Munazara bayn al-Islam wa al-Nasraniyya
- Author died
- -
- Editions
- General Presidency of Scholarly Research, Ifta, Da'wah and Guidance
Munazara bayn al-Islam wa al-Nasraniyya (A Debate Between Islam and Christianity) is a published record documenting an interfaith debate held in Khartoum in 1401 AH (1980 CE) between a delegation of Muslim scholars and Christian leaders and evangelists.
Background and Organization
The debate took place from 23 to 29 Muharram 1401 AH (1–7 December 1980 CE) in Khartoum, Sudan. It was arranged following coordination involving Shaykh Tahir Ahmad Talibi, the religious attaché at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Khartoum, and the Society for the Revival of Islamic Activity in Sudan (Hay'at Ihya' al-Nashat al-Islami), headed by Shaykh Awad Allah Salih.
The Islamic delegation was composed of three figures:
- Dr. Muhammad Jamil Ghazi, who moderated and participated in the dialogue.
- Professor Ibrahim Khalil Ahmad, a former Christian pastor and professor of theology who had embraced Islam.
- Major General Engineer Ahmad Abd al-Wahhab, a researcher in comparative religion.
The Christian delegation was led by the evangelist James Bakhit alongside Tikha Ramadan, representing Christian figures from the national capital area and the Nuba Mountains.
Structure and Content
The dialogue was arranged around a list of questions submitted by the Christian interlocutors, divided into two primary parts:
- Questions on Christianity: Whether the Quran affirms Christ and the Gospel; the Islamic understanding of textual corruption (tahrif) and abrogation (naskh) in the Gospel; the status and prohibition of wine; belief in Christ's disciples and apostles; the Holy Spirit; the Christian account of the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus versus the Qur'anic narrative; the designation of Christ as the Son of God; the doctrine of the Trinity; and the status of the Virgin Mary.
- Questions on Islam: The life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the manner of the revelation of the Qur'an, and theological arguments establishing his status as the Seal of the Prophets.
The Muslim delegation addressed these inquiries across consecutive sessions, drawing on biblical textual criticism, comparative analysis, and Qur'anic exegesis.
Conclusion and Publication
At the close of the sessions, the Christian interlocutors declared their acceptance of Islam. Closing speeches were delivered by Major General Ibrahim Ahmad Umar, Secretary-General of the Society for the Revival of Islamic Activity, Shaykh Muhammad Hashim al-Hadiyya, head of Ansar al-Sunna in Sudan, and Ibrahim Khalil Ahmad.
The transcript of the debate was published in Safar 1407 AH (1986 CE) by the General Presidency of Scholarly Research, Ifta, Da'wah and Guidance in Riyadh for complimentary distribution. Other editions were published by Dar al-Hadith in Cairo alongside Maktabat Ibn Khuzayma in Riyadh (1412 AH), as well as by Dar al-Basira in Alexandria.
Answer updated