Throughout the history of Christian-Muslim relations the genre of apocalyptic literature has been important for the communication of group fears, the creation of group solidarity and the promulgation of polemics against the other religious group. The tendency to utilise it is present from the earliest phases of Christian-Muslim encounters. This chapter will provide an overview of Muslim apocalyptic tendencies, together with some Christian responses down to the middle of the Ottoman period.

Islamic apocalyptic traditions and movements

Muslim apocalyptic beliefs are an ou…