Sarah is known in the Hebrew bible as Abraham’s wife, and
they are infamous for the couple that was unable to conceive until they were
old. She has a small role, if it can even be a considered a role at all, in the
Qur’an. The only mention of her is in Q11:69-83 when she is described as
standing there smiling (Q11:71) and when she laughs and speaks out about her
amazement at the messengers telling her she would finally become pregnant
(Q11:72). However, though her part is small, she is portrayed as a happy and
delightful woman.
The Qur’anic introduction of Sarah is extremely vague
compared to the Hebrew bible. Sarah speaks from the very beginning of Genesis
16, and we become aware of the internal conflict she is struggling with. Having
been unable to conceive, she is portrayed as unhappy and grudgeful, and she
blames Abraham for her inability to have children (Gen 16:1-5). Sarah sends her
husband to try and conceive with her slave because she thinks it is the only
way she may have a chance at raising children. In comparison to the passage in
the Qur’an (11:72), Genesis 18:12 portrays Sarah as laughing not out of delight
(which can be interpreted from the Qur’anic verse) but out of pessimism.
However, in Genesis 21:5-7, Sarah laughs again. This time it aligns well with
the passage from Q11:72. She is delighted and pleased with God’s doing.
Sarah is once again portrayed as a jealous, unhappy woman.
She is given a son and is yet still displeased. She orders Abraham to send away
her slave and the son that they had together (Genesis 21:8-10).
I agree that Sarah has a larger role in the Hebrew Bible then she does in the Qur’an. I think you do a good job of comparing and contrasting the two different stories but I feel as though your essay could have been stronger. I think you could have talked more about the autonomy that Sarah shows within the two books. I also interpreted Sarah’s laughing in the books differently. I saw it as her not believe what God was telling her and not a sign of happiness. I think you have a good essay of comparing certain aspects of the two books but you don’t really talk about Sarah’s autonomy as the question wanted.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you.Your essay is strong and on point though, it lets the readers know the differences between the two stories. I like how in the Qur'an, even though she is given a small role she is also given a dialogue.
ReplyDeleteThis essay does a great job in illustrating the differences between the Qu'ran and the Hebrew Bible. It could be stronger however by reflecting on Sarah's autonomy in each narratives. I think too, that a strong introduction stating your argument could help as well. You do a great job with interpreting the stories.
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