New Testament

The meaning of the word mawālī used on the Quranic verse 19:5 and the thing which is inherited by John was a subject of debate in exegetic literature, without any clarification about its lexical origin. In this survey, the main question is about the lexical origin of the word, as well as the cultural roots of the position which the story is speaking of. Also, the article is seeking a proper understanding of the word and the verse being relevant to the context and make the Zachariah’s story in the Sura 19 consistent.Concerning methodology, the article uses etymology of keyword mawālī based on comparative Semitic studies from one side and clarification of the story as a whole by a comparison between the Quranic account with relevant passage in the New Testament and some connected material in Jewish literature. According to given evidence, the word mawālī in the verse 19:5 is supposed to be a term coming from the New Testament. The basis is the Geez word mawāʿǝl meaning 'daily (duties)', used in Ethiopian version of Gospel of Luke to refer to ‘priestly division’ in Jewish tradition. The secondary layer is South-Arabian and Ethiopian root meaning 'to guard' which contaminated to the previous term and relates to the Jewish Rabbinic term mišmārōt. It is a Christian-Jewish blending appeared in pre-Islamic Ethiopia. Then, the Quranic word mawālī in the verse 19:5 was not a regular Arabic word, but a Judeo-Christian arabicized term with Ethiopian origin.  

The study of topics related to religions, especially Abrahamic religions, has always been important and prioritized, particularly when these topics are examined in a comparative and interfaith manner. This research examines the character of Jesus Christ from the perspective of the Holy Quran and the four Gospels to determine whether divinity can be attributed to him or if, as the Holy Quran explicitly states, he was one of the great prophets of God. By analyzing the content of the four Gospels using content analysis methods, we concluded that none of these four Gospels, which are regarded as the official sources of Christianity, provide any evidence of divinity for him. Rather, he was a human, born of Mary by divine will and through the Holy Spirit, with his special mission being the guidance of the Children of Israel. Like other prophets, he performed numerous miracles, and his character possessed outstanding qualities that are also emphasized in the Holy Quran.

Tranquility is a fundamental human need addressed in Abrahamic religions, including the Holy Qur'an and the Testaments. This research aims to identify paths to tranquility in the Holy Qur'an and the Testaments using a descriptive-analytical method with a comparative approach. The study reveals that the Holy Qur'an presents 21 methods, the Old Testament 11, and the New Testament 8 methods as tranquility-inducing factors. Faith in God, prayer and supplication, reliance on God, procreation, and benevolence are common themes emphasized in all three sources. The Qur'an specifically emphasizes returning to one's innate nature (Fiṭrah), devotion to God and divine guardians, following divine guidance, ritual prayer, piety, remembrance of God, repentance, proper nutrition, utilizing religious symbols and art, companionship with believers, and maintaining family ties. The Testaments uniquely mention justice and fairness, religious festivals, nature, trustworthiness, wine, and music as tranquility-inducing factors. In conclusion, the approaches presented in the Holy Qur'an for achieving tranquility are more comprehensive, aligned with human nature and intellect, and offer genuine tranquility in both this world and the hereafter.