The Project Features Why African Bible Bible Animation Comments

Books Audiovisuals Posters Cards

Paulines in Africa Contact About Vocation

Pauline Institutes Other Institutions

Book of The Month

THE IDENTITY OF CHRIST IN ISLAM

From the Perspective of thomads aquinas
By Frederic Ntedika Mvumbi, O.P
ISBN 9966-08-319-7; 192 pages; Publication 2008; price: US$ 7.00

About the Book

There is nothing greater a friend can suggest to his fellow friend than to open his/her mind to know God, man and the universe. As citizens and friends of this continent, we share many ideas, thoughts and dreams; we share our memories and discoveries, problems and challenges, achievements and failures. In this spirit of sharing that this book conveys to all readers, Christians and Muslims alike, that Christianity and Islam share many themes in common.

In his previous book “Journey into Islam. An Attempt to Awaken Christians in Africa,” fr Frederic Ntedika discusses and presents various features of Islam to African Christians; he invites Christians in Africa to journey into Islam and discover it from within and not from inauthentic life of some of the Muslims. With unparalleled simplicity, clarity, comprehensiveness and objectivity fr Frederic tries to equip them with an objective knowledge of Islam that could pave the way to a constructive Christian-Muslim dialogue.

Fr Frederic’s desire to select appropriate materials for building thereby a new “peoplehood” is at the center of most of his writings. All, including this book, turns around this burning aspiration. In the sections of this book (the Identity of Christ in Islam), the author develops his ideas and aspirations but with a different standpoint, for he reflects and presents Jesus as he is presented in the Islamic tradition. He undertakes this noble activity with the help of Thomas Aquinas. Therefore, he makes us know that Jesus is actually present in Islam and well known by the Muslims. He demonstrates with remarkable clarity that Christians as well as Muslims speak about him, write on his origin, learn from him, ask questions concerning his nature and identity and defend him whenever there is need.  Hence, the author begins where Islam begins, the Qur’an, for Islam begins in and with the Qur’an. He gathers the most important texts found in the Islamic tradition, situates them in their various contexts and analyses them with a historico-theological method coupled with a good dose of philosophy.

With history which also considers the Christian tradition, fr. Frederic diachronically brings out the truth about the on-going struggle of man’s mind whenever he is challenged by the nature of Jesus. However, he limits his research and, therefore, concentrates on the first thirteen centuries of this era. Again, through a theological and philosophical process, he explains some truths, for he believes that it belongs first and foremost to theology and philosophy to solve theological as well as philosophical questions. He claims that there are some facts which are only accessible to metaphysical reasoning. Surely, fr. Frederic is venturing into a delicate enterprise; however, he produces a marvelous literature that could be useful to students in Religions.

The use of the overwhelmingly accepted sources of Christianity and Islam, the arrangement of his macro-structures and micro-structures of his thoughts, the analysis of non-negligible Qur’anic verses, the place of the Summa Theologiae of Thomas Aquinas throughout the book in order to explain certain metaphoric realities, the development of some new treatises on Jesus make this book a reference text for Christian-Muslim dialogue. Moreover, the use of abundant citations which the author takes from textbooks of great reputation, the intelligent symbiosis of all the borrowed phrases and paraphrases and the explanation allocated to his affirmations reveal the profundity of his standpoints. A multiplicity of texts is discussed in their contexts.

This book bridges the gap between Christians and Muslims as well as set solid foundation for a fruitful Christian-Muslims dialogue. In doing so, the author follows the path of communion of persons, which is central in both African philosophy and theology. It is certainly a very valid perspective which will help to eliminate a few dichotomies between the two religions and create one family of God’s people.

In conclusion, the interest of this publication is to illustrate Jesus Christ in Islam for a pastoral and ecclesial renewal of our time. In an inspiring theological analysis, the author sees Jesus in both religions as the common good everyone is aiming to and the fulfillment/continuation in the history of the mystery of incarnation. This book is very useful to many, particularly those involved in pastoral work and studies in comparative religion.