Comparison of Book of John versus Quran – Chapter 4, Al Nisa, Women
The purpose of this paper is to provide my layman’s comparison of The Book of John from the Bible and Chapter 4, Al Nisa, Women of the Quran.
My primary impression of the two books are that they are vastly different in how they read. The Book of John reads like a story, a narrative per say while Chapter 4 of the Quran reads much like a legal document or contract. The two books are very different and deliver very different messages to the reader.
The Quran, Chapter 4 focus’ on women, it outlines their rights and their obligations. This chapter covers subjects such as a woman’s rights, how orphans are to be treated, inheritance, their obligations, modesty, behavior, tremendous and unparalleled sins, ethical issues, weapons, polygamy and men’s superiority over them.
Female orphans can marry their guardian, if they wish. She is entitled to her fair dower. However, if she has poor relatives then they should be present at the time her inheritance is disbursed so that they may claim a share of it, that way they are not disappointed. If a woman is not an orphan and inherits from a family members death there is a very distinct division of property. Women (daughters) are entitled to a one-sixth share. A man (sons) would receive the equivalent of two sisters, or one-third. If an adult child dies and has no heirs then the parents inherit their property, one-third to the mother, two-thirds to the father. There are multiple scenarios on how property is to be split within this portion of the chapter.
Lewd and lascivious behavior is address for both women and men. Women who are found guilty of committing sexual immorality are either confined indoors for life or can repent and marry their partner. If men commit homosexual acts, both are punished, they must repent and abstain from such behavior.
Marriage, a man is allowed up to four wives. It is strictly outlined the degrees of relationship which a man is forbidden to marry within, such as, a man cannot marry his mother, daughter, sister, paternal or maternal aunts, nieces, two sisters at the same time, daughter-in-laws or women who are already married. Submission, women are instructed to be obedient and responsible in their behavior, if they refuse to share the bed and the husband speaks kindly to them and they ignore them, the husband can then beat them.
It is repeated throughout that God is Omnipotent, and one’s fate rests in God’s hands, that God shall gather all hypocrites and infidels, who deny Him, all together in the kingdom of Hell. Under verse 48 it says, Never shall God forgive the impious irreverence of incorporating with Him other deities, but forgives He all else to whom He will. And he who incorporates with God other deities shall have committed the most heinous sin. It is clear why the Muslim religion feels that Christians are infidels, since their monotheistic view clashes with the Trinity of Christian belief.
The Book of John read more like a narrative for me, a summary of events, a story. The Book of John begins with an introduction, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. John tells that the Word is Jesus and he became a man to live among humanity. John was said to be one of Jesus’ inner circle. The Book of John tells of Jesus’ ministry and the various miracles Jesus performed; turning water into wine (John 2:1-11), healing the nobleman’s son (John 4:46-53), Healing the man at the pool (John 5:1-9), Jesus feeds the 5,000 (John 6:4-13), Jesus walks on water (John 6:16-21), Healing of the blind man (John 9:1-12) and Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:3-44). During Jesus’ ministry he refers to himself as the I AM.
The Book of John tells of the events leading up to Jesus’ death. It tells of the last supper with his disciples and the washing of their feet. It tells of the betrayal and denial by Simon Peter to Judas. Jesus predicts his death and tells his disciples to remain vigilant. Jesus doesn’t want the disciples to mourn him, for he is returning to his father in heaven.
The last three chapters in the Book of John tell of the trial which Jesus’ is found guilty and sentenced to be flogged and crucified. Jesus was humiliated in public, mocked by them placing a crown of thorns on his head since he was said to be the “king”, and made to carry the very cross he would be later crucified on. After Jesus’ crucifixion his body was laid in the tomb closed by a large boulder. Three days later he rose from his tomb, revealed himself to Mary Magdalene and all of his disciples except Thomas who was not present. However, eight days later he revealed himself to Thomas and showed him the holes in his hands and side proving to him that he had risen. The very last verse in the Book of John 21:25 states, And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should be all recorded one by one (in detail), I suppose that even the world itself could not contain (have room for) the books that would be written.
Comparing the two books for contrast and content it is clear that the Quran was written as a diagram of what to do to be right with God, while the Book of John appears to be written as a testimony of the story of Jesus. Both books encourage living by the word of God and following his commands. Though the Quran outlines the rules, the Book of John serves to lead people to eternal life by convincing them of Jesus’ deity.
As to believers living out the words of their respective beliefs I would personally have to say from general observation that the Muslim followers are more respectful and diligent in their practices. I attended a church service three years ago with a friend and the minister had a McDonald’s bag up on the altar, I personally found it very disrespetful. In 2010, I had the opportunity to travel to Egypt, a country that is predominately Muslim. There were mosques throughout every city and when the adhan sounds, which happened 4-5 times a day people would stop what they were doing and pray. Mosques are revered and respected, shoes must be removed prior to entering. In Cairo, women would commonly walk behind the men they were with when out in public. One of our tour guides explained that though there are still those who practice the rearranged marriages. However, today it is common for suitors to date (with chaperones present) the woman and once they are engaged it is expected that the male have enough money to be able to provide the couple with a home once they marry. Our tour group was invited to join an Egyptian family in their home for dinner, there were six of us that were females and my fiancée was the only male. However, since he was in their home and he was a stranger, all the women in the home wore their hijabs in obedience of the modesty tradition. Our group was told by one of the tour guides that though a few of the women in our group were not modestly dressed, as they had hoped they would be while in their country, it was important that we, as women, did not look any man in the eye. It would be inappropriate and considered “flirting”. However, he was kind enough to suggest that if we wore sunglasses that it may not be as noticeable.
There are some commonalities between the two. Both agree that Jesus was sent to us from God, men are to be the spiritual leader of the household and women are to be subservient. Are Muslims right or wrong in their beliefs? Are Christians right or wrong in theirs? That is not for me to judge. I personally think we should all be respectful of others beliefs whether we agree with them or not. As to the question of which of the two chapters I preferred to read…The Book of John. I am partial to our Bible and the Book of John over the Quran, primarily because it is what I was raised with and therefore what I practice and believe to be true. When the Day of Judgment arrives we will all find out then which belief was accurate. Until the end of my days I will remain vigilant to John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. I will do my best to walk a righteous path and follow God’s word. (1501)