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.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Research question and methodology
- Abraham's genealogy and his role in the Qur'an and the Bible
- Abraham's sons Ishmael and Isaac
- Comparative analysis of the sacrifice story in the Qur'an and the Bible: one story, two narratives
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to conduct a comparative textual analysis of the portrayal of Abraham in the Quran and the Bible, focusing on the differences and commonalities in his role and the depiction of the sacrifice story. The analysis utilizes relevant verses from both scriptures, examining their form, composition, and phrasing to understand how the narratives differ despite sharing a common storyline.
- Abraham's role as a pivotal figure in Islam and Christianity.
- Comparative analysis of Abraham's genealogy and actions as presented in the Quran and the Bible.
- Examination of the differing narratives of the sacrifice story in the Quran and the Bible.
- Exploration of the significance of Abraham's sons, Ishmael and Isaac, within both religious traditions.
- The contrasting perspectives of historical narrative versus religious interpretation in the two texts.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the paper's objective: a comparative analysis of Abraham's portrayal in the Quran and the Bible, focusing on the sacrifice story. It highlights the shared belief in Abraham as a founding father in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, noting that while these religions share common ground, they also have distinct interpretations of Abraham's life and actions. The chapter outlines the methodology, which involves a textual analysis of relevant verses from both scriptures, paying attention to their form, composition, and phrasing. The analysis centers on the sacrifice story and the roles of Isaac and Ishmael, aiming to identify commonalities and differences between the Quranic and Biblical narratives.
Abraham's genealogy and his role in the Qur'an and the Bible: This chapter compares the presentation of Abraham's genealogy and role in the Quran and the Bible. The Bible presents Abraham's story chronologically, emphasizing historical aspects and his covenant with God, including the promise of the land of Canaan. In contrast, the Quran offers a more religious perspective, highlighting Abraham's status as "Friend of Allah" and emphasizing the religious significance of his life and actions. The chapter notes the Quran's lack of specific genealogical detail compared to the Bible while acknowledging the shared acceptance of his biblical ancestry. The chapter also explores the differing emphasis on Abraham's preaching activities in the two texts, with the Quran portraying him more actively conveying God's message to people than the Bible suggests.
Keywords
Abraham, Ibrahim, Quran, Bible, Sacrifice, Ishmael, Isaac, Comparative Analysis, Religious Studies, Monotheism, Covenant, Genealogy, Khaleel ul-Allah, Friend of God, Textual Analysis, Religious Interpretation, Historical Narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Abraham in the Quran and the Bible
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper conducts a comparative textual analysis of Abraham's portrayal in the Quran and the Bible. It focuses on the similarities and differences in his role and, specifically, the depiction of the sacrifice story. The analysis uses verses from both texts, examining their form, composition, and phrasing to understand how the narratives differ despite sharing a common storyline.
What are the key themes explored in this paper?
Key themes include Abraham's role as a pivotal figure in Islam and Christianity; a comparative analysis of his genealogy and actions in both scriptures; examination of the differing narratives of the sacrifice story; the significance of his sons, Ishmael and Isaac; and the contrasting perspectives of historical narrative versus religious interpretation in the Quran and the Bible.
What is the methodology used in this analysis?
The paper employs a textual analysis of relevant verses from the Quran and the Bible. The analysis pays close attention to the form, composition, and phrasing of the verses to identify commonalities and differences between the Quranic and Biblical narratives, particularly concerning the sacrifice story and the roles of Isaac and Ishmael.
How does the paper compare Abraham's genealogy in the Quran and the Bible?
The paper compares the presentation of Abraham's genealogy and role in both texts. It notes the Bible's chronological presentation emphasizing historical aspects and his covenant with God, contrasting this with the Quran's more religious perspective, highlighting Abraham's status as "Friend of Allah" and the religious significance of his life. The differences in genealogical detail are also discussed, along with varying emphases on his preaching activities.
How does the paper analyze the sacrifice story in the Quran and the Bible?
The paper performs a comparative analysis of the sacrifice story in both the Quran and the Bible. It examines how the narratives differ despite sharing a common storyline, paying attention to the textual details and their implications for understanding the religious and historical contexts of both texts.
What are the key differences in the portrayal of Abraham in the Quran and the Bible?
The paper highlights differences in the emphasis on historical details versus religious interpretations, the level of detail provided in genealogical information, and the portrayal of Abraham's active role in conveying God's message. While both texts recognize Abraham's importance, their approaches and perspectives vary significantly.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include: Abraham, Ibrahim, Quran, Bible, Sacrifice, Ishmael, Isaac, Comparative Analysis, Religious Studies, Monotheism, Covenant, Genealogy, Khaleel ul-Allah, Friend of God, Textual Analysis, Religious Interpretation, Historical Narrative.
- Quote paper
- Fatma Khanjar (Author), 2015, Prophet Abraham. A Comparative Analysis of the Sacrifice Story in the Qu'ran and the Bible, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/340696
