37.107 – And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice
The language of ransom ( fadā ) or sacrifice ( dhibḥ ) does not appear frequently in the Quran, so this verse has understandably attracted much attention.
The failure of the Quran to name the son of sacrifice must be seen as a significant flaw in this Muslim scripture. On the one hand, the lack of a name in verse 102 has led to serious confusion about the truth of a crucial event in salvation history, as well as to regrettable polemic like the writing of Ibn Kathīr described in the note for 37.101. The confusion continues to the present day, for example in the recently published Study Quran . On the other hand, the needless controversy surrounding the son’s identity has distracted from the promise suggested by verse 107 for worthwhile conversation. Both the Old Testament and the Gospel accounts are deeply interested in redemption, sacrifice, and the restoration of humanity. The New Testament finds the ultimate fulfillment of the son’s sacrifice in the voluntary, life-giving death of Jesus to conquer sin and death for the life of the world. The Quran does not further develop these crucial themes here or elsewhere.