JEWS, CHRISTIANS, AND MUSLIMS AS FAITH RELATIVES WITHIN THE SAME MONOTHEISTIC FAMILY

Abstract

Drawing on recent research on the interweave of the Qurʾān with Jewish and Christian interpretations of biblical traditions in late antiquity, the paper argues that the three involved religions have much more in common than what might separate them. The Qurʾānic revelation critically reflects, appropriates and contextualizes Jewish and Christian traditions. It situates itself into the same revelation history shared by Jews and Christians. The distinct differences of the three religions should be appreciated against the background of their broad commonalities. Taken into account the history of the origin of the Qurʾān in the first half of the 7^th century and the content of this revelation attributed to the same God venerated by Jews and Christians, it is proper and socio-politically productive to conceive of Jews, Christians, and Muslims as faith relatives within the same monotheistic family.