Aquinas’s rational apologetic bypassed actual knowledge of Islam’s content

Evidence

Aquinas (contra Gentiles 1.1) argued that, as the Scriptures are unacceptable to Muslims, it is necessary to have recourse to natural reason. Because of this very fact, he can scarcely be counted among writers on the religion of Islam. His rational scheme was constructed with little (if any) reference to it. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1969

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the modern debate about whether interfaith dialogue requires actual knowledge of the other faith or can proceed purely on natural reason — echoes current apologetics debates. — connects to: Aquinas denied Islam any authority because it lacked miracles and true documents