Soraya is correct that the Biblical and Quranic accounts of Abraham's sacrifice differ regarding the son involved, but neither sacred text indicates that Joseph was that son ('Joseph or Isaac, depends on religion', May 1). Both the Bible and the Quran indicate that Joseph was the great-grandson of Abraham, the grandson of Isaac, and the son of Jacob.

In the Bible's account of Abraham's sacrifice, the son to be sacrificed is Isaac. In the Quran's account, that son is Ishmael. Important differences between the two accounts do not end there.

For example, in the biblical story, God commands Abraham to kill his son, but God later changes his mind and retracts the command. Jewish and Christian thinkers have wrestled for centuries with the problem of how a God who is supposed to be all-loving and all-good could exhibit what appears to be such caprice and meanness.

In the Quranic story, however, God never actually issues such a command. Rather, Abraham has a vision that he interprets to be a command to kill his son. Unlike the Biblical Abraham - who cannot bring himself to deal honestly with his son about the impending sacrifice, but deceives and manipulates the son instead - in the Quran's version of the story Abraham consults with his son about the vision. Both then freely submit themselves to what they conclude God wants them to do. Afterwards God intervenes to inform them that, though the vision was true, their understanding of it was in error. Then God, who is Most Merciful and Ever Compassionate, rewards both Abraham and his son for their faithfulness.

And God knows best.