing, but a traitor, so I wouldn't treat those kind of examples too seriously, especially when those collaborators, who introduced themselves as Christians were most likely Zoroastrians and pagans, who were either covered by the Christian community, or just used the Christian identity to survive.

[@ghenaalkhiyami2412]

Thanks for the interesting and amazing facts you shared, I'm Syrian and yes the Syriac language still used in a small village in Damascus countryside called "Ma'aloula" 🙏🌸🌷

[@ghenaalkhiyami2412]

Also the relationships between Muslims and Christians in Syria is so significant and harmonic, we live together have many memories and lovely moments together as well ❤️

[@batistaandreymyst]

Thank you for this video, it taught me a lot. I'm also looking forward to reading your books

[@anotherearthling8634]

Great video, but I could never agree that the christian-muslim conflicts ended with conquering of Constantinople. They continued for hundreds of years after. I'd say the second siege on Vienna is a more accurate milestone.

[@akhanmac]

Thank you for the video. This definitely dove in deeper than I was originally aware of. European Christian's would seek knowledge and education from muslim lands and return as graduates in thobes, these thobes were symbols of learned people and became graduation gowns. The Christian king in Abasyinna protected muslims during their early persecution, Muhammad pbuh told his followers to seek the Christian kings protection because he knew he was a righteous man and king.

[@haifashawwa]

What a wonderful perspective. Thank you so much for pinpointing Long ignored facts and dates. Beautiful layout and editing too.

[@gloryghassan1460]

Am a Christian from Baghdad who knows Basic Syriac and i completely agree with the western christian version of islam, the conquest as you mentioned wasn't easy on my ancestors that's why 99 percent of Iraqi people are Muslims now

[@ProfessorGlasgow]

He said the truth...

[@khalidrasheed6226]

Beautifully explained and increased our knowledge.

[@Abu_hussein_2000]

IM PROUD TO BE MUSLIM AND ALHAMDULILA ☪️🕌🕋🤲🤲

[@cuzimaboss534]

That video should have 1 million views at least.

[@randomguy8647]

Islam is peace. So is Christianity and Judaism.

[@zabisworld]

Thanks for the informative video guys. Keep up the good work!

[@carljacobson7156]

From what I've read, In their first encounters, the Christians thought that the early Muslims were a new widespread sect of Jews from Arabia.

[@KamranHaider]

Thanks a million for such amazingly educating upload. 🙏🥰🙇‍♂️

[@HosannaIntheHighest-ri1lq]

I love the idea of peace between the people.