Many interpretive challenges of the Quran cannot be resolved without referring to the Bible, and one such verse is the Verse of Dharr. The vast majority of Muslim exegetes have interpreted this verse as a general reference to all of humanity, while only a few have viewed it as pertaining to a specific group. However, even these few did not clarify which historical period or community this specific group belonged to, nor how they bore witness to God’s Lordship. They merely stated that it referred to a specific group, sometimes adding that the group belonged to the Israelites. This study indicates that the Verse of Dharr refers to the Israelites during the time of Joshua. Joshua summoned all the tribes of the Israelites of his era, binding them with a covenant to refrain from idol worship, in contrast to their ancestors, and to worship only God. He made them witnesses over themselves to this covenant, and they declared that we bear witness. The methodology of this study is inter-textual, that is, comparing the Quranic text with the Bible.
Keywords: verse 172 al-Aʿraaf Chapter, Verse of Dharr, primordial covenant, realm of dharr, innate nature
Introduction
In verse 172 of the al-Aʿraaf Chapter, known as the Verse of Dharr, it is stated: “When your Lord took from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their descendants and made them bear witness over themselves, [He said to them,] ‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said, ‘Yes indeed!’” Throughout history, three interpretations of the Verse of Dharr have emerged. The first interpretation, which prevailed among commentators for three centuries, is that the verse refers to the realm of Dharr (the realm of pre-material existence). This view was supported by traditions unanimously considered authentic, even mutawātir (a tradition or narration with multiple independent chains of transmission ensuring authenticity), by both Sunni and Shiite scholars. In these narrations, it is mentioned that God touched Adam’s back, and his offspring, who at that moment were in the form of particles, were brought out from his back. God then asked them, “Am I not your Lord?” Some acknowledged this, becoming the believers, while others did not acknowledge it, becoming the disbelievers. The second interpretation, seemingly introduced by the Muʿtazilites, is that the Verse of Dharr refers to the innate nature (fiṭrah) of humankind. The third perspective posits that the verse pertains to a specific group of human beings. The present study, using an inter-textual approach, seeks to answer the question: Who are the descendants of the children of Adam referred to in the verse, who God made witnesses over themselves? And how did this witnessing occur?
An Explanation of the Theory
A comparative analysis of the apparent meaning and context of the Verse of Dharr with the contents of the Bible suggests that the verse refers to the Israelites during the time of Prophet Joshua. Chapter 24 of the Book of Joshua recounts a covenant renewal in which Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, where they stood in the presence of God. Joshua, after recounting the blessings God had bestowed upon the Israelites, asked them whether they worshiped God or the idols of their ancestors. The tribes of Israel declared, “We pledge to worship God.” Joshua then said, “Thus you yourselves bear witness that you have made a covenant to worship God.” They responded, “Yes, we are witnesses.” According to this theory, the meaning of the Verse of Dharr is literal and real, not metaphorical, symbolic, or allegorical. Thus, the verse does not pertain to the realm of Dharr mentioned in related traditions and nor to the divine innate nature of humankind, as claimed by the Muʿtazilites.
Evidence Supporting the Theory

Context of the Verse: The Verse of Dharr is situated within a series of verses in the al-Aʿraaf Chapter, all of which pertain to the people of Prophet Moses (P.B.U.H.).
Similar Verses: In Quranic discourse, it is emphasized that such a covenant was taken through explicit verbal declaration not through implicit or non-verbal communication. Therefore, related verses, including the Verse of Dharr, cannot be interpreted as metaphorical, allegorical, or symbolic. Furthermore, such covenants were taken by divine prophets from their communities, not directly by God or the angels.
The Old Testament: When the Quranic indications and evidence related to the Verse of Dharr are compared with the content of Chapter 24 of the Book of Joshua regarding Joshua’s covenant taken from the tribes of Israel, it becomes clear that the Verse of Dharr specifically refers to this covenant in which, Joshua required the tribes of Israel to worship God alone and not associate partners with Him.

Conclusion
This article demonstrates that the dominance of traditions about the realm of Dharr in the minds of Quranic exegetes, along with their lack of inter-textual study between the Quran and the Bible, has led the majority of them to misinterpret or fail to clearly understand the true meaning of the Verse of Dharr. Examining the apparent meaning and context of the Verse of Dharr alongside an inter-textual study of Chapter 24 of the Book of Joshua reveals that this verse refers to the covenant renewal initiated by Prophet Joshua with the tribes of Israel of his time. This covenant emphasized worshiping God and refraining from idol worship, as practiced by their ancestors.
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* Received 4 July 2023; Received in revised from 25 October 2023; Accepted 13 November 2023; Published online 20 November 2024
Cite this article: Nekoonam, J. (2024). An Inter-textual Interpretation of the Verse of Dharr. Comparative Interpretation Research, 10(2), 137‑152. https://doi.org/10.22091/ptt.2024.11243.2363
Publisher: University of Qom                                                               © The Author(s)