Christian Engagement with The Qur'an in Egypt: A Sociological and Phenomenological Study of Interreligious Tolerance and Social Coexistence

Muh Syaifudin; Abdullah Affandi

doi:10.22373/jim.v22i2.32760

Authors

Muh Syaifudin Universitas Wahid Hasyim Semarang, Indonesia Author
Abdullah Affandi Institut Agama Islam Badrus Sholeh, Kediri, Indonesia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22373/jim.v22i2.32760

Keywords:

Qur’an, Egyptian Christians, Tolerance, Interfaith Relations, Phenomenology

Abstract

This study explores how Egyptian Christians engage with the Qur’an in everyday settings and how these engagements shape interfaith relations and religious tolerance. The study employed a qualitative-descriptive method within a sociological and phenomenological framework, involving 40 Christian participants selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and observation, and analyzed thematically to identify recurring meanings, practices, and social mechanisms associated with Christians’ interactions with the Qur’an. The findings reveal that the Qur’an functions as a public text embedded in Egypt’s social life, and Christians experience it both as a cultural and moral reference. Continuous auditory exposure to Qur’anic recitations produces a form of “ethical soundscape,” allowing Christians to experience the Qur’an aesthetically and affectively, even outside its theological boundaries. Reading and studying the Qur’an often stimulate empathy and ethical reflection, transforming curiosity into compassion. Such engagement contributes to cognitive understanding, emotional resonance, and behavioral openness toward Muslims. The study concludes that the Qur’an, beyond being an Islamic scripture, operates as a social bridge that strengthens interfaith coexistence. Through phenomenological listening and ethical interpretation, Egyptian Christians develop an affective tolerance rooted in shared moral values, indicating that sacred texts can act as catalysts of mutual respect and human solidarity in plural societies.

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