Creation Stories

Basic Beliefs of Islam

• Muslims follow the Five Pillars of Life
• 1st: Belief, 2nd: Worship, 3rd: giving to the poor, 4th: fasting, and 5th: going to Mecca
• Monothiestic

Manners to Use When Reading the Qur'an

• Some examples include...
• reciting in way of prayer
• understanding Qur'an with your mind
• reading the complete surah

The Creation Story in the Qur'an

• On the first days, Allah created...
• Light
• The Sun and the Moon
• The separation between the heaven, earth, and sea
• Marine and land animals and birds
• Humans

Human Creation

• The Qur'an does not agree that man's image was created like God.

The purpose of the creation story is to encourage people.

Literary Structure and Style

• The Qur'an has 114 chapters.
• Diction is used distnctly throughout the Qur'an.
• Irony can be found throughout the Qur'an.
• Ex: Adam and Eve want to become angels, but the angels have already recognized man's authority.
• The creation is mentioned throughout.

Literary Structure and Style (cont.)

• The Qur'an uses characterization to give characters traits and to enhance stories
• Dramatic dialogue is used to contrast characters.

Basic Beliefs of Christianity

• Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He died for our sins.
• He let humans have life beyond death.
• Monothietstic

Manners to Use When Reading the Bible

• Some examples include...
• caring for the Bible properly
• reading the Bible thoroughly
• praying to understand

The Creation Story in the Bible

• First, God created...
• Light
• The Sun and the Moon
• The separation between the heaven, earth, and sea
• Marine and land animals and birds
• Humans
• (Same as the creation story of Qu'ran)

Human Creation

• Mankind's image was made in God's image. (The Qur'an denies this)
• Genesis 1:9 states that "He saw... that it was good."

The purpose of the creation story is to show how God created the universe and us.

Literary Structure and Style

• Parallelism and repetition can be found throughout the creation story.
• The creation story is given in the book of Genesis.

Literary Structure and Style (cont.)

• Characterization is often used in the Bible to give deeper meaning.
• Alliteration and assonance gives auditory qualities to the Bible.

Conclusion

• Many similarities and differences can connect the creation stories of the Qur'an and the Bible.

The in-text citations are in the public notes.