Surah 3:33
"Surely God has chosen Adam and Noah, and the house of Abraham and the house of ‘Imrān over the worlds,"
Equality of Peoples
Supporting Verses
Surah 2:47 → "Sons of Israel! Remember My blessing which I bestowed on you, and that I have favored you over the worlds."
Opposing Verses
Surah 49:13 → "People! Surely We have created you from a male and a female, and made you different peoples and tribes, so that you may recognize one another. Surely the most honorable among you in the sight of God is the one among you who guards (himself) most. Surely God is knowing, aware."
Does the Quran state that all people are judged solely by righteousness, or are certain lineages favored? Some verses state that God favored specific families and the Children of Israel over the worlds, while another states that the most honorable are simply the most righteous.
The First Believer or Submitter
Supporting Verses
Surah 26:51 → "Surely we are eager that our Lord should forgive us our sins, because we are the first of the believers.’"
Surah 2:131 → "When his Lord said to him, ‘Submit!,’ he said, ‘I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds.’"
Surah 2:132 → "And Abraham charged his sons with this, and Jacob (did too): ‘My sons! Surely God has chosen the (true) religion for you, so do not die without submitting.’"
Surah 3:52 → "When Jesus perceived disbelief from them, he said, ‘Who will be my helpers to God?’ The disciples said, ‘We will be the helpers of God. We believe in God. Bear witness that we submit."
Surah 3:67 → "Abraham was not a Jew, nor a Christian, but he was a Ḥanīf, a Muslim. He was not one of the idolaters."
Surah 5:111 → "(Remember) when I inspired the disciples: ‘Believe in Me and in My messenger.’ They said, ‘We believe. Bear witness that we submit.’"
Surah 7:143 → "And when Moses came to Our meeting, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show me (Yourself), so that I may look at You.’ He said, ‘You will not see Me, but look at the mountain. If it remains in its place, you will see Me.’ But when his Lord revealed His splendor to the mountain, He shattered it, and Moses fell down thunderstruck. And when he recovered, he said, ‘Glory to You! I turn to You (in repentance), and I am the first of the believers.’"
Opposing Verses
Surah 26:51 → "Surely we are eager that our Lord should forgive us our sins, because we are the first of the believers.’"
Surah 39:12 → "and I have been commanded to be the first of those who submit.’"
Surah 6:14 → "Say: ‘Shall I take any other ally than God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, when He feeds (others) and is not fed?’ Say: ‘Surely I have been commanded to be the first of those who have submitted,’ and: ‘Do not be one of the idolaters!’"
Surah 6:163 → "He has no associate. With that I have been commanded, and I am the first of those who submit.’"
Surah 7:143 → "And when Moses came to Our meeting, and his Lord spoke to him, he said, ‘My Lord, show me (Yourself), so that I may look at You.’ He said, ‘You will not see Me, but look at the mountain. If it remains in its place, you will see Me.’ But when his Lord revealed His splendor to the mountain, He shattered it, and Moses fell down thunderstruck. And when he recovered, he said, ‘Glory to You! I turn to You (in repentance), and I am the first of the believers.’"
Does the Quran state who was the first to believe or submit to God? Various verses describe different figures as being the 'first' of the believers or those who submit, including Muhammad, Moses, and the Egyptian magicians, while other verses indicate that earlier figures such as Abraham had already submitted.
Who Was Favored Above All Worlds?
Supporting Verses
Surah 3:34 → "some of them descendents of others. God is hearing, knowing."
Opposing Verses
Surah 2:47 → "Sons of Israel! Remember My blessing which I bestowed on you, and that I have favored you over the worlds."
Surah 45:16 → "Certainly We gave the Sons of Israel the Book, and the judgment, and the prophetic office. We provided them with good things and favored them over the worlds."
Surah 45:17 → "And We gave them clear signs of the matter. They did not differ until after the knowledge had come to them, (because of) envy among themselves. Surely your Lord will decide between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning their differences."
Does the Quran state which group was favored above all others? Some verses indicate that the Children of Israel were favored over the worlds, while other verses state that Adam, Noah, and the families of Abraham and Imran were chosen above the worlds.