Christian missionaries in Islamic cities focused on serving prisoners rather than converting Muslims

Evidence

A similar picture develops of serious missionary work in the East; thus in Cairo in 1303-4 the Franciscan Angelo da Spoleto and his companions took the sultan’s permission to succour Christian prisoners first, and then devoted a season to spiritual and corporal works of mercy, distributing money and clothes, hearing confessions, giving absolution and Communion; even, secretly, reconciling Christians who had apostatised from fear. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 678

Categorization

• XREF: The silent-witness religious practice here prefigures the ‘silent witness’ discussion in St Francis’ Rule that immediately follows in the text.