The History and Teachings of Christianity in Shi‘a Hadith Heritage: The Case of Bihār al-Anwār by Muhammad-Bāqir Majlisī

Abstract

The examination of how Christianity’s history and teachings are represented within the Shiʿa hadith corpus, viewed as a hermeneutical commentary that engages, from within the Islamic worldview, with themes found in the canonical Gospels, opens an important yet underdeveloped field in religious history and comparative theology. Owing to the complex historical, theological, and cultural interrelations between Islam and Christianity, this topic offers rich potential for uncovering deeper layers of intellectual, epistemological, and spiritual engagement between the two traditions. Although the Four Gospels are recognized as the central textual witnesses to the life and message of Jesus, their diverse portrayals have long inspired theological reflection and comparative inquiry. The Islamic, and specifically the Shiʿa, hadith corpus provides an interpretive lens through which Muslim thinkers have engaged the figure of Jesus, articulating perspectives that reflect distinctive epistemological and theological commitments. This study focuses on Bihār al-Anwār by ʿAllāmah Muhammad-Bāqir Majlisī, examining its narrations concerning Jesus, son of Mary (peace be upon him), and his teachings. Given its thematic diversity and encyclopedic scope, Bihār al-Anwār offers a unique window into the Shiʿa theological and historical perception of Christianity. The research ultimately constructs a coherent portrayal of the Shiʿa understanding of early Christianity and contributes to the cultivation of deeper interfaith comprehension between Islam and Christianity.