Mohammad Ali Tabataba’i; Abdolhadi Masoudi; Mohammad Ali Mahdavi-Rad
Abstract
Among the Quranic verses which are cited to demonstrate the falsification (taḥrīf) of the Bible according to the Quran, there are two types of expressions; first, the verses speaking of “substitution” (tabdīl), plus the verse referring to “inscription of the Book” by Jews. ...
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Among the Quranic verses which are cited to demonstrate the falsification (taḥrīf) of the Bible according to the Quran, there are two types of expressions; first, the verses speaking of “substitution” (tabdīl), plus the verse referring to “inscription of the Book” by Jews. Using the methods of Semantics and Pragmatics on the ground of intertextuality, this paper aims to analyze these verses. This survey shows that there is no meaningful relationship between “substitution” verses and Biblical falsification, because the former is solely related to an oral subject, and hence irrelevant to the written scriptures, such as the Bible. Nor “inscription” could be considered as referring to taḥrīf, because of grammatical obstacles. A close analysis shows that the “Book” mentioned in this verse is the Torah, rather than a spurious book forged by Jews, and the verse speaks of a Jewish belief regarding the inscription of Moses’ Tablets by the finger of God. Hence, it can be concluded that neither verse admits the idea of Biblical falsification.
davoud memari; mojhgan aghai
Abstract
As the symbol of wealth, arrogance, and rebellion, Qārūn has been referred to in three chapters of the Holy Qura’n: Sūrah al-Qasas (The Stories), Sūrah al-Ankabūt (The Spider), and Sūrah al-Ghāfir (The Forgiver). In Sūrah al-Ankabūt and Sūrah al-Ghāfir, just a single verse is dedicated ...
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As the symbol of wealth, arrogance, and rebellion, Qārūn has been referred to in three chapters of the Holy Qura’n: Sūrah al-Qasas (The Stories), Sūrah al-Ankabūt (The Spider), and Sūrah al-Ghāfir (The Forgiver). In Sūrah al-Ankabūt and Sūrah al-Ghāfir, just a single verse is dedicated to Qārūn’s story while seven verses of Sūrah al-Qasas recite his unlimited wealth, arrogance, and eventual death. According to the Qur’an, Qārūn was of Moses’s people, but he behaved arrogantly towards them. He was very wealthy and believed his wealth was just the result of his competency and merit. His people benevolently advised him, and also God reminded him, and all those who were like Qārūn, that men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount of the riches were all destructed. Yet, he again rejected to donate his wealth and began to show off while the worldly-minded wished they had been in his place. Then, God’s torment descended, and Qārūn and his house were devoured by the earth. The Bible, like the Qur’an, describes his fate in chpater 16 of the Book of Numbers under the Hebrew name of “Korah bin Izhar bin Kohath bin Levi”: Korah was a cousin to Moses, but he was jealous of Moses and Aaron and rebelled against Moses in collaboration with Dathan, Abiram, On, and 250 princes of Bani Israel. After that earth opened mouth and devoured Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Afterwards, a fire came from God and burnt his remaining companions. In this study, the two texts are compared and contrasted to pave the ground for greater understanding and empathy between the followers of the two holy religions.