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Quranic Stories

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Understanding the Concepts of Quran Stories.

Ghasas (stories) – According to Akbar (2016) these are tales in the Holy Quran of God’s messengers and different personalities and also some facts in the Islam establishment. For example the story of Moses (p.b.u.h.)’s the longest while Josef’s can be termed as the most beautiful story in the Quran. Stories from the Quran are categorized into two Hagh (truth) and batil (false). Therefore Quran tales stresses on truth are distinct from the rest (al- Emraan, verse 62). ”These are the true adventure of (Christ)”

Naba’ (news) – These refer to news which have benefits or create awareness. Naba’ also symbolizes meaning of stories and are classified into three types.

·        Explorations and evidences of the past example olden stories of Aad, Noah and Thamood.

·        Occurrences during the duration of descending of revelation also the error of great prophets like Honain and Mohammed’s wars

·        Events during the time when revelation descended, promised to come to be in future like defeat of Islam enemies and polytheists.

Tradition (Hadith) – in the Quran context tradition means to announce. It is the record of words and action like in verse 9 of Taahaa Sura as the prophet is being addressed it goes “and have you received Moses tradition”

The Didactics Purposes in Quranic Stories

According to Aljabbari the Holy Quran contexts has various aims as follows

1.     Explaining the facts: it is one of the most important purposes of Quran stories. It aims at making people familiar with the true content and removing of any doubt.

2.     Thinking: its main purpose is to provide an opportunity for readers to be able to make a distinction of right from wrong thoughtfully and enjoy the truth cognition in order to take the correct course of life.

3.     To issue an ultimatum: the purpose of Quran’s stories is to issue challenges so that readers can reason. The Quran contains warnings to man through facts and truths.

4.     Perseverance: its main purpose is to bring to attention of situations the prophets went through and how the conquered hence reinforcing the people’s spiritual standings for them to persist what they may be going through.

5.     Tranquility: the main purpose of Quran stories is to create peace and comfort by making heavy- hearted individuals.

Examples of Stories in the Quran

1.     The Story of Prophet Yusef:  he was the son of prophet Yaqub and he was the most beloved of his father as compared to all his eleven brothers. He dreamt that the sun, moon and eleven stars would prostrate before him. The next morning he narrated this dream to his father who realized that this dream was a vision from Allah indicating his future prophethood. His wicked brothers plotted against him by conspiring to exile him into a distant land. The brothers then lied to their father that Yusef was died but did not believe them (Yusuf 18). Prophet Yusef was taken to Egypt as a slave boy (Yusuf 21). He later landed in prison and this is where he stated interpreting dreams one of which was Egyptian king’s dream and then got released from prison (Yusuf 56). Through his patience from numerous tests Allah rewarded him with victory, greatness and authority. He became the ruler of Egypt and this is where he met his brothers again and later his father forgave them for all they had done against him.

2.     The story of prophet Suleyman: he was gifted with wisdom and hence made quality decisions in complicated cases. He was also gifted with knowledge to understand the speech of animals, birds and insects and was capable to talk to them. Hudhud was a bird and after a brief disappearance it came with reliable news which prophet Suleyman was not aware of. Hudhud said that it had discovered a queen ruling in the City of Saba’a which was very beautiful. Prophet Suleyman used hudhud to deliver messages to the City of Saba’a and later became an informant to Suleyman.

3.     The story of prophet Yunes: he was sent to Ninavah. However, he sailed away but the ship was heavy and full and hence thrown into the sea. He was swallowed by a large fish and stayed in its belly for 3 days. Later the fish ejected him out onto a shore. He went to Ninavah and gave Allah’s message to the people .these people listened to him and Allah forgave them.

4.     The story of prophet Ibrahim: according to Anbiya 66-8 we find Ibrahim condemning the people for worshiping idols this showed he followed his mind and not his heart. This provoked the idolaters and the authority came to a decision to punish Ibrahim by burning him in a bonfire. Despite this he proved and maintained his faithfulness to one God

References

Akbar Salehi “The role of the Quranic Stories and Parablesin in Islamic Education and Training” journal of Islamic studies and culture, June 2016, vol. 4, No 1, pp. 127-133

Aljabbari et al, (1373), the Quranic Stories, Tehran, Sadr Publication

Holy Quran, translated by ElahiGhomshei