The Function of the Torah in Understanding the Qur’anic Story of Lot

Document Type : Original Article

Author

جامعة الخوارزمی

Abstract

“Lot” is one of the divine prophets mentioned in the Qur’an, who is also spoken of in the Torah. The reader of the Qur’an, in attempting to understand the Qur’anic narrative of Lot, often encounters multiple interpretive possibilities and thus requires corroborating evidence to select the most plausible meaning. In this regard, the Torah’s background of the Lot story provides numerous clues that aid in interpreting this Qur’anic account. The Torah plays a significant role in clarifying several aspects of the narrative: Abraham’s debate to save Lot’s people in terms of meaning, audience, and addressees; the nature of Lot’s proposal concerning his daughters; whether the attribution of daughters to Lot should be taken literally; determining their number; how the people were struck with blindness; and the chronological ordering of the story’s events. Thus, the ultimate purpose of this research is to highlight the necessity of recognizing the historical background in the process of understanding Qur’anic verses, and to demonstrate that in interpreting Qur’anic stories, situating them within the framework of earlier sources is inevitable.

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References

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History

  • Receive Date: 08 March 2024
  • Revise Date: 05 January 2025
  • Accept Date: 21 February 2025

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