Paradise and Hell in the Qur'an and the Two Testaments: A Comparative Analytical Study of the Sayings of the People of the Book

Abstract

This research compares and analyzes the beliefs about Paradise and Hell from the perspective of the People of the Book in comparison to the Holy Quran's description of these same concepts. Each of these divine scriptures also has an opinion on this duality, which is one representation of the general concept of reward vs. punishment within religious thought. The study is divided into two parts: Part I discusses some important terms and concepts including what the Paradise-Hell duality means and a definition for the Two Testaments and the People of the Book; the second is based upon an Analytical Study which aims at discovering the true essence of the said concepts and how they appear in Divine Scriptures with a view to pointing out the likeness as well as the difference among the Quranic verses on the one side, and the Torah and Gospel verses on the other." "In this respect, the Researcher has used Descriptive- Analytic Method; and it was found that Quran is clear and comprehensive than other divine scripture. The dual nature that is seen within its verses and in many different settings serves as an important part of the basic structure of Islam's beliefs—this duality is also present in the Old Testament and New Testament but less prevalent than in the Quran. The fact that this duality exists in all three does not mean they are identical.