John of Damascus and Muslim historians shared the same account of pre-Islamic Arabia

Evidence

More plainly, Roderick of Toledo said that at Muhammad’s birth Arabia and Africa were torn between the Catholic faith, the Arian heresy, the Jewish perfidy and idolatry; that his father’s preference fluctuated between the Catholics and the Jews. Mecca owed its importance to its many idols. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 456 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: John of Damascus devoted exceptional space to Islam in his heresiology; A Christian theologian and a Muslim historian gave nearly identical accounts of jahiliyyah; Medieval Christian chroniclers had confused accounts of pre-Islamic Arabia — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 456 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• A Christian theologian and a Muslim historian gave nearly identical accounts of jahiliyyah #corroborates (0.95)
• Medieval Christian chroniclers had confused accounts of pre-Islamic Arabia #complicates (0.75) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 456