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Scientific Miracles in the Quran: Difference between revisions
Scientific Miracles in the Quran (view source)
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==Preservation of Pharaoh's body== | ==Preservation of Pharaoh's body== | ||
The medical Doctor [[Bucailleism|Maurice Bucaille]] is best known for his claim about the mummified body of the Pharaoh Merneptah (d. 1203 BCE), whose body is on display in a museum in Cairo. Merneptah's father was the more famous Rameses II, who died at the age of 90 and suffered from severe arteriosclerosis (nevertheless, Rameses is more commonly associated with the Exodus story). Bucaille claimed that the body of Merneptah, whom he assumes was the ruler in the Exodus story, shows signs of death by drowning, which in turn is claimed to be compatible with the story in {{Quran-range|10|90|92}}. Bucaille examined the mummy when it was temporarily moved to Paris as it was rapidly deteriorating. | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|10|90|92}}|And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said, "I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe, and I am of the Muslims." Now? And you had disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters? So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many among the people, of Our signs, are heedless}} | |||
However, [[w:Merneptah|Merneptah]] suffered from arthritis and atherosclerosis and died as an old man. Further, the salt crystals in his body which was the basis for Bucaille's claim of death by drowning is simply a result of Egyptian burial and preservation practices. Natron, the drying agent used in ancient Egypt is a mixture of baking soda and salt. It is therefore entirely expected to find salt in mummies. In fact, secular historians do not even regard the [[w:The_Exodus#Origins_and_historicity|Exodus to have been a historical event]], let alone identify which Pharaoh was involved, since there is a total absense of independent evidence to support the story as described in the scriptures. | |||
==Title of Malik (King) vs Pharaoh in the stories of Joseph and Moses== | ==Title of Malik (King) vs Pharaoh in the stories of Joseph and Moses== | ||
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While the pharaoh at the time of the exodus story is traditionally believed to be Rameses II, it is unclear exactly when Joseph is supposed to have lived (secular historians generally consider neither Joseph nor Moses to be historical figures). Sometime during the era of the New Kingdom, Second Intermediate Period, the pharaoh title became the form of address for a person who was king. The [[w:Pharaoh#Etymology|earliest confirmed usage]] of pharaoh as a title is for Akhenaten (reigned c. 1353–1336 BCE), or possibly Thutmose III (c. 1479–1425 BCE). | While the pharaoh at the time of the exodus story is traditionally believed to be Rameses II, it is unclear exactly when Joseph is supposed to have lived (secular historians generally consider neither Joseph nor Moses to be historical figures). Sometime during the era of the New Kingdom, Second Intermediate Period, the pharaoh title became the form of address for a person who was king. The [[w:Pharaoh#Etymology|earliest confirmed usage]] of pharaoh as a title is for Akhenaten (reigned c. 1353–1336 BCE), or possibly Thutmose III (c. 1479–1425 BCE). | ||
The miracle claim is somewhat inaccurate regarding its claims about the Bible given that the Joseph parallels in Genesis chapters 39-41 in fact use Melekh (king) and Pharaoh interchangably.<ref>[https://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0139.htm "Genesis Chapter 39 בְּרֵאשִׁית"] mechon-mamre.org</ref> Compare for example Genesis [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2039%3A20&version=NIV 39:20], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2041%3A46&version=NIV 41:46], and [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2047%3A11&version=NIV 47:11]. | The miracle claim is somewhat inaccurate regarding its claims about the Bible given that the Joseph parallels in Genesis chapters 39-41 in fact use Melekh (king) and Pharaoh interchangably.<ref>[https://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0139.htm "Genesis Chapter 39 בְּרֵאשִׁית"] mechon-mamre.org</ref> Compare for example Genesis [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2039%3A20&version=NIV 39:20], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2040%3A1&version=NIV 40:1], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2040%3A6&version=NIV 40:6], [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2041%3A46&version=NIV 41:46], and [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2047%3A11&version=NIV 47:11]. | ||
==Pharaoh's claim to divinity== | ==Pharaoh's claim to divinity== | ||
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{{Quote|{{Quran|28|38}}|And Pharaoh said: O chiefs! I know not that ye have a god other than me, so kindle for me (a fire), O Haman, to bake the mud; and set up for me a lofty tower in order that I may survey the god of Moses; and lo! I deem him of the liars.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|28|38}}|And Pharaoh said: O chiefs! I know not that ye have a god other than me, so kindle for me (a fire), O Haman, to bake the mud; and set up for me a lofty tower in order that I may survey the god of Moses; and lo! I deem him of the liars.}} | ||
Aside from controversies concerning exactly in what sense, when and by whom the | Aside from controversies concerning exactly in what sense, when and by whom the pharaohs were considered to be divine, Jewish traditions in the centuries before the Quran maintained a trope that the pharaoh made such a claim for himself. These were based on Rabbinic exegesis of two verses in the Biblical book of Ezekiel. | ||
{{Quote|[https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/29-3.htm Ezekiel 29:3]|Speak to him and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, you great monster lying among your streams. You say, “The Nile belongs to me; I made it for myself.”}} | {{Quote|[https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/29-3.htm Ezekiel 29:3]|Speak to him and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, you great monster lying among your streams. You say, “The Nile belongs to me; I made it for myself.”}} | ||
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|''Who Is Like unto Thee Among the Gods, 0 Lord'' (Exod. 15:11). Who is like unto Thee among those who call themselves gods? Pharaoh called himself a god, as it is said: 'The river is mine" (Ezek 29:9}; "And I have made myself" (Ezek. 29.3)}} | |''Who Is Like unto Thee Among the Gods, 0 Lord'' (Exod. 15:11). Who is like unto Thee among those who call themselves gods? Pharaoh called himself a god, as it is said: 'The river is mine" (Ezek 29:9}; "And I have made myself" (Ezek. 29.3)}} | ||
We see similar exegesis occuring a number of times in the midrash Tanhuma, a name given to three texts, of which the relevant one is the Yelammedenu (also known as Tanhuma B), though also occuring in later texts such as Exodus Rabba. The earliest date for the final redactive layer of the Tanhuma Yelammedenu is the eigth or nineth century CE.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Midrash_Tanchuma%2C_Introduction?lang=bi Midrash Tanchuma introduction] - Sefaria.org</ref> However, its first phase seems to have existed by the sixth century.<ref>Myron B. Lerner, "The works of Aggadic Midrash and Esther Midrashim" in Eds. Sefrai et. al. (2006) [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Aed5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA150 The literature of the Sages: Second Part] Netherlands: Royal van Gorcum and Fortress Press, p.150</ref> See for example | We see similar exegesis occuring a number of times in the midrash Tanhuma, a name given to three texts, of which the relevant one is the Yelammedenu (also known as Tanhuma B), though also occuring in later texts such as Exodus Rabba. The earliest date for the final redactive layer of the Tanhuma Yelammedenu is the eigth or nineth century CE.<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Midrash_Tanchuma%2C_Introduction?lang=bi Midrash Tanchuma introduction] - Sefaria.org</ref> However, its first phase seems to have existed by the sixth century.<ref>Myron B. Lerner, "The works of Aggadic Midrash and Esther Midrashim" in Eds. Sefrai et. al. (2006) [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Aed5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA150 The literature of the Sages: Second Part] Netherlands: Royal van Gorcum and Fortress Press, p.150</ref> See for example Midrash Tanhuma Vaera 9.<ref>"See, I have set thee in God’s stead to Pharaoh (Exod. 7:1). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: The wicked Pharaoh boasts that he is a god. Make him realize that he is an insignificant being. Indeed, I will make you appear as a god to him. Whence do we know that he claimed to be divine? It is said: My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself (Ezek. 29:3). Therefore, he will look at you and say: “Surely this one is god.”"<BR>[https://www.sefaria.org/Midrash_Tanchuma%2C_Vaera.9.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en Midrash Tanhuma Vaera 9] Safaria.org</ref> | ||
Another midrash on this topic from the Yelammedenu, occurs in Midrash Tanhuma Bereshit 7. | |||
{{Quote|Midrash Tanhuma Bereshit 7<ref>[https://www.sefaria.org/Midrash_Tanchuma%2C_Bereshit.7.12?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en Midrash Tanhuma Bereshit 7] Sefaria.org</ref>|Observe that everyone who desired to be worshipped as a divine being constructed a palace for himself in the midst of the sea. Pharaoh erected a palace in the midst of the water and dammed up the water of the Nile to keep it from flowing into the Mediterranean."}} | |||
Yet another exegesis, this time of [https://biblehub.com/exodus/7-15.htm Exodus 7:15] occurs in Midrash Tanhuma Vaera 14 as quoted by Prof. Scott Noegel. | |||
{{Quote|Midrash Tanhuma 2:2:14 (5th cent.)<ref>Footnote 1 in [https://www.thetorah.com/article/why-pharaoh-went-to-the-nile Why Pharaoh went to the Nile] by Prof. Scott B. Noegel Accessed 19 Oct 2021</ref><ref>It is also translated on the Sefaria site: "And the Lord said unto Moses: “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh from the water” (Exod. 8:16). Why did Pharaoh go to the waters early in the morning? Because the wicked one boasted that since he was a god, he had no need to go to the water to relieve himself." [https://www.sefaria.org/Midrash_Tanchuma%2C_Vaera.14.1?lang=bi Midrash Tanhuma Vaera 14] Saferia.org</ref>|Why was he going out to the water? Because the wicked man was boasting of himself, for he had said that he was a god and had no need to relieve himself. Therefore he went out to the water in the morning, so that no one would see he was a (mere) man.}} | {{Quote|Midrash Tanhuma 2:2:14 (5th cent.)<ref>Footnote 1 in [https://www.thetorah.com/article/why-pharaoh-went-to-the-nile Why Pharaoh went to the Nile] by Prof. Scott B. Noegel Accessed 19 Oct 2021</ref><ref>It is also translated on the Sefaria site: "And the Lord said unto Moses: “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh from the water” (Exod. 8:16). Why did Pharaoh go to the waters early in the morning? Because the wicked one boasted that since he was a god, he had no need to go to the water to relieve himself." [https://www.sefaria.org/Midrash_Tanchuma%2C_Vaera.14.1?lang=bi Midrash Tanhuma Vaera 14] Saferia.org</ref>|Why was he going out to the water? Because the wicked man was boasting of himself, for he had said that he was a god and had no need to relieve himself. Therefore he went out to the water in the morning, so that no one would see he was a (mere) man.}} | ||