Le concile de Nicée, récits de penseurs musulmans arabes du XXIe siècle

Keywords

Council of Nicaea
Arius in Islam
Islamo-Christian dialogue
Islam and ecumenical councils
Christ in Islam

How to Cite

SARKIS, G.-R. (2025). Le concile de Nicée, récits de penseurs musulmans arabes du XXIe siècle. Proche-Orient Chrétien, 75(2), 76-91. Retrieved from https://journals.usj.edu.lb/poc/article/view/1640

Abstract

This article explores the perception of the Council of Nicaea (325) in the writings of five 21st Century Arab Muslim intellectuals and scholars. The author analyzes their understanding of the reasons for the council’s convocation, their presentation of the groups involved, their interpretation of the debates held and the decisions taken. He also examines their appreciation of the Council as both an institutional mechanism and a theological authority. Particular attention is given to their contrasting positions toward Arius, seen by some as a herald of pure monotheism, by others as a thinker whose views conflicted with divine unity. The study identifies the main sources these authors rely on, and questions their methodological relevance.
On the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the ecumenical council par excellence, this article offers insight into contemporary Muslim perspective on a major event in Christian history, and raises a central question : is this merely a repetition of traditional narratives, or does it reflect a renewed interpretation, shaped by recent historical studies and the dynamics of interreligious dialogue?