The alternation of day and night as a hidden allegorical metaphor of the abandonment of the earlier Books and the Law: insights from Farid’s translation of the Quran
The alternation of day and night as a hidden allegorical metaphor of the abandonment of the earlier Books and the Law: insights from Farid’s translation of the Quran

Summary/Abstract: This interdisciplinary article, combining linguistic and theological aspects, presents the author’s personal reflections on the frequently occurring motif of the alternation of day and night in the Quran. According to the author, this phenomen on goes beyond being a mere representation of the natural daily cycle; instead, it serves as a hidden allegorical metaphor for Allah’s replacement of the earlier Books, specifically the Torah and the Gospel, and the abandonment of the eternal Law they contained – the Decalogue and the New Commandment of Love, respectively. These are replaced by the more lenient law presented in the Quran, which conflicts with the Bible in this respect. The presence of this alternation in the Quran is not coincidental; rather, it is a deliberate effort by the Quranic God to make people (Muslims) aware of the inevitability of change and consequently lead them to subconsciously accept His departure from the earlier Books and the Law, which are eternal. The analysis is grounded in Farid’s translation of the Quran, which is associated withthe Ahmadiyya movement and appears to be the most faithful one, notably in critical points.

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