This is the 22nd part of a series on Christianity and the history of antisemitism. While we are often reminded to “Never forget,” many of us were never taught this history.

Islamic-Christian Relations & Antisemitism: A Complex History of Cooperation, Conflict, and Influence

Introduction

Islamic-Christian relations have spanned over 1,400 years, marked by periods of cooperation, coexistence, and conflict. While much attention has been given to Christian antisemitism in Europe and Eastern Orthodoxy, the dynamics between Christianity and Islam have also played a role in shaping Jewish-Christian relations, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

This essay explores the historical intersections between Islam and Christianity, focusing on how their interactions influenced antisemitic attitudes in Christian Arab communities. From medieval Muslim rule to the rise of modern Arab nationalism, Christian-Muslim relations have been complex, with Jews often caught in the middle of political, religious, and social struggles.

Christian-Muslim Relations in Historical Context

1. Early Islamic-Christian Interactions

Islam emerged in the 7th century in the Arabian Peninsula, in a region influenced by both Judaism and Christianity. Early interactions between Muslims and Christians were shaped by:

• Theological differences (e.g., Jesus as the Son of God vs. a prophet)
• Political competition (e.g., the Byzantine Empire’s conflict with emerging Muslim caliphates)
• Shared Abrahamic traditions (e.g., recognition of monotheism and scriptural overlap)

Christians and Jews were recognized as “People of the Book” (Ahl al-Kitab) under Islamic law, granting them dhimmi status—a form of protected but second-class citizenship under Muslim rule. While they were allowed to practice their faiths, they also faced restrictions, such as special taxes (jizya) and social limitations.

2. The Role of Christian Minorities in the Islamic World

Christian communities flourished in various Muslim empires, including the Umayyad (661–750 CE), Abbasid (750–1258 CE), and Ottoman (1299–1922 CE) dynasties. In cities like Baghdad, Damascus, and Cairo, Christians participated in trade, medicine, and administration, often coexisting with Jewish and Muslim communities.

However, Christian-Muslim relations varied by time and place, influenced by factors such as:

• The tolerance of specific Muslim rulers (e.g., the convivencia period in Spain vs. forced conversions under Almohad rule)
• Crusades and retaliatory policies (e.g., restrictions on Christians in response to European Christian invasions)
• European colonialism (e.g., the privileging of Christian minorities under Western imperial rule)

Christian Arab Attitudes Toward Jews Under Muslim Rule

1. Christian Antisemitism in the Middle East

Unlike European Christian antisemitism, which was shaped by the Catholic Church, Protestant movements, and nationalist ideologies, Christian antisemitism in the Middle East was influenced by:

• Islamic restrictions on dhimmi communities
• European-imported antisemitic literature
• Christian-Muslim political alliances against Jewish communities

Christian Arabs often adopted Islamic attitudes toward Jews, particularly in Ottoman and Mamluk Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon. However, they were also shaped by traditional Christian prejudices, such as the belief that Jews were responsible for Christ’s death.

During periods of Muslim rule, Christian and Jewish communities were both subject to discrimination, but Christians often distanced themselves from Jews to align with Muslim rulers and avoid persecution themselves. This led to Christian communities reinforcing Islamic restrictions on Jews, sometimes participating in antisemitic accusations and violence.

2. Christian Involvement in Blood Libel Cases

One of the most striking examples of Middle Eastern Christian antisemitism is the Blood Libel accusation, which was widespread in Christian Europe but also emerged in Christian Arab communities.

• 1840 Damascus Affair:

  • Christian Arabs in Damascus accused Jews of ritually murdering a Christian monk, triggering violent riots and torture of Jewish leaders.
  • Muslim authorities, influenced by European consuls and Christian missionaries, played a role in escalating the accusations.
  • The incident was condemned by figures like Sir Moses Montefiore, but it reinforced antisemitic attitudes in the region.

• Other Blood Libel Cases:

  • Similar accusations occurred in Lebanon (1860s), Aleppo (19th century), and Egypt (20th century).
  • These accusations often mirrored European medieval myths, showing the influence of Christian-European antisemitism on Middle Eastern Christians.

Colonialism, Arab Nationalism, and Christian-Jewish Relations

1. European Colonialism and Christian Privilege

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, European colonial powers favored Christian minorities in the Middle East, granting them education, economic advantages, and political influence. This privileged status, however, created tensions:

• Muslim resentment against Christian elites often led Christian Arabs to seek alliances with Muslims, sometimes at the expense of Jewish communities.
• European missionaries imported antisemitic ideologies from Europe, reinforcing Christian Arab hostility toward Jews.
• Christian newspapers in the late Ottoman period and French Mandate Syria/Lebanon frequently spread antisemitic conspiracy theories.

2. Christian Arabs and the Rise of Arab Nationalism

As European colonial rule declined, Christian Arabs played key roles in the Arab nationalist movement, particularly in countries like Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. Leaders such as:

• Michel Aflaq (founder of the Ba’ath Party, which ruled Syria and Iraq)
• George Antonius (a Christian Arab historian and nationalist)

…helped shape Arab nationalist ideology, often framing Zionism as a European colonial movement.

This political narrative, while distinct from religious antisemitism, contributed to anti-Jewish sentiment in Arab Christian circles. Many Christian Arab intellectuals viewed Jews not only as outsiders but as agents of Western imperialism, reinforcing negative stereotypes.

Modern Christian-Muslim-Jewish Relations and Antisemitism

1. The Impact of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The creation of Israel in 1948 and subsequent Arab-Israeli wars reshaped Christian-Muslim-Jewish relations in the Middle East. Many Christian Arabs aligned with Palestinian Muslims, contributing to:

• Anti-Zionist rhetoric that sometimes crossed into antisemitism
• Christian-led boycotts of Jewish businesses in places like Lebanon and Egypt
• Theological arguments rejecting Jewish self-determination

Christian Arab churches, such as the Greek Orthodox and Maronite communities, have largely adopted pro-Palestinian positions, but some elements of their discourse echo historical Christian antisemitic narratives.

2. Christian Zionism and Its Impact on Christian-Muslim Relations

On the opposite side, Christian Zionism—a movement among evangelical Protestants—has worsened Christian-Muslim relations in the region. Many Muslim and Christian Arabs resent Christian Zionist support for Israel, seeing it as Western interference.

This has led some Christian Arab leaders to embrace anti-Jewish rhetoric in opposition to Zionism, reinforcing older Christian antisemitic ideas.

3. Positive Developments in Interfaith Relations

Despite the historical tensions, there have been modern efforts at Jewish-Christian-Muslim reconciliation, including:

• Interfaith dialogues between Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scholars
• Vatican II’s Nostra Aetate (1965), which improved Jewish-Christian relations globally
• Christian leaders condemning antisemitism, particularly in Lebanon and Jordan

Conclusion

Christian-Muslim relations have played a significant role in shaping antisemitism in the Middle East. While Christian Arabs have often been victims of discrimination under Islamic rule, they have also perpetuated antisemitic stereotypes, sometimes adopting Islamic restrictions on Jews or European Christian antisemitic myths.

Today, Christian-Muslim-Jewish relations remain complex, shaped by history, politics, and theology. Understanding these interwoven influences is essential to addressing antisemitism and fostering interfaith reconciliation in the modern world.