Parabolic Resonances in the Gospels and the Qurʾān

Abstract

There are apparent similarities between the parables contained in the Gospels and those found in the Qurʾān, which provide their audiences with illustrations of complex religious concepts and moral teachings through the imagery of everyday life. Based on the form-critical analysis of the Gospel Parable of the Sower and some Qurʾānic parables, this article aims to detect defining similarities and differences between the Gospels and Sūrat al-Baqarah and illuminate details about the historical and geographic context in which the two texts originated. Based on the findings of the comparison, this article will argue that the Qurʾānic text represents a genuine continuation of the biblical text.

Keywords

• Qurʾān
• faith
• form criticism
• parable
• the parable of the sower
• soil
• Muslim-Christian relations

Supporting Institution

European Union’s Horizon 2020: Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement

Project Number

No: 101022180 — TIQ.

Thanks

I thank Mohammed Rustom for editing this article and John Kloppenborg and Axel Marc Oaks Takács for their critical comments.

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