Prophet Moses is the prophet most mentioned by name in all sacred texts, including the Bible and the Qur’an.
Prophet Moses was Prophet Aaron’s brother and one of the most important prophets, if not the most important prophet from the children of Israel. Prophet Moses and Prophet Abraham are the most important two prophets in which all followers of the heavenly messages – Jews, Christians or Muslims – believe.
Moreover, Prophet Moses is the prophet most mentioned by name in all sacred texts, including the Bible and the Qur’an. Let’s have a look at Prophet Moses’ character in both the Bible and the Qur’an.
Prophet Moses in Christianity
A book from the Bible either in the Old Testament or the New Testament is seldom devoid of the name of Prophet Moses or the details of his story or message. He is mentioned by name in about half the books of the Bible in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Prophet Moses in Islam
A chapter from the Qur’an is seldom devoid of the name of Prophet Moses or the details of his biography or message. He is mentioned by name in about half the chapters of the Qur’an in general and most of the long chapters in particular.
Comments
In the Qur’an, Prophet Moses is the prophet most mentioned by name out of all prophets, including Muhammad, though the Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. In the Bible, we notice that Prophet Moses is the prophet most mentioned by name in the Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament) and Jesus is the prophet most mentioned by name in the Christian Scriptures (New Testament).
This indicates that the Qur’an is more attributable to God. Had the Qur’an been the word of Prophet Muhammad or Muslims, Prophet Muhammad would have been the prophet most mentioned by name in the Qur’an, just as Moses is the prophet most mentioned by name in the Old Testament and Jesus is the prophet most mentioned by name in the New Testament.
The details of Prophet Moses’ story in the Qur’an are remarkably similar to their counterparts in the Bible, but there are more details in the Bible.
Since the Old Testament is supposed to include the Jewish Scriptures and Prophet Moses’ message, it is not strange to find details about his biography and message more than any other Scriptures.
It is not strange that we find some prophet stories in the Bible and the Qur’an relatively identical given the identity of the source of both. It would have been rather strange to find them totally dissimilar.
Also, it is not curious to have more details about those stories in one scripture than the other. It is observable that the Bible often gives further details more than the Qur’an.
No wonder, the Qur’anic rhythm is more concise for the facilitation of recitation and memorization. On the other hand, the Bible does not take brevity into consideration. It gives such minor details which a reader may not need for the purposes of either worship or information.
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References:
- The Glorious Qur’an
- The Holy Bible
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