A Critique and Evaluation of Gabriel Reynolds’ Perspective on the Term “Rajeem” (Stoning and Cursed) in the Quran

Gabriel Reynolds, in his book titled “The Quran and Its Biblical Subtext,” while addressing the claim of Islamic exegetes’ errors in understanding some Quranic terms and the necessity of correctly understanding the sacred texts, focuses on the specific study of thirteen examples from the Quran, one of which is the term “rajeem” (stoning). He believes that the term “rajeem” holds much greater significance than the traditional understanding of it as “worthy of stoning.” Relying on the bible texts and establishing a connection between the story of Satan’s expulsion and the Quranic cosmology, Reynolds concludes that the term “rajeem” signifies someone barred from entering heaven, wherein heaven acts as a protective fortress, and the stars are placed in the lowest heaven not only as adornments but also as protectors. Describing the stars as “rajoome,” doesn’t mean they are missiles to be thrown at devils; instead, it signifies that they are part of the celestial fortress protecting heaven. Therefore, Reynolds considers the sacred book as the basis for a correct understanding of the Quranic verses, which has been overlooked by Islamic exegetes, resulting in a mistaken interpretation. The current research, using a descriptive-analytical method, presents Reynolds’ perspective and evaluates and critiques it from various angles. The results indicate that by employing other meanings of the root “rjm” in Arabic, without relying on the sacred books, it’s possible to reach the mentioned meaning of the term “rajeem” and revise the opinions of exegetes