As for Bible and Quran, Monotheism is the belief in one God, shared by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Each religion has a sacred text: the Hebrew Bible for Judaism, the Bible for Christianity, and the Quran for Islam. These texts describe God's relationship with humanity and provide guidance for living a religious life. In Islamic belief, the four books refer to the revelations given to four of God's prophets:
- the Torah to Moses,
- the Psalms to David,
- the Gospel to Jesus, and
- the Quran to Muhammad
These books are also known as the Tawrat, Zabur, Injil, and Quran, respectively.
The Bible and the Quran are two of the most widely known and influential religious texts in the world. Both are considered to be holy scriptures and are revered by millions of people around the world. However, there are several key differences between the Bible and the Quran that are worth noting:
Origin:
The Bible is a collection of texts that were written by different authors over a period of several centuries. The Old Testament, for example, was written between the 12th and 2nd centuries BCE, while the New Testament was written between the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. The authors of the Bible were mostly Jews and early Christians, and their texts were eventually compiled and canonized by different Christian communities over time.
The process of canonization was a gradual one and varied across different communities. For example, the canon of the Old Testament was not standardized until the 2nd century CE, and there were different canons in use among different Jewish communities. The New Testament canonization process was also gradual, with different communities accepting different texts as authoritative.
There were many authors who contributed to the books that make up the Bible. Here are a few examples of some of the authors and the books they wrote:
- Moses - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
- David - Psalms
- Solomon - Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
- Isaiah - Isaiah
- Jeremiah - Jeremiah, Lamentations
- Ezekiel - Ezekiel
- Matthew - Gospel of Matthew
- Mark - Gospel of Mark
- Luke - Gospel of Luke, Acts of the Apostles
- John - Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Revelation
These are just a few examples of the many authors who contributed to the books of the Bible. It's important to note that in many cases, the authorship of certain books is debated among scholars, and some books may have been written by multiple authors or edited over time.
In contrast, the Quran is believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. According to Islamic tradition, the angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad in a cave outside Mecca in 610 CE and began revealing to him the words of the Quran. Muhammad then recited these words to his followers, who memorized and wrote them down.
The compilation of the Quran occurred during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, and the first official written compilation was created under the order of the first caliph, Abu Bakr, after Muhammad's death in 632 CE. The final version of the Quran, as we know it today, was compiled during the reign of the third caliph, Uthman, in the mid-7th century CE. Muslims believe that the Quran has been preserved in its original form and is the final and complete revelation from God.
"Say, [O Muhammad], "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants." (Quran 17:88)
This verse emphasizes the uniqueness of the Quran and the impossibility of replicating it, even with the combined efforts of all humans and jinn (supernatural creatures in Islamic belief). Muslims interpret this verse to mean that the Quran is a divine revelation, and that its content and style cannot be matched by any human or supernatural source.
Language:
The Bible was originally written in Syriac, and then was translated to Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.
The Syriac version of the Bible known as Peshitta—which means "simple" or "common"—became the official Bible of Syrian Christian churches at the end of the third century. Moses bar Kepha initially used the term "Peshitta" in the ninth century to imply (as did the name of the Latin Vulgate) that the text was widely used. Some Muslims believe that Bible (holy book) Gospel by Barnabas was written in the original language Syriac.
While the Quran was written in Arabic.
Structure:
The Bible is divided into two main parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains books that were written before the birth of Jesus, while the New Testament contains books that were written after his death and resurrection. The Quran, on the other hand, is not divided into parts or sections, but is organized into 114 chapters called surahs.
Content:
The Bible and the Quran contain many similarities, but there are also significant differences in their content. The Bible focuses primarily on the history and teachings of the Jewish people and the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The Quran, on the other hand, focuses primarily on the teachings of Islam and the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
In Islamic belief, the Quran is considered to be a message not only for human beings but also for the jinn (supernatural beings) and the entire universe. The Quran itself contains several verses that emphasize this idea. Here are a few examples:
"And [mention, O Muhammad], when We directed to you a few of the jinn, listening to the Qur'an. And when they attended it, they said, "Listen quietly." And when it was concluded, they went back to their people as warners." (Quran 46:29-30)
This verse describes how a group of jinn listened to the recitation of the Quran by the Prophet Muhammad, and were so moved by its message that they became believers and went on to warn their own people about the truth of Islam.
"Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an that you might understand. And indeed it is, in the Mother of the Book with Us, exalted and full of wisdom." (Quran 43:3-4)
This verse highlights the universal nature of the Quran, and emphasizes that it was revealed in Arabic so that the Arabs (the primary audience of the Prophet Muhammad) could understand it, but its message is intended for all people.
"And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds." (Quran 21:107)
This verse describes the Prophet Muhammad as a mercy to all the worlds (meaning all of creation), emphasizing the universal scope of his message and the Quran.
Overall, the Quran's message is meant to be relevant and applicable to all of creation, and Muslims believe that it contains guidance for all aspects of life, both spiritual and material, and the last book from the same God.
Interpretation:
The Bible and the Quran are interpreted differently by their respective followers. Christians and Jews interpret the Bible in a variety of ways, depending on their denomination and personal beliefs. Similar to this, Sunni and Shia Muslims interpret the Quran in different ways, but it is advised to accept the concept of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and refrain from causing divisions.
In summary, the Bible is a collection of texts written by various authors over several centuries, mostly Jews and early Christians, and canonized by different Christian communities over time. The Old Testament was written between the 12th and 2nd centuries BCE, while the New Testament was written between the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. The authors include Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Quran, on the other hand, is believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years. The Quran was compiled during Muhammad's lifetime and finalized in the mid-7th century CE. Muslims believe that the Quran is a unique divine revelation that cannot be replicated by humans or supernatural beings. Overall, while there are similarities between the Bible and the Quran, the two texts are fundamentally different in terms of their origin, language, structure, content, and interpretation.
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