Prophet Abraham. A Comparative Analysis of the Sacrifice Story in the Qu'ran and the Bible


Book Description

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject Orientalism / Sinology - Islamic Studies, grade: 1,0, San Diego State University (Institute for Religious Studies), course: The Qur'an, language: English, abstract: Jews, Christians and Muslims believe in the same God and all of them refer to one founding father. Abraham or Ibrahim, it depends from which perspective we are talking, is considered to be the progenitor of the three so-called Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity and Islam. For these great faiths, Abraham was the first human being who worshiped only one God. Jews call this God Yahwe or Elohim, Muslims call him Allah and in Christianity it is God the Father. It is true that these religions differ in their rules and duties but they do have some fundamental commonalities. All three religions are of monotheistic nature and they refer to Abraham as common founding father. Hence, it is not surprising that his figure and story can be found in their Sacred Books. As Prophet Abraham is an identification figure for all three religions, it might be interesting to discuss his role and to explore differences and commonalities of his person and his life in the different books. However, it would be beyond the scope of the following paper to allow a comparison between Prophet Abraham's role in the Tora, in the Qur'an and his role in the Bible. Therefore, this paper is only going to focus on Abraham in the Qur'an, which represents the Islamic point of view and the Bible, which stands for the Christian perspective.




Claiming Abraham


Book Description

Explores how Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other biblical characters are presented in the Qur'an to help Christians better understand Islam.




The Stories of the Prophets by Ibn Mutarrif al-Tarafi


Book Description

The series Islamkundliche Untersuchungen was founded in 1969 by the Klaus Schwarz Verlag. Since then, it has become one of the most important venues for publications in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. Its more than 350 volumes cover a wide range of topics from the history, culture and societies of the Middle East and North Africa as well as neighboring regions in central, south and southeast Asia.




The Qur'an and the Bible


Book Description

"While the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament are understood to be related texts, the sacred scripture of Islam, the third Abrahamic faith, has generally been considered separately. Noted religious scholar Gabriel Said Reynolds draws on centuries of Qur'anic and Biblical studies to offer rigorous and revelatory commentary on how these holy books are intrinsically connected."--Dust jacket.




Tapestry of Faiths


Book Description

"Tapestry of Faiths: The Torah, Bible, and Quran" presents an in-depth exploration of the interconnected narratives found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This comprehensive work is divided into sections focusing on key biblical figures: Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Each section begins with the Jewish perspective from the Torah, followed by the Christian viewpoint in the Bible, and concludes with the Islamic narrative from the Quran. Adam: Examines the creation story, the Garden of Eden, and the concept of original sin or individual accountability across the scriptures. Abraham: Discusses the call of Abraham, his trials, and the covenant with God, showcasing variations in each faith's interpretation of these events. Moses: Focuses on the life of Moses, the exodus from Egypt, and the receiving of divine laws, highlighting the role of Moses as a prophet and leader. Jesus: Presents the Christian narrative of Jesus's life and teachings, contrasted with his portrayal as a prophet in Islam, while noting his absence in Jewish scripture. This book is more than just a collection of stories; it is a journey through the spiritual and historical landscapes of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It aims to provide readers with a greater appreciation of these religions' complexities, commonalities, and differences, thereby promoting a dialogue of understanding and respect. The book is an invaluable resource for scholars, interfaith groups, and anyone interested in the rich tapestry of religious narratives that have shaped civilizations and beliefs.




The Bible, the Qur'an & Science


Book Description




Inheriting Abraham


Book Description

In this volume, Jon Levenson subjects the powerful story in Genesis of Abraham's calling, his experience in Canaan and Egypt, and his near-sacrifice of his beloved son Isaac to a careful literary and theological analysis.




Sacrifice in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam


Book Description

An examination of the practice and philosophy of sacrifice in three religious traditions In the book of Genesis, God tests the faith of the Hebrew patriarch Abraham by demanding that he sacrifice the life of his beloved son, Isaac. Bound by common admiration for Abraham, the religious traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam also promote the practice of giving up human and natural goods to attain religious ideals. Each tradition negotiates the moral dilemmas posed by Abraham’s story in different ways, while retaining the willingness to perform sacrifice as an identifying mark of religious commitment. This book considers the way in which Jews, Christians, and Muslims refer to “sacrifice”—not only as ritual offerings, but also as the donation of goods, discipline, suffering, and martyrdom. Weddle highlights objections to sacrifice within these traditions as well, presenting voices of dissent and protest in the name of ethical duty. Sacrifice forfeits concrete goods for abstract benefits, a utopian vision of human community, thereby sparking conflict with those who do not share the same ideals. Weddle places sacrifice in the larger context of the worldviews of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, using this nearly universal religious act as a means of examining similarities of practice and differences of meaning among these important world religions. This book takes the concept of sacrifice across these three religions, and offers a cross-cultural approach to understanding its place in history and deep-rooted traditions.




The History of al-Ṭabarī Vol. 1


Book Description

Volume I of the thirty-eight volume translation of Ṭabarī's great History begins with the creation of the world and ends with the time of Noah and the Flood. It not only brings a vast amount of speculation about the early history of mankind into sharp Muslim focus, but it also synchronizes ancient Iranian ideas about the prehistory of mankind with those inspired by the Qur'an and the Bible. The volume is thus an excellent guide to the cosmological views of many of Ṭabarī's contemporaries. The translator, Franz Rosenthal, one of the world's foremost scholars of Arabic, has also written an extensive introduction to the volume that presents all the facts known about Ṭabarī's personal and professional life. Professor Rosenthal's meticulous and original scholarship has yielded a valuable bibliography and chronology of Ṭabarī's writings, both those preserved in manuscript and those alluded to by other authors. The introduction and first volume of the translation of the History form a ground-breaking contribution to Islamic historiography in English and will prove to be an invaluable source of information for those who are interested in Middle Eastern history but are unable to read the basic works in Arabic.




Abraham's Silence


Book Description

It is traditional to think we should praise Abraham for his willingness to sacrifice his son as proof of his love for God. But have we misread the point of the story? Is it possible that a careful reading of Genesis 22 could reveal that God was not pleased with Abraham's silent obedience? Widely respected biblical theologian, creative thinker, and public speaker J. Richard Middleton suggests we have misread and misapplied the story of the binding of Isaac and shows that God desires something other than silent obedience in difficult times. Middleton focuses on the ethical and theological problem of Abraham's silence and explores the rich biblical tradition of vigorous prayer, including the lament psalms, as a resource for faith. Middleton also examines the book of Job in terms of God validating Job's lament as "right speech," showing how the vocal Job provides an alternative to the silent Abraham. This book provides a fresh interpretation of Genesis 22 and reinforces the church's resurgent interest in lament as an appropriate response to God.