Names Used in the Bible VS Names in the Quran

Suleiman | Posted on December 8, 2024 |

The Name of God, Jesus, Mary, and the Prophets: A Comparative Study in the Bible and the Quran

One of the most frequently cited points of contention between Christianity and Islam is the belief that the Quran refers to a different God, different figures, or different concepts compared to the Bible. A common misconception is that the Quran’s God, Jesus, Mary, and the various prophets are distinct from those found in Christian texts. This article seeks to clarify that, despite variations in names and linguistic forms, the figures referred to in the Quran and the Bible are indeed the same, rooted in common cultural, linguistic, and theological traditions. Additionally, we will explore the linguistic history of key terms, such as the name of God, to reveal how the concept of the divine remains consistent across both the Bible and the Quran.

The Name of God: From Aramaic to Allah

In Christianity, God is commonly referred to as Yahweh (יהוה), the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, which in Greek is rendered as Kyrios (Κύριος), meaning “Lord” or “Master.” In the New Testament, the name is often expressed as Theos (Θεός), meaning “God.”

However, the name Allah (الله), used in the Quran, is the Arabic word for “God.” Many Christians argue that Allah is a foreign construct created by Muslims, but this is a misunderstanding. The term Allah is etymologically related to the Aramaic word for God. The root ʾlh* (אלה) in Aramaic and Hebrew, meaning “God,” is found in both languages, with the Arabic Allah simply being a contraction of al-Ilah (الإله), meaning “the God.” The idea that Allah represents a different God is misleading because Allah is derived from the same linguistic roots that have existed in the monotheistic traditions long before the rise of Islam.

In Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, the word Alaha (ܐܠܗܐ) is often used to refer to God. This word is similar in sound to Allah in Arabic, which is derived from the same Semitic root as Elah (אֵלָה), the Hebrew word for God. The use of Alaha in Aramaic to refer to God shows that the concept of the one true God, expressed through these names, is consistent across the Abrahamic faiths.

Thus, Allah is not a foreign construct introduced by Muslims, but rather the natural linguistic continuation of the ancient and monotheistic understanding of God, used by Jesus himself and carried forward into the Quran.

Jesus: Isho, Yeshua, Isa, and the Christ

The name of Jesus in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, was Isho (ܝܫܘܥ). This name is a form of the Hebrew name Yeshua (ישוע), which itself is a shortened form of Yehoshua (יהושע), meaning “salvation” or “God saves.” When translated into Greek, Isho became Iesous (Ἰησοῦς), which was later Latinized into Jesus.

In the Quran, Jesus is referred to as Isa (عيسى), which is how Isho is pronounced in Arabic. While the names differ phonetically, they are all forms of the same name, referencing the same individual: Jesus of Nazareth, who is central to Christianity and is also considered a prophet in Islam.

Both the New Testament and the Quran affirm that Jesus is the Messiah, the chosen one sent by God to guide humanity. The title Christ comes from the Greek Christos (Χριστός), meaning “the Anointed One” or “the Messiah,” a title used in both the New Testament and the Quran. In Arabic, Jesus is often referred to as Isa al-Masih (عيسى المسيح), meaning “Jesus the Messiah.” Despite differences in pronunciation, these are all names for the same historical figure, Jesus.

Mary: Miriam in Hebrew and Arabic

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is known in the New Testament by the name Maria (Μαρία), a Greek form of the Hebrew Miryam (מִרְיָם), which means “beloved” or “rebellious.” In the Quran, she is referred to as Maryam (مريم), which is almost identical to the Hebrew original Miryam and is pronounced similarly in Arabic.

Mary is highly revered in both the Bible and the Quran as the mother of Jesus, and her name plays a key role in both traditions. Her role as a pure and virtuous woman, chosen by God to bear the Messiah, is central in both religious texts. The similarities in her name across Hebrew, Greek, and Arabic further reinforce the common theological and linguistic heritage shared between Christianity and Islam.

The Prophets: From Adam to Muhammad

The prophets shared between the Bible and the Quran have similar roles and teachings, although their names may vary slightly depending on the language of the text. Many of the names of the prophets in the Bible and the Quran are derived from the same linguistic roots, further demonstrating that they refer to the same individuals.

Adam: The first human in both traditions, Adam’s name is spelled the same in Hebrew (Adam – אדם) and Arabic (Adam – آدم).
Noah: In the Hebrew Bible, Noah’s name is Noach (נח), while in Arabic, his name is Nuh (نوح). Both names have the same root meaning, referring to “rest” or “comfort.”
Abraham: In Hebrew, his name is Avraham (אַבְרָהָם), while in the Quran, he is referred to as Ibrahim (إبراهيم). Both names are derived from the same root and reflect the same patriarch.
Moses: In the Hebrew Bible, his name is Moshe (מֹשֶׁה), while in Arabic, he is Musa (موسى). These names are clearly related, derived from the same historical figure.
David: In Hebrew, he is Dawid (דָּוִד), while in Arabic, he is Dawood (داوود). Both names have the same root and reflect the same king and prophet.
Solomon: In Hebrew, his name is Shlomo (שְׁלֹמֹה), while in Arabic, he is known as Sulayman (سليمان). Again, the names are closely related, pointing to the same historical figure.
John the Baptist: In Hebrew, he is Yochanan (יוחנן), and in Arabic, he is Yahya (يحيى). Though the names differ, both refer to the same prophet who foretold the coming of Jesus.
Muhammad: Muhammad (محمد) is the final prophet in Islam, and while he is not found in the Bible, the Quran refers to earlier prophets who predicted his coming, such as Jesus, through prophecies of a “Comforter” or “Advocate.” The name Muhammad itself, meaning “the praised one,” is Arabic in origin and reflects a continuation of the prophetic tradition.

Conclusion

Despite the differences in names and linguistic variations across Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek, and Arabic, it is clear that the figures mentioned in the Bible and the Quran are the same individuals. The names of God, Jesus, Mary, and the prophets, when traced through their original languages, reveal a common foundation rooted in shared theological traditions. The term Allah, used in the Quran and Aramaic, is not a foreign construct but a natural evolution of the name for God in the Abrahamic faiths, used by Jesus himself.

In both the Bible and the Quran, the central figures—God, Jesus, Mary, and the prophets—are the same. The differences in pronunciation and form across languages do not imply different beings, but rather highlight the linguistic and cultural diversity through which the same divine message has been transmitted. Understanding the shared roots of these names is key to recognizing the unity between these two great traditions.

References

Bible (Hebrew and Greek texts).
Quran (Arabic text).
W. F. Albright, “From the Stone Age to Christianity” (2013).
S. S. H. Nasr, “The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary” (2015).
J. L. Sklar, “The Hebrew Bible: A Critical Companion” (2004).