The Qur’an assumes its auditors’ familiarity with Christianity—especially doctrines such as the Trinity and Incarnation—and has a range of terms for and estimations of Christians. In addition to nasara (Christians), People of the Book (ahl alkitab), People of the Gospel (ahl alinjil, and Children of Israel (bani isra’il), Islamic tradition has identified other qur’anic concepts with Christians, ranging from preIslamic Arabian monotheists (the hanif) to idolaters (mushrikun) and those who are “astray” (e.g., Q 1:6–7).
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