A Comparative Analysis of Verses Related to Christianity and Judaism in the Qur’an

Abstract

This article examines and proposes a model based on those verses of the Holy Qur’an that refer to Judaism and Christianity. Based on frequency, all Qur’anic verses related to Christianity and Judaism were extracted and analyzed in order to determine—through comparison—whether the Qur’an predominantly addresses Christianity or Judaism. Accordingly, the purpose of writing this article is to determine whether the verses of the Holy Qur’an emphasize Christianity more or Judaism. To examine this objective, the study employed a library-based and descriptive-analytical research method. The findings of this study indicate that the Qur’an affirms the principle of Jewish monotheism in various verses, and it appears that the influential figures of the Jewish people are portrayed with greater prominence in the Qur’an. However, the Qur’an also includes significant criticisms of the Jewish people, their beliefs, their past actions, and the interactions between the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Jews of the Arabian Peninsula. It is likely that the contemporary Jews residing in Medina during the Prophet’s time, and their conduct toward him, played a role in shaping the Qur’anic depiction of Judaism. A substantial number of verses in the Holy Qur’an address this subject. On the other hand, the tone of the Qur’an regarding Christianity is notably more conciliatory and refers to matters that have always held significance within Christian thought. Nevertheless, the Qur’an does not elaborate on the life of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him) in detail. The main research question of this article is: why does the Holy Qur’an devote less attention to Christianity than to Judaism, and can this disparity reflect the social context of the community at the time?