Christian Martyrs under Islam
Book Description
Christian C. Sahner unveils a pivotal yet overlooked chapter in religious history, exploring the profound transformation of the medieval Middle East from a predominantly Christian region to a Muslim-majority world. Through meticulous research using previously unexplored sources across multiple Middle Eastern languages, this scholarly work illuminates the complex dynamics between faith, identity, and survival during the early Islamic caliphate.
The narrative centers on a remarkable group of individuals who chose martyrdom over religious compromise between the seventh and ninth centuries. These figures include a purported descendant of Muhammad who embraced Christianity, prominent Christian officials within the Muslim administration who openly challenged Islamic teachings, and children born from interfaith marriages who faced impossible choices about their spiritual allegiance.
Sahner demonstrates that while systematic persecution was not the norm, specific acts of violence profoundly shaped both Christian and Muslim communities. The book reveals how these dramatic confrontations marked the end of fluid religious boundaries and established more rigid divisions between faiths that would influence centuries of interaction.
For readers seeking to understand how religious communities navigate periods of dramatic change, this work offers valuable insights into the courage required to maintain spiritual convictions under pressure. The study examines not only individual acts of resistance but also how collective memory of these events influenced the development of distinct religious identities in an evolving spiritual landscape.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~10 hours)
📄 Length: 360 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Islam, relations, christianity
- ✓ Explore Christianity and other religions
- ✓ Explore Christianity
- ✓ Explore Relations
- ✓ Explore Christian martyrs
- ✓ Explore Christianity and other religions, islam
- ✓ Explore Islam
- ✓ Explore Martyrs
