Muslim Intellectual Engagement with Christianity in the 20th Century: The Approaches of Ahmed Deedat and Ismail Raji al-Faruqi

التفاعل الفكري الإسلامي مع المسيحية في القرن العشرين: نهج أحمد ديدات وإسماعيل راجي الفاروقي

Abstract

This study examines the 20th-century Muslim intellectual engagement with Christianity through the contrasting approaches of Ahmed Deedat and Ismail Raji al-Faruqi, two influential scholars who shaped Muslim responses to Christian theology and missionary activities. Deedat, a South African Muslim of Indian descent, adopted a polemical style, using public debates to highlight contradictions in the Bible while defending the Qur’an’s truth. His confrontational approach empowered Muslims by reinforcing the intellectual superiority of Islamic theology at a popular level. Conversely, al-Faruqi, a Palestinian-American academic, pursued a scholarly and dialogical method, emphasizing interfaith understanding, historical analysis, and mutual respect between Islam and Christianity. His work within academic discourse provided a systematic framework for Christian-Muslim relations, focusing on shared theological and ethical grounds. Both scholars, despite their methodological differences, strengthened Muslim confidence in their faith’s intellectual and spiritual foundations, contributing significantly to comparative religion. Deedat’s public debates and al-Faruqi’s academic writings offered distinct paradigms—apologetic confrontation and scholarly dialogue—that continue to influence contemporary interfaith scholarship. This paper argues that their combined efforts enriched Muslim-Christian discourse, addressing challenges posed by colonial encounters and missionary activities. By analyzing their contributions, the study underscores the importance of diverse approaches in fostering meaningful interfaith dialogue and recommends that modern Muslim scholars adapt these strategies to address contemporary issues like secularism and pluralism.