Is there any contradiction between Qur'an and historic incidents?

17-12-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

I'm Rachel, a Christian from the UK. A Muslim (he told me about you) told me about Tafseer (exegesis) to understand the points below or to ask an Imam to explain them to me:
1) According to the Qur'an (Surah 7:120-125) Pharaoh used crucifixion in dealing with the sorcerers – a practice which historical evidence gives no precedent to before the Babylonian Empire. This is once again a problem of historical compression!
2) According to the Qur'an (Surah 20:90-100) a Samaritan helped the Israelites build the golden calf, and it mooed after coming out of the fire. In reality, Samaritans did not exist as a people until at least 1000 years after the time of the Moses and the Israelite exodus from Egypt. Again a problem of historical compression!
3) According to the Qur'an (Surah 9:30) the Jews believe that Ezra is the Son of God – the Messiah. This never has been a tenet of Judaism. This is a clear problem of distorted knowledge of other religions and historical fact!
4) According to the Qur'an (Surah 18:89-98) Alexander the Great was a devout Muslim and lived to a ripe old age. Historical records however show that Alexander the Great died young at 33 years of age (b. 356 B.C. - d. 323 B.C.), and believed he was divine, forcing others to recognize him as such. In India on the Hyphasis River (now Beas) Alexander erected twelve altars to twelve Olympian gods. Once again the Qur'an shows errors in historical and religious fact!
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

1) No one can claim with certainty that crucifixion was not practiced before the Babylonian Empire. If it was so, then how did the Pharaoh deal with the sorcerers who followed Moosa (Moses) may Allaah exalt his mention? We would like to reiterate that no evidence can support such a claim, since crucifixion was and is still a devilish means that is invented and practiced by tyrants. It was known in the era of Pharaohs' period of ruling as stated in the Quran: (what means) {… As for one of you, he (as a servant) will pour out wine for his lord (king or master) to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified and birds will eat from his head …} [Quran, 12: 41]

No doubt, that there is no similitude like the Pharaoh as a criminal tyrant, in history since he decided to kill every newborn male baby among the children of Israel and made that a code in the law of his state. It was natural for such a criminal tyrant to crucify his subjects.

2) As-Saamiri who is mentioned in Surah 20: verse 87 is the person who made a statue of a calf to the children of Israel when Moosa (Moses) may Allaah exalt his mention went to meet his Lord and assigned his brother Haaroon (Aaron) may Allaah exalt his mention to lead the children of Israel in his absence. There is no relation between As-Saamiri and the Jewish sect of Samaritans, who live in Syria and do not accept to leave it.

3) The Quranic verses which state that Jews say that 'Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allaah' give us the truth about the development of the Jewish dogma, which is built on paganism and polytheism. It is known that the Jews were used to changing their faith from time to time as stated in the books of sects and groups. According to Ibn Hazm may Allaah have mercy upon him in his book Al-Fasl: As-Suduqiya, a sect of the Jews (named after Suduq) believed that Ezra is the son of Allaah The Almighty.

4) Alexander the son of Philphos, the king lived between 356-323 C. E. and who is called 'The Great' is another person, i.e. he is not the same as Thul-Qarnayn who is mentioned in the Quran. This Alexander learnt philosophy at the hand of Aristotle and became a king for 12 years after his father's death in Rome and was buried in Alexandria.

5) The Quran clearly states the creed of Trinity of the Christians. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Surely, disbelievers are those who said: "Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity)." …} [Quran, 5: 73] Besides, the Holy Quran rebuts and disproves the creed of a sect of the Christians whose main creed is based on the belief in the godhood of the Christ and his mother. This sect is called Al-Barbarania or Ar-Rimiteen. It is well-known that the creed of Trinity (the father, the son and the Holy Ghost) was first fabricated after holding a general meeting in Nicea in 320 C.E. This was done in accordance with the order of the Empire of Romans at that time. Then, another assembly was held in Constantinople in 381 A.C. for the first time support the creed of Trinity. One hundred and fifty bishops attended that gathering. So, it becomes clear that the Quran deals with all forms of this false fabricated creed: The Trinity – old and new.

6) As for the brotherhood between Maryam (Mary), may Allaah exalt her mention, and Haaroon (Aaron) may Allaah exalt his mention as mentioned in the Quran, we state that the context does not mean Haaroon, i.e. the brother of Moosa, may Allaah exalt their mention, but another righteous man whose name was Haaroon. The children of Israel were and are still used to adopting the names of their Prophets as we see: Is-Haaq (Isaac), Yoosuf (Joseph), Daawood (David) and so on.

In Saheeh Muslim from al-Mugheerah ibn Shu'bah may Allaah be pleased with him who said, "When I went to Najraan (Christians were living in this village). They asked me, ' You recite, 'O Sister of Haaroon', and Moses was before Jesus in such and such of time'. He added, 'When I came to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) I asked him about that. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: 'They used to take the names of their prophets and the righteous before them.'"

Here, the inquirer should know that the Quran is the only Divine Book that exists among people without any form of distortion or interpolation. Allaah The Almighty has guaranteed to safeguard and preserve it. This is why if you bring a million copies from different countries or even continents you cannot find any difference between them. You cannot find a difference in its meanings or its rulings. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {… Had it been from other than Allaah, they would surely have found therein much contradictions.} [Quran, 4: 82]

Although many people have tried to raise questions regarding the Quran, their efforts have been in vain. We ask Allaah The Almighty to guide you to the right path before you breathe your last.

Allaah Knows best.

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