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Ṣibghat Allāh in Q 2.138: a new reading of the Qur’an in light of pre-Islamic Christian literature

Scholars of Qur’anic Studies have commonly highlighted the relationship between ṣibghat allāh in Q 2.138, millat Ibrāhīm (‘the religion of Abraham’) in Q 2.135 and Christian baptism. Contrary to previous scholarship, this article proposes that ṣibghat allāh relates to āmannā bi-llāhi wa-mā...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Davitashvili, Ana (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 2025
In: Islam and Christian-Muslim relations
Year: 2025, Volume: 36, Issue: 3, Pages: 221-243
ISSN:1469-9311
DOI:10.1080/09596410.2025.2592171
Subjects:
Metapher
Färben
Heiliger Geist
Gott
Eucharistie
Taufe
Jacobus <Sarugensis>
Evangelium Philippi
Koran
Koran / Sure al-Baqara
Online Access:Resolving-System, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1080/09596410.2025.2592171
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Author Notes:Ana Davitashvili (Department of Religious and Jewish Studies, University of Tübingen)
Description
Summary:Scholars of Qur’anic Studies have commonly highlighted the relationship between ṣibghat allāh in Q 2.138, millat Ibrāhīm (‘the religion of Abraham’) in Q 2.135 and Christian baptism. Contrary to previous scholarship, this article proposes that ṣibghat allāh relates to āmannā bi-llāhi wa-mā unzila ilaynā (‘we believe in God and what was sent down to us’) in Q 2.136, the baptismal rite inclusive of chrismation, and the Eucharist. In the baptismal rite and the Eucharist, humans acquire the dye of God and Christ by means of purification by and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Through the baptismal rite, the Holy Spirit purifies and begins to dwell in the baptized person. During the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit transforms the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ and remains present in them upon consumption, while the recipient receives the body and blood, is purified and becomes one with God, united with Christ. By contrast, in the Qur’an, if humans have faith in God and all His revelations including the Qur’an, they acquire the dye of God. Acquiring the dye of God nonetheless remains linked to purification and the Holy Spirit, given that, in Q 2.129, 151; 3.164; 62.2 and 5.41, humans are purified via faith and God’s revelation, the Qur’an, and, in Q 58.22, those who have faith written upon their hearts are strengthened with God’s spirit.
Item Description:Gesehen am 26.06.2026
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1469-9311
DOI:10.1080/09596410.2025.2592171

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