Opening the Qur'an: Introducing Islam's Holy Book

Two. Basic Narratives for Judaism and Christianity

two basic narratives for judaism and christianity Those who believe (in the Qur’an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians, any who believe in Allah and the Last Day and work righteousness on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Surah 5:69, al-Ma’dah, the Repast or Table Spread Judaism and Christianity occupy special places in the Qur’an.Here I consider Judaism and Christianity through what I call “basic narratives,” which furnish an overview of the two religions up to the beginning of the seventh century CE.I tilt the narratives toward issues and references reflected in the Qur’an and early Islam.Along with some biblical accounts,I include nonbiblical references,traditions,legends,and,in the case of Christianity, doctrinal formulations.These were almost certainly known in pre-Islamic Arabia.1 The Jewish narrative features six selected covenants that were woven together in rabbinical centers during the second through sixth centuries CE to form the basis of what we recognize as Judaism.2 The covenants express relationships between God and a person or persons often expressed as promises,implicit or explicit responses by humans,and a sign that seals the covenant. 23 Because Judaism contains the covenants that were used, adapted, or altered by Christians and Muslims and because the covenants grew out of Israelite experience,the following general historical categories for Judaism are helpful.We will be involved especially with the first two. First Age of Diversity, ca. 500 BCE–70 CE Age of Definition, ca. 70–640 Age of Cogency, ca. 640–1800 Second Age of Diversity, 1800–present3 Two Christian periods relevant to our study are roughly contemporary with the Jewish categories: Age of Diversity, ca. 30–325 Age of Definition, ca. 325–7874 When Muhammad began to proclaim the Message of Islam, Judaism and Christianity were in the closing stages of often-contentious efforts to clarify and define their self-understandings, authoritative teachings, relationships within their own ranks,separation from each other,attitudes toward other religions, and interactions with existing political-societal structures. JUDAISM’S BASIC NARRATIVE The one and only God created whatever exists—angels and various spirits and all else, from rocks through human beings. Creation is not a hodgepodge but is ordered according to the wisdom of the Creator and is looked upon by God as being “very good” (Gen.1:31).God made men and women in God’s image and likeness,breathed into them life-animating power and ability,gave them the privilege and responsibility to care for the world,and bade them to be fruitful and multiply.Following six days of creational activity , God “rested,” setting the precedent for considering the seventh day the Sabbath or day of rest. 24 A P P R O A C H I N G T H E Q U R ’ A N Basic Narratives for Judaism and Christianity 25 THE ADAMIC COVENANT Adam and Eve, the parents of all subsequent persons, were placed by the Lord in a God-made garden on earth and enjoyed God’s presence.Adam and Eve may be said to have been in the initial covenantal relationship with God.God promised to be with them,and they implicitly promised to care for the garden.The Sabbath came to be understood as the covenantal seal.5 The couple’s only restriction was the prohibition against eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.Eve,enticed by a serpent,ate of the fruit and shared it with her mate,thereby violating the covenantal relationship , causing them to be ashamed and to lose direct fellowship with God. The Lord punished them with curses that subjugated the woman to the man, made childbirth painful for her, hardened the ground so that Adam must toil in order to grow food,and expelled them from the Garden.The serpent,too,was cursed,and the Lord decreed enmity between the serpent and humans.Nevertheless,the Lord continued to care for them as they entered the now-damaged world. The Adamic Covenant was ruptured by human disobedience to God, a disobedience triggered by a creature identified in later legends based on Genesis 6:1–4 as an evil,rebellious angel.6 The biblical text does not make any reference to humans repenting,asking for forgiveness from God,or inheriting Adam and Eve’s original sin.7 A later...