European sectarian quarrels shaped and were projected onto Islamic criticism.

Evidence

Some reflections of European quarrels affected the traditional criticisms of Islam. On a superficial level we have already noted the parallel between Sunni and Shi’ah on one hand and Catholic and Protestant on the other. Deeper criticism occasionally occurred. A Catholic is probably thinking of the doctrines of the Reformed Church when he speaks of Muslims’ ‘false Religion, which makes them hope for the remission of all their sins, provided they believe in Mahomet’; he uses traditional polemic but has justification by faith in mind. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1583