Spektrum Iran

Abstrakt As soon as Muslims gained knowledge about Christianity, they began to write and think about its doctrines, beliefs and religious rituals. In addition, Muslims have considerably dealt with Jesus Christ, His disciples, and apostles. It seems, in the first place, Muslim writers achieved their knowledge of Christianity via Quran and oral traditions. However, from the third/ninth century onward, they could access Christian original sources, including the New Testament. And during those centuries, both Christians and Muslims took part in controversial and even dialogical debates. Such immediate contacts authenticated and improved mutual understanding. The ongoing research focuses on the Muslim perspective of St. Peter and St. Paul, the former was Jesus’ favorite disciple and the latter was a converted apostle. As in the following pages, we will demonstrate that Muslim writers have combined Quranic and oral viewpoints with some Christian authentic sources. Therefore, sometimes their knowledge of the two above-mentioned apostles is paradoxical and self-contradictory. Muslims, especially Shiites, have regarded St. Peter as a true and authentic successor to Jesus. Nonetheless, they slammed St. Paul as one who distorted the true teachings of Jesus Christ.