The Claim of the Qur’an Borrowing from Judaism: A Critical Study of Abraham Geiger’s View

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Al-Mustafa International University/ Al-albayt International University

2 Member of the Board of Al-Mustafa Al-Alamiya Society

Abstract

Problem Statement:
The claim that the Holy Quran borrowed from Judaism is considered one of the most serious issues addressed by Orientalists, particularly Jewish Orientalists, as this view aims to prove that Judaism was one of the most important sources of the Holy Quran. This trend was founded on the studies of the Jewish Orientalist Abraham Geiger, who attempted to link Quranic texts to Jewish traditions in an effort to undermine the authenticity of the revelation and its divine source.
Objective:
This research aims to critique Abraham Geiger’s claim regarding the Quran borrowing from Judaism and to expose the invalidity of the foundations upon which this theory was built. This is achieved through a systematic analytical study focused on discussing his evidence in the light of both rational and textual evidence (reason and transmission), highlighting the incoherence of his arguments and their contradiction with Quranic and historical truths.
Methodology:
The study relied on a scientific and objective critical method by presenting Geiger’s evidence for the borrowing claim and analyzing it in detail, followed by discussing and refuting it using reason, Quranic texts, and reliable historical sources. Furthermore, the study demonstrated the methodological flaws in his reasoning and revealed instances of haste and distortion in his utilization of religious texts and historical documents.
Results:
The results showed that Abraham Geiger lacked accurate knowledge of Quranic facts and many historical issues. It also became evident that, in some instances, he deliberately distorted texts and falsified facts to serve his preconceived vision. The study revealed that the Holy Quran enjoys complete independence in its source, structure, and semantics, and that the attempt to attribute it to Judaism lacks any scientific and methodological basis, thereby confirming its divine authenticity and its unique conceptual unity.

Keywords


  1. Books:

    The Holy Quran

    1. Ibn Abi Shaybah, 'Abdullah bin Muhammad. Al-Kitab Al-Musannaf fi Al-Ahadith wa Al-Athar. Edited by Kamal Yusuf Al-Hut. Riyadh: Maktabat Al-Rushd, 1st ed., 1409 AH.
    2. Ibn Al-Athir, 'Ali bin Muhammad. Usd Al-Ghabah fi Ma’rifat Al-Sahabah. Beirut: Dar Al-Fikr, 1st ed., 1409 AH.
    3. Ibn Hajar Al-'Asqalani, Ahmad bin 'Ali. Al-Isabah fi Tamyiz Al-Sahabah. Edited by 'Adil Ahmad 'Abd Al-Mawjud and 'Ali Muhammad Mu’awwad. Beirut: Dar Al-Kutub Al-'Ilmiyyah, 1st ed., 1415 AH.
    4. Ibn Hajar Al-'Asqalani, Ahmad bin 'Ali. Fath Al-Bari Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari. Edited and annotated by 'Abd Al-'Aziz bin 'Abdullah bin Baz. Beirut: Dar Al-Ma’rifah, 1379 AH (no edition number).
    5. Ibn Khaldun, 'Abd Al-Rahman bin Muhammad. Tarikh Ibn Khaldun. Edited by Suhayl Zakkar. Beirut: Dar Al-Fikr, 2nd ed., 1408 AH.
    6. Ibn 'Ashur, Muhammad Al-Tahir. Tafsir Al-Tahrir wa Al-Tanwir (Tafsir Ibn 'Ashur). Beirut: Institute of Al-Tarikh Al-'Arabi, 1st ed., 1420 AH.
    7. Ibn 'Abd Al-Barr, Yusuf bin 'Abdullah. Al-Isti’ab fi Ma’rifat Al-Ashab. Edited by 'Ali Muhammad Al-Bajawi. Beirut: Dar Al-Jil, 1st ed., 1412 AH / 1992 CE.
    8. Ibn 'Asakir, 'Ali bin Al-Hasan. Tarikh Madinat Dimashq. Edited by 'Ali Shiri. Beirut: Dar Al-Fikr, 1st ed., 1415 AH.
    9. Ibn Qutaybah, 'Abdullah bin Muslim. Al-Ma’arif. Edited by Tharwat 'Ukashah. Cairo: General Egyptian Book Organization, 6th ed., 1992 CE.
    10. Ibn Kathir, Isma’il bin 'Umar. Al-Bidayah wa Al-Nihayah. Edited by ‘Ali Shiri. Beirut: Dar Ihya’ Al-Turath Al-'Arabi, 1st ed., 1408 AH / 1988 CE.
    11. Ibn Kathir, Isma’il bin 'Umar. Tafsir Al-Quran Al-'Azim. Edited by Muhammad Husayn Shams Al-Din. Beirut: Dar Al-Kutub Al-'Ilmiyyah, Muhammad 'Ali Baydun Publications, 1st ed., 1419 AH.
    12. Ibn Mandah, Muhammad bin Ishaq. Kitab Al-Iman. Edited by 'Ali bin Muhammad bin Nasir Al-Faqihi. Beirut: Mu’assasat Al-Risalah, 2nd ed., 1406 AH.
    13. Ibn Maytham, Maytham bin 'Ali. Sharh Nahj Al-Balaghah. Qom: Anwar Al-Huda, 1st ed., 1427 AH.
    14. Ibn Hisham, 'Abdullah bin Yusuf. Mughni Al-Labib 'an Kutub Al-A’arib. Edited by Mazin Al-Mubarak and Muhammad 'Ali Hamd Allah. Damascus: Dar Al-Fikr, 6th ed., 1985 CE.
    15. Ibn Hisham, 'Abd Al-Malik bin Hisham. Al-Sirah Al-Nabawiyyah. Edited by Mustafa Al-Saqqa, Ibrahim Al-Abyari, and 'Abd Al-Hafiz Al-Shalabi. Cairo: Mustafa Al-Babi Al-Halabi and Sons, 2nd ed., 1375 AH / 1955 CE.
    16. Al-Alusi, Mahmud bin 'Abdullah. Ruh Al-Ma’ani fi Tafsir Al-Quran Al-‘Azim wa Al-Sab’ Al-Mathani. Edited by 'Ali 'Abd Al-Bari 'Atiyyah. Beirut: Dar Al-Kutub Al-'Ilmiyyah, 1st ed., 1415 AH.
    17. Al-Bahrani, Hashim bin Sulayman. Al-Burhan fi Tafsir Al-Quran. Qom: Al-Ba’thah Foundation, Islamic Studies Department, 1st ed., 1415 AH.
    18. Al-Bukhari, Muhammad bin Isma’il. Al-Jami’ Al-Musnad Al-Sahih Al-Mukhtasar min Umur Rasul Allah (PBUH) wa Sunanihi wa Ayyamihi (Sahih Al-Bukhari). Edited by Muhammad Zuhayr bin Nasir Al-Nasir. Beirut: Dar Tuq Al-Najah, 1st ed., 1422 AH.
    19. Badawi, 'Abd Al-Rahman. Encyclopedia of Orientalists. Beirut: Dar Al-'Ilm Li Al-Malayin, 3rd ed., 1993 CE.
    20. Al-Baghawi, Al-Husayn bin Mas’ud. Tafsir Al-Baghawi (Ma’alim Al-Tanzil). Edited by ‘Abd Al-Razzaq Al-Mahdi. Beirut: Dar Ihya’ Al-Turath Al-'Arabi, 1st ed., 1420 AH.
    21. Al-Baydawi, 'Abdullah bin 'Umar. Anwar Al-Tanzil wa Asrar Al-Ta’wil. Edited by Muhammad ‘Abd Al-Rahman Al-Mar’ashli. Beirut: Dar Ihya’ Al-Turath Al-'Arabi, 1st ed., 1418 AH.
    22. Al-Bayhaqi, Ahmad bin Al-Husayn. Al-Sunan Al-Kubra. Edited by Muhammad 'Abd Al-Qadir 'Ata. Beirut: Dar Al-Kutub Al-'Ilmiyyah, 3rd ed., 1424 AH / 2003 CE.
    23. Al-Bayhaqi, Ahmad bin Al-Husayn. Dala’il Al-Nubuwwah wa Ma’rifat Ahwal Sahib Al-Shari’ah. Commentary by 'Abd Al-Mu’ti Qal’aji. Beirut: Dar Al-Kutub Al-'Ilmiyyah, 1st ed., 1405 AH.
    24. Al-Tirmidhi, Muhammad bin 'Isa. Al-Jami’ Al-Sahih (Sunan Al-Tirmidhi). Edited by Ahmad bin Shakir et al. Egypt: Mustafa Al-Babi Al-Halabi, 2nd ed., 1395 AH / 1975 CE.
    25. Al-Tha’labi, Ahmad bin Muhammad. Al-Kashf wa Al-Bayan (Tafsir Al-Tha’labi). Edited by Abu Muhammad Ibn ‘Ashur. Beirut: Dar Ihya’ Al-Turath Al-'Arabi, 1st ed., 1422 AH.
    26. Al-Halabi, 'Ali bin Ibrahim. Al-Sirah Al-Halabiyyah (Insan Al-'Uyun fi Sirat Al-Amin Al-Ma’mun). Beirut: Dar Al-Kutub Al-'Ilmiyyah, 2nd ed., 1427 AH.
    27. Al-Dhahabi, Muhammad bin Ahmad. Siyar A’lam Al-Nubala. Edited by Shu’ayb Al-Arna’ut. Beirut: Mu’assasat Al-Risalah, 10th ed., 1414 AH.
    28. Al-Zuhayli, Wahbah. Al-Tafsir Al-Munir fi Al-'Aqidah wa Al-Shari’ah wa Al-Manhaj. Damascus: Dar Al-Fikr, 2nd ed., 1411 AH.
    29. Al-Zarkashi, Muhammad bin ‘Abdullah. Al-Burhan fi 'Ulum Al-Quran. Edited by Muhammad Abu Al-Fadl Ibrahim. Egypt: Dar Ihya’ Al-Kutub Al-'Arabiyyah, 1376 AH / 1957 CE.
    30. Al-Zamakhshari, Mahmud bin 'Umar. Al-Kashshaf 'an Haqa’iq Ghawamid Al-Tanzil wa 'Uyun Al-Aqawil fi Wujuh Al-Ta’wil. Proofread by Mustafa Husayn Ahmad. Beirut: Dar Al-Kitab Al-'Arabi, 3rd ed., 1407 AH.
    31. Al-Sabzawari, 'Abd Al-A’la. Mawahib Al-Rahman fi Tafsir Al-Quran. Office of Grand Ayatollah Al-Sabzawari, 2nd ed., 1409 AH (no location).
    32. Al-Suyuti, 'Abd Al-Rahman bin Abi Bakr. Al-Itqan fi 'Ulum Al-Quran. Edited by Muhammad Abu Al-Fadl Ibrahim. Cairo: General Egyptian Book Organization, 1394 AH / 1974 CE.
    33. Al-Saduq, Muhammad bin 'Ali. ‘Ilal Al-Shara’i. Beirut: Dar Al-Murtada, 1st ed., 1427 AH / 2006 CE.
    34. Al-Tabataba’i, Muhammad Husayn. Al-Mizan fi Tafsir Al-Quran. Beirut: Al-A’lami Foundation for Publications, 3rd ed., 1390 AH.
    35. Al-Tabarani, Sulayman bin Ahmad. Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir. Edited by Hamdi bin 'Abd Al-Majid Al-Salafi. Cairo: Maktabat Ibn Taymiyyah, 2nd Edintion
    36. Al-Tabarsi, Al-Fadl bin Al-Hasan. Majma’ Al-Bayan fi Tafsir Al-Quran. Proofread by Fadlullah Al-Yazdi Al-Tabataba’i and Hashim Al-Rasuli. Tehran: Naser Khosrow, 3rd ed., 1413 AH.
    37. Al-Tabari, Muhammad bin Jarir. Jami’ Al-Bayan fi Tafsir Al-Quran. Beirut: Dar Al-Ma’rifah, 1st ed., 1412 AH.
    38. Al-Tihrani, Muhammad Al-Sadiqi. Al-Furqan fi Tafsir Al-Quran bi Al-Quran wa Al-Sunnah. Qom: Dar Al-Turath Al-Islami, 2nd ed., 1406 AH.
    39. Al-Tusi, Muhammad bin Al-Hasan. Al-Tibyan fi Tafsir Al-Quran. Proofread by Ahmad Habib Qasir Al-‘Amili. Beirut: Dar Ihya’ Al-Turath Al-'Arabi, 1st ed. (no date).
    40. Al-'Ukbari, 'Abdullah bin Al-Husayn. Al-Lubab fi ‘Ilal Al-Bina’ wa Al-I’rab. Edited by 'Abd Al-Ilah Al-Nabhan. Damascus: Dar Al-Fikr, 1st ed., 1416 AH / 1995 CE.
    41. Al-'Ayyashi, Muhammad bin Mas’ud. Tafsir Al-'Ayyashi. Edited by Hashim Al-Rasuli. Tehran: Al-Maktabah Al-'Ilmiyyah Al-Islamiyyah, 1st ed., 1380 AH.
    42. Al-'Ayni, Mahmud bin Ahmad. Al-Maqasid Al-Nahwiyyah fi Sharh Shawahid Shuruh Al-Alfiyyah (Sharh Al-Shawahid Al-Kubra). Edited by 'Ali Muhammad Fakhir et al. Cairo: Dar Al-Salam, 1st ed., 1431 AH / 2010 CE.
    43. Geiger, Abraham. Al-Yahudiyyah wa Al-Islam (Judaism and Islam). Translated and introduced by Nabil Fayyad. Beirut: Dar Al-Rafidayn, 1st ed., 2018 CE.
    44. Al-Fakhr Al-Razi, Muhammad bin ‘Umar. Al-Tafsir Al-Kabir (Mafatih Al-Ghayb). Beirut: Dar Ihya’ Al-Turath Al-'Arabi, 3rd ed., 1420 AH.
    45. Fadlallah, Muhammad Husayn. Min Wahy Al-Quran. Beirut: Dar Al-Malak, 1st ed., 1419 AH.
    46. Fück, Johann. Tarikh Harakat Al-Istishraq (History of the Orientalist Movement). Translated by 'Umar Lutfi Al-'Alim. Beirut: Dar Al-Madar Al-Islami, 2nd ed., 2001 CE.
    47. Al-Majlisi, Muhammad Baqir. Bihar Al-Anwar Al-Jami’ah li Durar Akhbar Al-A’immah Al-Athar. Edited by a group of researchers. Beirut: Dar Ihya’ Al-Turath Al-'Arabi, 2nd ed., 1403 AH.
    48. Al-Mahalli, Muhammad bin Ahmad, and Al-Suyuti, 'Abd Al-Rahman bin Abi Bakr. Tafsir Al-Jalalayn. Cairo: Dar Al-Hadith, 1st ed. (no date).
    49. Al-Mudarrisi, Muhammad Taqi. Min Huda Al-Quran. Tehran: Dar Muhibbi Al-Husayn, 1st ed., 1419 AH.
    50. Ma’rifat, Muhammad Hadi. Al-Tamhid fi 'Ulum Al-Quran. Qom: Al-Tamhid Foundation, 1st ed., 1428 AH / 2007 CE.
    51. Mughniyah, Muhammad Jawad. Fi Zilal Nahj Al-Balaghah. Beirut: Dar Al-'Ilm Li Al-Malayin, 1979 CE.
    52. Al-Maqari, Athanasius. Mu’jam Al-Mustalahat Al-Kanasiyyah (Dictionary of Church Terminology). Cairo: Dar Nubar, 3rd ed., 2011 CE.
    53. Al-Maqrizi, Ahmad bin 'Ali. Imta’ Al-Asma’ bima li Al-Nabi min Al-Ahwal wa Al-Amwal wa Al-Hafadah wa Al-Mata’. Edited by Muhammad 'Abd Al-Hamid Al-Numaysi. Beirut: Dar Al-Kutub Al-'Ilmiyyah, 1st ed., 1420 AH / 1999 CE.
    54. Makarem Shirazi, Naser. Al-Amthal fi Tafsir Kitab Allah Al-Munzal. Qom: Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (AS) School, 1st ed., 1421 AH.

    Journals:

    Huwaydi, Ahmad Mahmud. "Refutation of the Allegations of the Jewish Orientalist Abraham Geiger regarding the Stories of the Prophets in the Holy Quran". Majallat Kulliyyat Al-Adab, Cairo University, Vol. 60, Issue 4, 2000 CE.