The Image of Islam in Early Christendom

died in 1315, Lull devoted his talents and tireless energy to the “refutation of infidel errors.” Lull meticulously planned spiritual crusades to convert Muslims. His unwavering belief in the power of argumentation and polemic debates remained steadfast until his death. In preparation for his mission, he studied Arabic and taught it at the Franciscan monastery he established in Miramar in 1276. His knowledge of Arabic and understanding of Islam were unparalleled at that time. Following the establishment of the Arabic Studies School in Toledo in 1250, Lull’s school became the oldest in Europe, earning him the distinction of being a pioneer of Arabic studies in the Western world. Moreover, he is credited with influencing the Council of Vienne in 1311 to establish centres of Oriental studies, particularly Arabic, in Rome, Bologna, Paris, Louvain, Oxford, and Salamanca. However, the implementation of this resolution proved more challenging than anticipated. Finding both teachers and students proved to be difficult. Lull’s educational efforts yielded temporary rather than lasting results, and his missionary activity in Tunisia proved disappointing. His attempts to instil Christian Trinitarian doctrine in the minds of unitarian Muslims proved futile. Eventually, he resorted to vehement attacks, shouting in the streets, “The law of the Christians is holy, and that of the Moors is false.” This only fuelled the anger of a mob in Tunis, who attacked him and stoned him to death, turning him into a martyr.