The Story of the Flood Between the Book of Genesis and the Quran: A Comparative Analytical Reading and an Attempt at Understanding

Abstract

This research presents a comparative study of the story of the Flood during the time of Prophet Noah (peace be upon him), examining the narratives found in the Torah and the Holy Qur'an. The study reveals that while both texts agree on the general framework of the story the corruption of the people, the selection of Noah, the building of the ark, and the occurrence of the flood they differ significantly in detail, style, and purpose.

The Torah provides a detailed, material account of the event, specifying the dimensions of the ark and the duration of the flood, while using anthropomorphic expressions regarding the Divine (such as regret and sorrow) and describing the flood as a global, universal event. In contrast, the Holy Qur'an emphasizes the theological and moral dimensions, focusing on the lessons and wisdom to be drawn. The Qur’anic narrative purifies the conception of God from any imperfections and depicts the flood as a specific punishment directed at Noah’s disbelieving people. Furthermore, it highlights the dialogue of the prophetic mission and establishes that the bond of faith transcends blood relations (as seen in the story of Noah's son).

The research concludes that the Qur’anic text acts as a "Guardian" (Muhaymin) over the Torah’s narrative, correcting its inconsistencies. It underscores that the Qur’an is primarily a book of guidance and moral education, whereas the Torah, in this context, functions more as a historical and legislative record..