A Reflection on the Idea of the ‘Election’ of Israel as Depicted in the Qur’an

Year 2005, Issue: 13, 25 - 61, 01.01.2005

Salime Leyla Gürkan

Abstract

The doctrine of Israel’s election by God, which is a topic much discussed in academic as well as non-academic circles in the West, takes up a central place in both Jewish and Christian traditions, based on their own interpretations of election. Although Islam does not seem to share this common language of chosenness, the concept of divine election, as well as the idea of Israel’s being blessed and exalted by God over other peoples, also find place in the Qur’an in connection with the tradition of prophethood. Thus, this paper attempts to discuss the Qur’anic understanding of “election” in general and of the “election of Israel” in particular, with reference to terminology and reasoning alongside a broader theological and historical context, which suggests that the Muslim are the new vicegerent of God on earth if not the ones chosen by Him. While doing this, comparisons with Jewish and Christian interpretations of the doctrine of election and the nature of being vicegerent of God as well as its place in the wider concept of divine election are also given place in the discussion.

Keywords

divine election, election of Israel

Kur’an’a Göre Seçilmişlik Kavramı ve İsrailoğulları’nın Seçilmişliği Meselesi

Abstract

İsrailoğulları’nın Tanrı’nın kutsal kavmi olarak seçilmişliği şeklindeki Tevrat inancına dayanan seçilmişlik doktrini, gerek Yahudi gerekse Hıristiyan geleneklerinde merkezî bir yere sahiptir. Aslında Tevrat başta olmak üzere tüm Yahudi kutsal kitap literatürünü, İsrail’in seçilmişlik tarihi şeklinde okumak mümkündür.

Keywords

ilahi seçim, İsrailoğulları'nın seçilmişliği, Kur'an, the Qur'an

References

• Gürkan, Salime Leyla, The Jewish Concept of Chosenness: In Tradition and Transformation (doktora tezi), Lancaster University, 2002.