There is often a debate whether christians are “People-of-the-Book” or are they mushrikeen or both. There are many commands in Islam which differentiate amongst “People-of-the-Book” and the mushrikeen/kuffar/polytheist. Common wisdom suggests that the term Kuffar was used for those who took idols as their gods and referred to the people of Mekkah as they were true mushrikeen and polytheist.
So about Christians, were there two kinds of Christians?
Those who follow Bible (and thus are People of the Book) and do not believe in Trinity and thus are not muhrikeen.
Those who follow Bible and also believe in Trinity and are thus mushrikeen.
Do we have any evidence to suggest that when Quran talks about Christians, its only talking about those who do not believe in Trinity? Or that even while believing in Trinity, they are differentiated from other mushrikeen?
Pls keep your answers brief and to-the-point, and no long cut-pastes.
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*Originally posted by Faisal: *
Common wisdom suggests that the term Kuffar was used for those who took idols as their gods and referred to the people of Mekkah as they were true mushrikeen and polytheist.
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huh? u use Kuffar and mushrikeen interchangeably??
Kuffar are those who 'reject' the 'truth' means they reject the supremacy of God..
Mushrikeens are the ones who acknowledge God but make partners with him.. could be the old age idols or modern day saints, valees or taking Prophets to be their 'maula' and what not..
Do you think all commands in the Quran which differentiate between People of the Book and mushrikeen should then not apply to present day Christians, because being a mushrik overrides being a person of the book?
Did the christians at the time of revelation of Quran not believe in Trinity or were not mushrik? Why does Quran and Islam provide separate guidance about People of the Book and Mushrikeen?