Mesopotamian Mythology and its Comparison with the Holy Bible and the Holy Qur’an (With a focus on the creation and flood narratives)

Abstract

Mesopotamian myths represent some of the earliest manifestations of human religious thought, playing a fundamental role in shaping the narrative traditions of the Ancient Near East and the sacred texts of the Abrahamic religions. This research, employing a comparative descriptive-analytical approach, reviews the most significant Mesopotamian myths—particularly the narratives of creation, the flood, and the savior hero—and their reflections in the Old and New Testaments. Subsequently, the study analyzes how the Holy Qur’an engaged with this narrative heritage.The findings indicate that the Holy Qur’an, with a profound awareness of preceding mythological traditions, reformulated these narratives within a monotheistic, ethical, and guidance-oriented framework. In this process, mythological elements, polytheism, and cosmic concepts (mythological entities) were either removed or reinterpreted, elevating the narratives from a level of mythological explanation to a level of purposeful history and educational teachings. Thus, the Qur’an presented a distinct worldview through a conscious "Demythologization" and a purposeful recreation of earlier narratives, where the oneness of the Creator, human moral responsibility, and the teleology of history remain the central focus.