Reviews of the book: Bat Ye'or, The Decline of Eastern Christianity under Islam (1996)
From a review by Jean-Marie Gaudeul, Islamochristiana (Pontifical Institute, Rome) [Translated from French: Islamochristiana 1991 (March 1992), Vol. 17, pp. 312-313]
It seems difficult to see how the idyllic vision of a dhimma, beneficial to the subjected populations can still be contrasted with the very thorough picture presented by Bat Ye’or.
From a review by William Montgomery Watt, Journal of Semitic Studies (London) [June 1993, Vol. 38:1, pp. 166/7. Review of the French edition by Emeritus Professor in Arabic and Islamic Studies, William Montgomery Watt, University of Edinburgh]
“[I]t must be allowed that behind Muslim thinking was the distinction between dar al-islam and dar al-harb; and while this may have had little effect on the actual course of events, it seems to have been present in the background. It is at this point that the basic question raised by Bat Ye’or’s book—the condition of the Peoples of the Book under Muslim rule—ties up with contemporary problems (….) It is of the utmost importance that Muslim jurists should consider whether such treatment of non-Muslims is in accordance with the Shari’ah or contrary to it. More generally, does the Shari’ah allow Muslims to live peaceably with non-Muslims in the ‘one world’ or must they regard it as dar al-harb? To have an answer to these questions may be a matter of urgency in a few years times.”
From a review by Richard John Neuhaus, First Things (New York) “It seems likely that in the new century of clashing civilizations there will either be heightened conflict or a breakthrough to something like the beginnings of a dialogue… A good place to start is to understand the history that brought us where we are, and to that end I warmly recommend a careful and critical reading of Bat Ye’or’s The Decline of Eastern Christianity under Islam…”
From a review by James E. Biechler, Journal of Ecumenical Studies (Philadelphia) [Winter 1998, vol. 35, N° 1, p. 127, Emeritus Prof. La Salle University, Philadelphia]
“It is not surprising that [Bat] Ye’or’s study of jihad and dhimmitude has been stimulating substantial and disturbing discussion in academic and ecumenical circles… Perhaps the single most significant contribution of the author is her definition and development of the concept of “dhimmitude”…[Bat] Ye’or’ books on dhimmitude and jihad have an essential place in the ecumenical world; ignoring them will only perpetuate illusion.”