Christians in the Qurʾān: Some insights derived from the classical exegetic approach

The Qurʾān refers on several occasions to Christians. Its attitude toward them, however, has often been seen as an ambivalent one. At times the Qurʾān praises the Christians, while in other cases it condemns them. This article will attempt to analyze the Qurʾān’s view of Christians by examining Islamic exegetical writings dating from the earliest period of Qurʾānic commentary up to the late Middle Ages