Sūrat Āl ^cImrān and Those with the Greatest Claim to Abraham

Author：

ISSN： 1755-1730

Source： Journal of Qur’anic Studies, Vol.6, Iss.2, 2004-10, pp. : 1-21

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Abstract

After outlining the structure of the sura, the author focuses on vv. 64–99. He argues that these verses constitute a distinct sub-section that deals with the religion of Abraham. Having determined the precise extent of the sub-section, he discusses its opening verse in detail. He then lists the principal parallels between vv. 64–99 and Sūrat al-Baqara and suggests that the most plausible explanation of the parallels is that the subsection deliberately echoes that of Sūrat al-Baqara because it sets out to answer Jewish and Christian objections to some of the statements it contains. This leads to the examination of four issues that are foregrounded in the sub-section: Abraham's religious identity, prophetology and angelology, dietary regulations, and the identity of the Abrahamic sanctuary. In each case, the author draws on the Bible and Jewish and Christian literature in order to suggest the nature of the objections and to shed light on the way that the Qur'an responds to them. Like the objections themselves, the answers given are based on the interpretation of biblical texts. There is, however, one issue that cannot be dealt with in this way: the controversial claim that Muḥammad was the Messenger whom Abraham had prayed God would send to his progeny. In the final section of the article, the author shows how the liturgical character of Sūrat Āl ^cImrān encourages belief in the veracity of this claim.