Analytical- Critical Survey of The Approach of Christian Theologians to the Quran in the Late Middle Ages With Emphasis on Riccoldo’s View

The main motivation of Christian scholars for the study of the Qur’an in the Middle Ages was their knowledge of Islam, as well as their refutation and prevention of the spread and influence of Islam in Christian Europe. Those who did not know Islam and the Qur’an accurately and correctly, using biblical interpretations, indirect sources, loyal assumptions about Christianity, and also under the influence of the atmosphere of hostility and prejudice caused by The Crusades confronted the Qur’an. Riccoldo Monte Croce, whose attitude toward the Qur’an has attracted the attention of Christians and Orientalists after him, has studied the Qur’an with the influence of the ideas and atmosphere of the late Middle Ages. Riccoldo’s writings are the most important and influential books of Christians against Islam as well as the most popular books against Islam, and after that, it has created a new wave of writing books against Islam. Riccoldo, on the one hand, speaks of the invalidity of the Qur’an and, on the other hand, tries to use the verses of the Qur’an to prove the legitimacy of the doctrine of the Trinity, the superiority of the Bible over the Qur’an, and the superiority of Christ over the Holy Prophet of Islam. In the present study, while examining Riccoldo’s method of Qur’anic studies, his views have been criticized in a descriptive-analytical and interpretive, historical, and theological approaches manner. Based on the results of this study, a) The Holy Quran explicitly denied the components of the formation of the Trinity. b) Using some terms such as salvation and guidance in the Holy Qur’an about the Bible is not a sign of the superiority of the Bibles, since a large number of such terms have been used about the Qur’an itself. c) The Holy Qur’an has used unique attributes for the divine prophets, and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ at the birth of the virgin is not the reason for his superiority over other prophets. The Qur’an has exalted some of the prophets over others, and the verses of the Qur’an are used to show that Prophet Mohammad is superior and more virtuous than all the divine prophets. d) Riccoldo has tried to impose his belief on the Qur’an by having an attitude towards the verses of the Qur’an, incorrect presuppositions based on Christian beliefs, contradictions and ignoring the obvious opposition of the verses of the Qur’an to the teachings of Christianity. e) Although there have been serious changes in the attitude of Christian scholars towards the Qur’an in the present age, the influence of some Western thinkers from the views of people like Ricardo can create a serious obstacle in the way of convergence and inter-religious discourse.