The Tree of Light
English العربية فارسی

One family, remembered by many peoples

From Adam to the Twelve Imams, and to Jesus

من آدم إلى الأئمة الاثني عشر

A single family tree drawn from Islamic, Jewish and Christian sources. From Adam it runs as one line to Abraham, then follows Ishmael's line to the Prophet Muhammad and the Twelve Imams, and Isaac's line through Moses and David to Mary and Jesus. It names every child the sources record, shows where they disagree, and sets the traditions side by side.

Open the family tree Read the introduction

What you will find

More than a list of names

Every child the sources name

Each generation lists all the children its main source records, not only the ancestor the line runs through. Names that come from later tradition or a minority source are marked.

Where the sources differ

Ages, names, numbers of children and whole stretches of the line differ between sources. Each disagreement is flagged on the tree and explained.

Encyclopedia entries across traditions

Entries on the main figures set Islamic, Jewish, Christian and other traditions side by side with history and modern scholarship. A filter lets you read one tradition at a time, and author's notes point out where the traditions meet.

The verses themselves

References to the Bible and the Qurʾan open the verse in English, Arabic or Persian, with buttons to read on through the passage.

Start with a person

Some of the people in the tree

Each opens the family tree at that person, with their dates, children, sources and encyclopedia entry.

Further

Find your way around

Index of entries

All the encyclopedia entries, A to Z or in the order of the tree.

Introduction

What the tree shows, the sources it uses and how it treats each tradition.

Glossary

The technical terms from every tradition, from AH to Zohar.

Method and sources

How the tree was put together, generation by generation.