The Image of the Other in the Thought of Saint Thomas Aquinas (A Critical Study)

Abstract

This research addresses one of the most enduring topics still debated today across religious, cultural, social, and political spheres. The Crusades, which prevailed in Western Europe at the time, reflected the outward-directed violence of European society, particularly against Islam. This study explores "The Image of the Muslim Other in the Context of Christian Thought from the Perspective of Saint Thomas Aquinas." Thomas Aquinas is considered one of the most prominent philosophers of the Middle Ages. He sought to harmonize Aristotelian philosophy with Christian doctrine, reconciling reason and faith. In his works, he discussed the relationship between Christians and Muslims, especially in light of the political and religious tensions between the Christian and Islamic worlds during that era.
The study highlights how the “Muslim Other” was positioned within a Christian theological and philosophical framework based on doctrinal and behavioral hierarchy. While Aquinas acknowledged that Muslims possessed certain elements of faith-based truth, he did not view them as a community with full religious legitimacy. Rather, he considered them to be outside the bounds of orthodox faith.
The abstract suggests that Aquinas’s perception of Muslims was complex, attempting to balance respect for Islamic rationality and philosophy with a firm defense of Christian doctrine.