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Historical Errors in the Quran: Difference between revisions
→Countable currency in ancient Egypt: Added two academic sources for ancient Egyptian anachronisms - from Sean W Anthony's Reddit AMA on r/AcademicQuran.
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(→Countable currency in ancient Egypt: Added two academic sources for ancient Egyptian anachronisms - from Sean W Anthony's Reddit AMA on r/AcademicQuran.) |
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Moreover, there is no ancient Egyptian evidence of cross amputation (punitive removal of a single hand and foot on alternate sides). It seems that here again a contemporary punitive practice has been transferred in the Quran to ancient Egypt. A parallel using the same Arabic words occurs in {{Quran|5|33}}, which commands crucifixion or cross amputation among a range of punishment options (both of which became part of Islamic jurisprudence). In the exceptionally cruel combination of both punishments put in the mouth of Pharaoh (see also {{Quran|7|124}} and {{Quran|26|49}}), the victim would need to be fastened to the palm tree and / or nailed through the remaining two extremities. | Moreover, there is no ancient Egyptian evidence of cross amputation (punitive removal of a single hand and foot on alternate sides). It seems that here again a contemporary punitive practice has been transferred in the Quran to ancient Egypt. A parallel using the same Arabic words occurs in {{Quran|5|33}}, which commands crucifixion or cross amputation among a range of punishment options (both of which became part of Islamic jurisprudence). In the exceptionally cruel combination of both punishments put in the mouth of Pharaoh (see also {{Quran|7|124}} and {{Quran|26|49}}), the victim would need to be fastened to the palm tree and / or nailed through the remaining two extremities. | ||
Professor Sean W Anthony notes this anachronism and why it may have occurred when asked about it in his Reddit r/AcademicQuran [https://www.reddit.com/r/AcademicQuran/comments/13rkbxo/comment/jll1x3v/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button AMA]. | |||
===Samarians in ancient Egypt=== | ===Samarians in ancient Egypt=== | ||
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===Countable currency in ancient Egypt=== | ===Countable currency in ancient Egypt=== | ||
Surah Yusuf mentions that the caravan that rescued the eponymous prophet from the pit sold him to an Egyptian "for a low price, a few dirhams". Leaving aside the fact that dirham<ref>''[http://arabiclexicon.hawramani.com/search/%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%87%D9%85 Dirham/dirhem درهم Entry]'' - The Arabic-English Lexicon Dictionary. ArabicLexicon.Hawramani.com (formerly Lisaan.net)</ref> coins did not exist in ancient Egypt, a more fundamental problem is that the price is indicated as having been some kind of discreetly countable currency: darāhima maʿdūdatin ("dirhams counted"). The word maʿdūdatin occurs throughout the Quran denoting something discreetly numbered, for example "[Fasting for] a limited number of days" in {{Quran|2|184}}. Thus, it is not describing a weight of valuable material, but a countable currency. Such a thing did not exist in ancient Egypt. Rather, there were stone weights, particularly the denben, for measuring amounts of precious metals and to price other goods that could be barter traded, but not itself nor units of metal used as a means of exchange.<ref>[https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1079/trade-in-ancient-egypt/ Trade in ancient Egypt] - World History Encyclopedia</ref> | Surah Yusuf mentions that the caravan that rescued the eponymous prophet from the pit sold him to an Egyptian "for a low price, a few dirhams". Leaving aside the fact that dirham<ref>''[http://arabiclexicon.hawramani.com/search/%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%87%D9%85 Dirham/dirhem درهم Entry]'' - The Arabic-English Lexicon Dictionary. ArabicLexicon.Hawramani.com (formerly Lisaan.net)</ref> coins did not exist in ancient Egypt, a more fundamental problem is that the price is indicated as having been some kind of discreetly countable currency: darāhima maʿdūdatin ("dirhams counted"). The word maʿdūdatin occurs throughout the Quran denoting something discreetly numbered, for example "[Fasting for] a limited number of days" in {{Quran|2|184}}. Thus, it is not describing a weight of valuable material, but a countable currency. Such a thing did not exist in ancient Egypt. Rather, there were stone weights, particularly the denben, for measuring amounts of precious metals and to price other goods that could be barter traded, but not itself nor units of metal used as a means of exchange.<ref>[https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1079/trade-in-ancient-egypt/ Trade in ancient Egypt] - World History Encyclopedia</ref> Professor Sean W. Anthony notes this anachronism in this Reddit r/AcademicQuran [https://www.reddit.com/r/AcademicQuran/comments/13rkbxo/comment/jll79du/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button AMA]. | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|12|20}}|And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|12|20}}|And they sold him for a reduced price - a few dirhams - and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.}} | ||