Islam and muslims in the works of John of Damascus

This thesis examines the views of John of Damascus, a Christian theologian, and church father, about Islam and Muslims. John, who lived in Damascus, the capital of the Umayyad State, served in the Umayyad Caliphate and later spent his life in the monastery. John has also written many works, most of them related to Christian theology. Some of his writings contain some of the issues of Islam. He approached Islam critically, Muslims, and he made some allegations of slander about Muhammad. In his work on Islam, he mainly focuses on two things. One of them is that Islam is a heretical tradition and that Muhammad is not a true prophet. Another is that Muslims are the ones who seduce people. Another thing he tries to do in his work is to deal with the knowledge of Islam about Christianity and Jesus and reveal the wrong understanding of Muslims on these issues. In other words, it is to defend Christianity. At the same time, John makes quotes from the Qur'an, and he is especially quoted from verses related to Christianity. John also touches on issues such as pre-Islamic Arab beliefs and the origins of Arabs. The general theme of his works, in which he criticizes Islam in a cruel language, is topics such as witnessing, polygamy, circumcision of men and women. When he talks about these beliefs, he wants to criticize Muslims rather than providing information. He wants to establish the perception that Islam does not value women and tries to create a negative image for Muslims and Muhammad in general. It also gives references to the Qur'an. John's criticism of Islam was followed by Christian writers who followed him. And the claims have been repeated in the following centuries, as Islam is a heretical tradition, Muhammad is a liar, and Muslims are pagan people.