Quranic Studies and Islamic Culture

A Comparative Study of the Creation Narrative and Underlying Worldviews in the Avesta and the Qur’an

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Mohammad Ali Tabatabai

Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies. Tehran. Iran

10.22034/isqs.2026.52950.2440
Abstract
This study investigates the comparative dimensions of the creation narratives in the Avesta and the Quran, focusing on the foundational worldview and theological principles that underlie them. Both sacred texts, though emerging from distinct religious and cultural contexts, begin their finalized canonical forms with creation accounts that depart significantly from other ancient cosmologies. Instead of elaborating primarily on the origin of the cosmos, both Avesta and Quran center their initial creation narrative on the origin and role of humankind. This study compares similarities and differences between these two accounts, with special attention to the purpose of creation, the problem of evil, and the overarching worldviews each text constructs. By analyzing how the Avesta conceptualizes a dualistic cosmology rooted in the eternal struggle between good and evil, and how the Quran frames creation within a strictly monotheistic and teleological worldview, this research demonstrates how creation narratives are employed as keys to uncovering the theological, ethical, and philosophical underpinnings of each tradition.

Keywords

The creation story
Avesta
Quran
worldview
the purpose of creation
the origin of evil
Subjects
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Quranic Studies and Islamic Culture
Volume 9, Issue 4
Winter 2026
Pages 94-122

  • Receive Date 27 September 2025
  • Revise Date 12 December 2025
  • Accept Date 09 January 2026

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