Journal of Interreligious Studies on the Quran and the Bible

Journal of Interreligious Studies on the Quran and the Bible

A Comparative Study of the Concept of City and Urbanization in the Quran and the Bible

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Reza Kiani 1
Laleh Eftekhari 2
1 Assistant Professor of Population Research Institute, Tehran, IRAN.
2 Assistant professor, Department of Qur’an and Hadith Studies, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/qb.2025.2045540.1025
Abstract
Today, the issue of urbanization has become a fundamental phenomenon of our time, and consequently, urban research and studies have expanded. However, it should be noted that the city and urbanization, albeit not in their current form, have a very long history. In past religions and faiths, the concept of the city and urban life has had special importance and validity, and especially in the sacred texts of religions, many verses and commandments have been mentioned in connection with this concept. There is no doubt that the approach of holy books in relation to the subject of urbanization plays a decisive role in shaping urban beliefs and thoughts among religious communities; because, these texts are considered the main and fundamental source of religions, and the thoughts and behaviors of followers are rooted in them. The present study addresses this issue and intends, while examining the views of the three great and ancient religions of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity according to their sacred and heavenly books, to analyze their views on urbanization. It also intends to compare the views of these three religions regarding the concept of urbanization. The results of this research show us that the concept of city and urbanization is evident in the heavenly books of all three Abrahamic religions, and many verses and commandments have been mentioned regarding it.
Keywords
City
Urbanization
Religions
Heavenly Books
Old Testament (Torah)
New Testament (Gospel)
Quran
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