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Seven Sleepers of Ephesus in the Quran: Difference between revisions
Seven Sleepers of Ephesus in the Quran (view source)
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===Story's Purpose and Polytheism=== | ===Story's Purpose and Polytheism=== | ||
The purpose behind the Syrian story appears to be the affirmation of a bodily resurrection on the Day of Judgement.<ref>For instance, one of the youths states, "Believe us, for forsooth our Lord hath raised us tofore the day of the great resurrection. And to the end that thou believe firmly the resurrection of the dead people, verily we be raised as ye here see, and live." (The Seven Sleepers: par 4)</ref> While the Qur'anic story makes references to the Day of Judgement, it does not mention a resurrection. In fact, the story's stated purpose is to "warn those (also) who say, 'Allah hath begotten a son'"<ref>"''Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, "Allah hath begotten a son":''" - {{Quran|18|4}}</ref> (i.e. Trinitarian Christians). The mainstream Islamic position concerning the Christian doctrine of the Trinity is that it constitutes an act of "shirk" (the sin of practicing idolatry or polytheism) and makes one a "mushrik" (polytheist).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://islamqa.com/en/ref/12713|title= Is the trinity that the Christians believe in mentioned in Islam?|publisher= Islam Q&A|author= |series=Fatwa No. 12713|date= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fislamqa.com%2Fen%2Fref%2F12713&date=2013-12-06|deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://islamqa.com/en/ref/67626|title= The difference between the mushrikeen and the kuffaar, and to which category do the Jews and Christians belong?|publisher= Islam Q&A|author= |series=Fatwa No. 67626|date= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fislamqa.com%2Fen%2Fref%2F67626&date=2013-12-06|deadurl=no}}</ref> So, | The purpose behind the Syrian story appears to be the affirmation of a bodily resurrection on the Day of Judgement.<ref>For instance, one of the youths states, "Believe us, for forsooth our Lord hath raised us tofore the day of the great resurrection. And to the end that thou believe firmly the resurrection of the dead people, verily we be raised as ye here see, and live." (The Seven Sleepers: par 4)</ref> While the Qur'anic story makes references to the Day of Judgement, it does not mention a resurrection. In fact, the story's stated purpose is to "warn those (also) who say, 'Allah hath begotten a son'"<ref>"''Further, that He may warn those (also) who say, "Allah hath begotten a son":''" - {{Quran|18|4}}</ref> (i.e. Trinitarian Christians). The mainstream Islamic position concerning the Christian doctrine of the Trinity is that it constitutes an act of "shirk" (the sin of practicing idolatry or polytheism) and makes one a "mushrik" (polytheist).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://islamqa.com/en/ref/12713|title= Is the trinity that the Christians believe in mentioned in Islam?|publisher= Islam Q&A|author= |series=Fatwa No. 12713|date= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fislamqa.com%2Fen%2Fref%2F12713&date=2013-12-06|deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://islamqa.com/en/ref/67626|title= The difference between the mushrikeen and the kuffaar, and to which category do the Jews and Christians belong?|publisher= Islam Q&A|author= |series=Fatwa No. 67626|date= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fislamqa.com%2Fen%2Fref%2F67626&date=2013-12-06|deadurl=no}}</ref> So, the Qur'an has taken a story written by Christians and reworked it into a polemic against Christianity. | ||
The Syrian narrative, in its content and structure, is successful in achieving its purpose. The youths awakening to find that their home town has been converted to Christianity is a compelling ending and the mere existence of the youths provides the affirmation of a bodily resurrection. This serves the double purpose of affirming the principle that god will save Christians through persecution, and also exulting in the Christianization of the Roman Empire that had once persecuted Christians. However, in the Qur'anic narrative the youths awaken to the same 'polytheists' and are only questioned by each other concerning the length of their sleep. There is no argument made for why Allah could not have begotten a son, nor an answer provided for what benefits the youths were meant to gain from their long sleep. | The Syrian narrative, in its content and structure, is successful in achieving its purpose. The youths awakening to find that their home town has been converted to Christianity is a compelling ending and the mere existence of the youths provides the affirmation of a bodily resurrection. This serves the double purpose of affirming the principle that god will save Christians through persecution, and also exulting in the Christianization of the Roman Empire that had once persecuted Christians. However, in the Qur'anic narrative the youths awaken to the same 'polytheists' and are only questioned by each other concerning the length of their sleep. There is no argument made for why Allah could not have begotten a son, nor an answer provided for what benefits the youths were meant to gain from their long sleep. | ||