“Thank you so very much for creating an amazing platform for Christians and Muslims to meet and understand one another. This will create ripples of good and harmony within society.”

- Summer School attendee (Muslim)

“It has been such a pleasant experience spending time understanding each other’s beliefs and forming such tight friendships, it has definitely caused a positive shift in perspective both on other faiths and my own.”

- Summer School attendee (Muslim)

“I really enjoyed learning about the other faith in terms of our commonalities and respective differences. … The summer school has allowed me to feel more comfortable in speaking with members of the other faith.”

- Summer School attendee (Muslim)

“I now feel resourced to develop links with the local mosque in my parish.”

- Summer School attendee (Christian)

“It is impossible to think of another avenue which would have afforded me the opportunity to learn as much as I did about Islam. This has been a truly profound opportunity. I have also made friendship across faiths which I shall endeavour to nurture over time.”

- Summer School attendee (Christian)

“A brilliant opportunity to make friends across faiths, cultures and world views which I would never, ever have had otherwise.”

- Summer School attendee (Christian)

“My favourite component of the programme was the opportunity to engage with people in "normal" situations such as meals, walks, and evening socialising. As such, the residential aspect of the Summer School adds valuable and rich opportunities for interfaith engagement which may not be achieved elsewhere.”

- Summer School attendee (Christian)

“Positive, creative Muslim-Christian engagement that is open to living with the real differences between our traditions as well as finding common ground that the CMCS Summer School offers is essential for the future as both faith communities continue to grow in our contemporary world.”

- Revd Ray Gaston, Interfaith Enabler, Wolverhampton Episcopal Area, Diocese of Lichfield

“I deeply enjoyed facilitating the Qur’an and Bible Study sessions in CMCS. They were an eye-opening learning experience for everyone, myself most of all. As a Christian, it initiated me to a whole new dimension of the lived experience of Islam, and introduced me to the hospitality of the Muslim community.”  

- Wen Pin Leow, Scholarship Holder

“You and your team at CMSC have done a marvellous job with setting up the Centre and making it into a world-class operation with a real impact.”

- Prof Peter Riddell, Professorial Research Associate, SOAS, UK.

“Thank you so much for [the Book Reviews], I find it very helpful. I have placed orders for some of the books.”

- Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon

“CMCS Oxford has been a beacon of hope and inspiration, enabling me to pursue my academic dreams even in the face of adversity.”

- Dr Rana Abu-Mounes Research Fellow, CMCS Oxford

Before our colleague Dr Shabbir Akhtar passed away, he gave us this testimonial:

“The Qur’an commands Muslims to be faithful witnesses to God, in the cause of truth, in the pursuit of single standards of justice. Muslims must speak the truth about others, even if they see them as rivals for the hand of grace. This is the example set by the Prophet Muhammad and, before him, by Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I am, therefore, pleased to work closely with Christian scholars at CMCS.”

- Dr Shabbir Akhtar, Research Fellow - Read our Memoriam

“Your online seminar lectures are excellent - both range of topics and quality of speakers. Well done! In all, a splendid and accessible website and suite of resources.”

- Philip Lewis, Dept of Peace Studies, University of Bradford

“The combination of academic rigour and practical inter-faith advice that CMCS offers is helping Muslims and Christians locally and nationally to engage with and understand each other more clearly in a world where communications are increasingly strained.”

- Martin Gorick, Former Archdeacon of Oxford

“As a Ph.D. Middle Eastern Christian student, my time at the Centre was inspiring and transforming. The discussions that I had challenged, inspired and transformed the way in which I read the Bible in my own Middle Eastern/ Islamic context.”

- Emad Botros, Research Support Student, McMaster Divinity College

“I want to see God transforming the minds of Christian people so that we can resist the worl'd’s power agendas, speak the truth, and be faithful witnesses to Jesus Christ in our interactions with Muslims.”

- Dr Ida Glaser, Founding Fellow

“Being a member of the inter-faith community at the Centre has transformed the way in which I view other religions, especially Christianity, but also has advanced my understanding of my own religion in new ways.”

- Dr Shirin Shafaie

CMCS has enabled a confidence in my interactions with Muslims. Not only can I interact with Muslim scholars, but I can also provide view points on Christian topics that they would like to learn from me.

- Matthew Jeong

“CMCS offers an oasis of hospitality for Christians engaging with Muslims, to develop teaching opportunities, share research outcomes and deepen relationships.“

- Sarah Snyder, Cambridge Interfaith Programme, Director of the Centre of Reconciliation at Rose Castle, Cumbria

“The Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies offers both academic rigour and a firm commitment to biblical truth in promoting the study of the long history of Muslim-Christian relations. I am glad, as well as thankful, in being able to commend its work to all those who desire a greater knowledge of one of the most pressing concerns of our times.”

- Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, President, OXTRAD

“As a Middle Eastern Christian PhD student, my time at the Centre was inspiring and transforming. The discussions I had with profound scholars challenged but inspired and transformed the way in which I think of reading the Bible in my own Middle Eastern/Islamic context.”

- Emad Botros (PhD student)

The CMCS Oxford Muslim-Christian summer school has forever changed how I view my own faith, and that of my Muslim friends and family. It has genuinely been one of the best experiences of my academic career—I can never thank you enough for making this experience possible for me.

- Summer School attendee (Christian)

“What the Centre is doing is valuable: to provide a forum for people of all faiths - academics, religious leaders and members of the public - to gather for honest exchanges grounded in scholarship and friendship.”

- Dr Charlene Tan, Institute of Education, Singapore

“Academically, CMCS has provided me with a venue not only to expand and deepen my interest in the relationship between the state and interfaith dialogue in the Gulf, but also to present my work on interfaith in Qatar – through a public seminar and a written research briefing.”

- Asim Koldzo, Scholarship Recipient, 2013-2014

Our mission partners come with a variety of views and perspectives in Islam. I can be confident that [cross-cultural training at the Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies] both respects the diversity of approaches AND challenges them.

- Colin Smith, Church Mission Society