Christian-Muslim Relations in Central Asia to Timur Time (XIV Century)

Abstract

Summary Sometimes it is said about the fall of the Christian Culture of the West. It is worth taking a look, therefore, at a certain analogy from seven centuries ago. The first thousand years of development of faith in Asia led to many outstanding theological syntheses. There were also many saint martyrs and missionaries. Christianity also had its experience of faith in the Islamic State. Despite the difficulties, the missionary spirit until the fourteenth century has been developing. The breakthrough occurred only during Timur’s times due to Mongolian wars. Why did Timur accept Islam, despite the considerable presence of Christians in his surroundings? There was no lack of outstanding Christian scholars. In addition to possible personal reasons, he probably decided realizing that Sufi Islam is already deeply rooted among the masses of a simple population of Central Asia. An important role in this process played the political current of “Order” Naqshbandiyah.