Journal of Interreligious Studies on the Quran and the Bible

Journal of Interreligious Studies on the Quran and the Bible

Comparative Study of the Compilation of the Qur'an and the Canonization of the Testaments

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Husein Naqavi 1
Ali Owsat Bagheri 2
1 Associate Professor, Department of Religions, Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute, Qom, IRAN.
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Tafsir and Qur’an Studies, Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute, Qom, IRAN.
10.22034/qb.2025.2046118.1026
Abstract
Most sacred texts were initially oral and were gradually written down over time. After the writing of these sacred texts, it is essential to examine the time frame in which they were compiled and finalized, and whether this process has affected their credibility? Another question is how many versions exist for these texts and whether there are discrepancies among them? This study, employing a descriptive-analytical method, concludes that the Qur'an was written down simultaneously with its revelation, whereas there was a gap between the revelation, writing, and final compilation of the Testaments. The time from writing to the compilation of the Qur'an was less than two years, while the distance from the writing to the Canonization of the Testaments took more than a thousand years. The Qur'an has a continuous and widely accepted chain of transmission, while the Testaments have a broken chain. The Qur'an exists in a single version, while the Testaments have multiple versions. Given the differences among the versions, the Testaments contain apocryphal texts, while the Qur'an, due to the lack of multiple versions, does not. The compilation of the Qur'an did not undermine its credibility, but the Canonization of the Testaments could not maintain their credibility.
Keywords
Compilation of the Qur'an
Canonization of the Testaments
Apocrypha of the Old Testament
Apocrypha of the New Testament

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Journal of Interreligious Studies on the Quran and the Bible
Volume 1, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
March 2025
Pages 170-195