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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forEucharist, or Lord ‘S Supper
It is a singular omission in the Qur’an that there is no direct allusion to this Christian institution. Both Sale and Rodwell think that there is a reference to it in the following passages in the Qur’an, Surah v 112-144: - "Remember when the Apostles said: - O Jesus, son of Mary, is thy Lord able to send down a table (ma ‘idah, ‘a table ‘, especially one covered with victuals) to us out of heaven? He said, Fear God if ye be believers. They said - We desire to eat therefrom, and to have our hearts assured; and to know that thou hast indeed spoken truth to us, and we be witnesses thereof. Jesus, son of Mary, said - ‘O God, Our Lord! Send down a table to us out of heaven, that it may become a recurring festival to us, to the first of us, and to the last of us, and a sign from Thee; and do Thos nourish us, for Thou art the best of nourishers." Muslim commentators are not agreed as to the meaning of these verses, but none of them suggest the institution of the Lord ‘s Supper as an explanation. The interpretations are as confused as the revelation. According to the Imam al-Baghawi, ‘Ammar ibn Yasir said that the Prophet said it was flesh and bread which was sent down from heaven; but because the Christians to whom it was sent were unfaithful, it was taken away, and they became pigs and monkeys! Ibn ‘Abbas says that after a thirty days ‘ fast, a table was sent down with seven loaves and seven fishes, and the whole company of disciples ate and were filled (St. Matt. xv. 34). The commentators al-Jalalan also give these two explanations, and the Sacrament of the Lord ‘s Supper is never once suggested by any Muslim doctor in explanation of the above verses. citations: Dictionary of Islam, Hughes
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-26 |
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