ABSTRACT
Islam has strong connections with Christianity and Judaism because Muhammad had not ‘created’ a new religion but considered himself as the last prophet of God. Reacting to the austerity of their religious practices and many mosques, there was no lack of Muslims who felt the fascination with churches and symbols and rituals of the Christian religion. Both in the House of Islam and in the Christian kingdoms, Christ’s faithful were generally unwilling to absorb Muslim practices and beliefs. Alongside the sharing of beliefs, places, and times, forms of syncretism between the two religions characterized some Muslim mystical groups, especially some dervishes. With the passing of the centuries in the House of Islam’s great urban centers, there was a progressive move toward a residential model with religiously homogeneous nuclei rather than entire districts with that characteristic. In addition to religious buildings and shrines, there were also public and private spaces where believers of all religions met and socialized.
