" 

 == Broad problems == 

 There is a broader problem with this article: it refers to Christian (an already nebulous amalgam of religious and not ethnic groups) influences on Islam (also religious and not ethnic groups).  Hence the language section is somewhat questionable as one would have to prove ""Christian"" linguistic influences on the Arabic language prior to the compilation of the Quran to prove, for instance, that Syriac sahedo influenced the word shahid. 

 Since shahid is in the Quran, and this proof would speak to a time in which Arabic was not written, this statement cannot be verified.  I cannot check the citation but I would imagine the statement made here may not be the actual statement made in that book - ie it probably suggest that they are cognates.  Arabic as a language far predates linguists' abilities to trace other linguistic influences.  Additionally, while Arabic is attested in Syria-Palestine region fairly early (AD) it is inappropriate to trace that influence to the beginning of Islam - as it did not begin there. 

 Additionally, this article is not concerned with Christians in Arabia, where Hadith and the Quran both mention some more direct influences.  The article in general should be deleted and the information on the Hagia Sophia etc. should be combined with another article.  As it stands now this article is effectively a poor attempt to point out broad cross-cultural similarities under the disingenuous heading of ""influence.""  Influence requires the ability to show that influence, so the article fails at its own proof.    "