Polemics between Muslims and Christians on the grounds of correspondence which took place between Byzantine Emperor Leo III and Caliph Umarow

Abstract

The article discusses the polemical correspondence between Umar II and Leon III, which is of great interest and worthy of a more detailed study, as it concerns most theological aspects of Islam and Christianity. Under royal names, the theologians raise mutual accusations, revealing prejudices and stereotypes on both sides. On the basis of those documents, a contemporary historian may, to some extent, reconstruct the Muslim perception of Christians as well as the Christian judgements of Islam in the period from the 8th to 10th century.

Keywords

• polemical correspondence
• Umar III
• Leon III
• muslims
• christians