Christian–Muslim Relations in Syria

271 Pages·2020·4.492 MB·English

by  Andrew W. H. Ashdown

“Engaging with the complex politico-religious landscape of Syria, Christian–Muslim
Relations in Syria is the culmination of many years spent working with both laity
and clergy of various Christian denominations as well as senior Muslim figures. The
author’s discussion of the seminal contributions made by Eastern Christian clergy
in fostering constructive dialogue – with both the government and their Muslim
counterparts – reveals exceptional and fresh perspectives on community relations.
For anyone who wishes to acquire an in-depth, authoritative understanding of the
Muslim-Christian dynamic in Syria today, this book is a must.”
– Dr. Erica C D Hunter,
SOAS University of London
“Through in-depth studies and contacts with religious leaders and different
Christian and Muslim stakeholders, Andrew Ashdown offers a unique, significant
and realistic analysis of the religious, political and social landscapes in Syria. This
work is useful for scholars and ordinary readers alike and I highly recommend it
for wide readership in the Arab world and beyond.”
– Samer Laham, Regional Director of
Diaconia Department and Ecumenical
Relief Service at the Middle East
Council of Churches
“Christian–Muslim Relations in Syria: Historic and Contemporary Religious
Dynamics in a Changing Context makes a distinct contribution to understanding
the complex dynamics of relations between Christians and Muslims, church-state
relations, the place of religious leadership and theology in times of upheaval
and profound change. Based upon extensive fieldwork and research over the last
decade, this work provides insights into how actors understand their situation
and the role of religious identity in the context of. political conflict in Syria and
across the region. Andrew Ashdown also offers an uncommon account of Eastern
Christian ecclesial, religious and political thought and engagement from the
perspective of relations between Islam and Christianity in modern times.”
– Dr. Anthony O’Mahony,
University of Oxford
“Andrew Ashdown has rendered a valuable and important service in making
heard these non-governmental voices from within Syria: these are voices which
rarely reach the West, but are nonetheless ones to which serious attention needs
to be paid.”
– Professor Sebastian Brock,
University of Oxford

Christian–Muslim Relations in Syria
Offering an authoritative study of the plural religious landscape in modern Syria
and of the diverse Christian and Muslim communities that have cohabited the
country for centuries, this volume considers a wide range of cultural, religious
and political issues that have impacted the interreligious dynamic, placing them
in their local and wider context.
Combining fieldwork undertaken in government-held areas during the Syrian
conflict with critical historical and Christian theological reflection, this research
makes a significant contribution to understanding Syria’s diverse religious
landscape and the multi-layered expressions of Christian–Muslim relations.
It discusses the concept of sectarianism and how communal dynamics are
crucial to understanding Syrian society. The complex wider issues that underlie
the relationship are examined – including the roles of culture and religious
leadership – and it questions whether the analytical concept of sectarianism is
adequate to describe the complex communal frameworks in the Middle Eastern
context. Finally, the study examines the contributions of contemporary Eastern
Christian leaders to interreligious discourse, concluding that the theology and
spirituality of Eastern Christianity, inhabiting the same cultural environment as
Islam, is uniquely placed to play a major role in interreligious dialogue and in
peace-making.
The book offers an original contribution to knowledge and understanding
of the changing Christian–Muslim dynamic in Syria and across the region, and
therefore should be a key resource for students, scholars and readers interested in
religion, current affairs and the Middle East.
Andrew W.H. Ashdown is an Anglican priest and holds a PhD from Winchester
University. He has been ordained for 30 years and has held responsibility for
Church links in West and East Africa and South Asia. For over 30 years, he has
been visiting and leading groups on journeys to the Middle East and has been
involved in interreligious initiatives in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and in Britain.
In recent years, his research has focused on the religious context in Syria and this
has included multiple visits to Syria in the midst of the war as a guest of faith
leaders in the country. Dr. Ashdown is currently Manager of Good Governance
and Advocacy Development for the international charity, ‘Humanitarian Aid
Relief Trust’ (HART) UK and continues a priestly ministry.
Culture and Civilization in the Middle East
Series Editor: Ian Richard Netton, Professor of Islamic Studies,
University of Exeter
This series studies the Middle East through the twin foci of its diverse cultures and
civilisations. Comprising original monographs as well as scholarly surveys, it cov-
ers topics in the fields of Middle Eastern literature, archaeology, law, history, phi-
losophy, science, folklore, art, architecture and language. While there is a plurality
of views, the series presents serious scholarship in a lucid and stimulating fashion.
Arabs and Iranians in the Islamic Conquest Narrative
Memory and Identity Construction in Islamic Historiography, 750-1050
Scott Savran
The Chaldean Catholic Church
Modern History, Ecclesiology and Church-State Relations
Kristian Girling
Text Linguistics of Qur’anic Discourse
An Analysis
Hussein Abdul-Raof
The Early Muslim Conquest of Syria
An English Translation of al-Azdī’s Futūḥ al-Shām
Hamada Hassanein & Jens Scheiner
Bedouin and ‘Abbāsid Cultural Identities
The Arabic Majnūn Laylā Story
Ruqayya Yasmine Khan
Christian–Muslim Relations in Syria
Historic and Contemporary Religious Dynamics in a Changing Context
Andrew W.H. Ashdown
For more information about this series, please visit: https :/ /ww w .rou tledg e .com /
midd leeas tstud ies /s e ries /SE03 63
Christian–Muslim
Relations in Syria
Historic and Contemporary Religious
Dynamics in a Changing Context
Andrew W.H. Ashdown
With a Foreword by H.H. Mor Ignatius Aphrem II,
Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
First published 2021
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2021 Andrew W.H. Ashdown
The right of Andrew W.H. Ashdown to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing
from the publishers.
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registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation
without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ashdown, Andrew, 1964- author.
Title: Christian-Muslim relations in Syria: historic and contemporary
religious dynamics in a changing context / Andrew W.H. Ashdown; with a
foreword by H.H. Ignatius Aphrem II, Syriac Orthodox Patriach of Antioch
and All the East.
Other titles: Culture and civilisation in the Middle East.
Description: Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon; New York, Ny: Routledge,
2021. | Series: Culture and civilisation in the Middle East; 62 | Includes
bibliographical references and index. | Contents: Christianity in Syria:
the ecclesiastical mosaic – Islam in Syria: The Muslim mosaic – Cultural
contexts that influence Christian-Muslim relations – Christian-Muslim
relations in Syria – Eastern Christian approaches to Christian-Muslim
engagement in Syria.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020027249 (print) | LCCN 2020027250 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780367559137 (hardback) | ISBN 9781003095712 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781000244779 (adobe pdf) | ISBN 9781000244793 (epub) |
ISBN 9781000244786 (mobi)
Subjects: LCSH: Syria–Religion. | Christianity and other religions–Islam. |
Islam–Relations–Christianity. | Christianity–Syria. | Eastern
churches–Syria. | Islam–Syria.
Classification: LCC BL2340 .A78 2021 (print) | LCC BL2340 (ebook) |
DC 261.2/7095691–dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020027249
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020027250
ISBN: 978-0-367-55913-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-09571-2 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
This book is dedicated to the people of Syria for their resilience
and faith in the face of so much suffering.
To all who strive for reconciliation and the preservation of plu-
rality in Syrian society.
To the friends in Syria who opened their hearts and lives in the
midst of war.
And to my wife Victoria; children, Edward, Peter, Emily and
George and other family and friends who have supported
me through this endeavour.
I pray this volume will inspire new avenues of understanding,
discernment and dialogue.

Contents
Foreword by His Holiness, Syriac Orthodox
Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II x
Preface xii
Acknowledgements xviii
Introduction 1
1 Christianity in Syria: The Ecclesiastical Mosaic 33
2 Islam in Syria: The Muslim Mosaic 60
3 Cultural Contexts that Influence Christian–Muslim Relations 96
4 Christian–Muslim Relations in Syria 124
5 Eastern Christian Approaches to Christian–Muslim
Engagement in Syria 169
Conclusion 218
Appendix: Questionnaire analysis of Syrian perspectives on
Christian–Muslim relations 227
Glossary 241
Index 244