62
edits
WikiIslam:Sandbox/Fernando/Mecca: Difference between revisions
WikiIslam:Sandbox/Fernando/Mecca (view source)
Revision as of 15:44, 3 October 2023
, 3 October 2023Revised comments on the rock inscription, and added a reference
m (Add a link to a footnote reference) |
(Revised comments on the rock inscription, and added a reference) |
||
| Line 106: | Line 106: | ||
6. Who are said to share their location with Lot of Sodom and Gomorrah ({{Quran-range|37|133|138}}, {{Quran|11|89}}),which were somewhere near the Dead Sea. | 6. Who are said to share their location with Lot of Sodom and Gomorrah ({{Quran-range|37|133|138}}, {{Quran|11|89}}),which were somewhere near the Dead Sea. | ||
7. There is a rock inscription near Mecca which dates the building of | 7. There is a rock inscription near Mecca which dates the building of Al-Masjid-al-Haram to 78 AH / 697-698 CE<ref>[https://www.islamic-awareness.org/history/islam/inscriptions/haram1 www.islamic-awareness.org/history/islam/inscriptions/haram1]</ref>. | ||
The first three points only tell against traditional descriptions of Mecca as a bustling centre of trade. They are compatible with the existence of a sanctuary patronised by local tribes. But this raises the difficulty of the absence of Christians in the area, given that the Quran is so heavily influenced by Christianity. | The first three points only tell against traditional descriptions of Mecca as a bustling centre of trade. They are compatible with the existence of a sanctuary patronised by local tribes. But this raises the difficulty of the absence of Christians in the area, given that the Quran is so heavily influenced by Christianity. | ||
Problem seven about the inscription can be dismissed by the claim that the Arabic word translated as ‘built’ also means ‘rebuilt’. It should be noted however that this is compatible with the hypothesis that while there was a local sanctuary at Mecca, it became the Holy Mosque only in 78 AH | Problem seven about the inscription can be dismissed by the claim that the Arabic word translated as ‘built’ also means ‘rebuilt’<ref>https://archive.org/details/MedievalJerusalemAndIslamicWorshipHolyPlacesCeremoniesPilgrimageIslamicHistoryAndCivilization p.39.</ref>. It should be noted however that this is compatible with the hypothesis that while there was a local sanctuary at Mecca, it became the Holy Mosque only in 78 AH. | ||
The Becca problem could just be a scribal error. But then why was it not corrected before an authoritative text was issued? Furthermore, if the Quran is to be taken seriously as a source of historical knowledge, some explanation is required of why Abraham should have wanted to travel so far south from the Promised Land. Both problems could be solved by accepting that Becca is not Mecca, but somewhere further north. | The Becca problem could just be a scribal error. But then why was it not corrected before an authoritative text was issued? Furthermore, if the Quran is to be taken seriously as a source of historical knowledge, some explanation is required of why Abraham should have wanted to travel so far south from the Promised Land. Both problems could be solved by accepting that Becca is not Mecca, but somewhere further north. | ||