Thomas Eich: Creation of Adam in the Quran

• Centre for Advanced Studies
• Fellows Brunch

In this presentation I argue for a re-interpretation of several passages in the Qur'an, which are commonly understood to refer the development of human life during a pregnancy. A close analysis of the passages in the Qur'anic text in combination with a look at 7th century Syriac literature offers a different picture. I propose that many of these passages refer to the creation of Adam. I will then point out the wider implications of this finding: While the hitherto known cases of Adamic references in the Qur'an are in longer Sura, which are traditionally considered to be late Suras in Qur'an scholarship, I suggest Adamic references for shorter suras, some of them traditionally considered as part of the earliest layers of the Qur'anic text.