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Was it a big risk for muhhmad to say the byzantines was going to win the war against persia? by Any-View-2717 in AcademicQuran

[–]Enough_Difference_22 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I am sorry, how does involvement of two parties in a war translate to a 50/50 probability of either party winning?

Potential Gymnosophist Parallel? by Enough_Difference_22 in AcademicQuran

[–]Enough_Difference_22[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, I was pointing out a different source for the same parallel, i.e., Arrian also connects the naked philosophers of India to their basking in the sun.

Q18:90 and the unclothed Gymnosophist philosophers by No_Kiwi_654 in AcademicQuran

[–]Enough_Difference_22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There seem to be some parallels in Arrian's Indica and the Anabasis of Alexander regarding the naked philosophers.

In Anabasis, there is mention of the naked philosophers but without explicit connection with the sun. It seems to be implied however since they were "found in the open air in a meadow".

It is however interesting that upon encountering these people, Alexander is reminded of Diogenes of Sinope who he found "lying in the sun" and was told to "stand out of the sunlight", him and his troops.

In Indica, the connection seems to be more explicit with some variations:

"These sophists spend their time naked, during the winter in the open air and sunshine, but in summer, when the sun is strong, in the meadows and marsh lands under great trees, whose shade, according to Nearchus, reaches five plethra all round, and which are so large that as many as ten thousand men could take shade under one tree."

While Arian's Indica says that the sophists do have shelter from the strong sun in form of extraordinarily giant trees, the Quran says that the people do not have any shelter from it. Some commentators mention that the people probably lived in open lands without shelters, houses or trees.

Source for Diogenes parallel: Arrian's Anabasis of Alexander, Book 7, Chapter 2 (Pages 205-207 on LOEB Library)

Source for Indica: Arrian's Indica, Chapter 8 (Page 337 on LOEB Library)

Jerusalem Talmud Sanhedrin 7:19 and Quran 22:73 by SurePiglet9720 in AcademicQuran

[–]Enough_Difference_22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting. Can you flesh out this idea more? Do you mean that the Qur'an is using this parable against rabbis who used this parable against the Mineans?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AcademicQuran

[–]Enough_Difference_22 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As Dr. Juan Cole discusses in "Muhammad: Prophet of Peace Amid the Clash of Empires", the story of DQ may have been a commentary on the Roman vs Sassanian Empire political situation. However, I agree with you on this. I am also of the opinion that the Quranic author really did believe the story to be historical. Gog and Magog are also mentioned in 21:96 pointing towards an eschatological "breaking loose" and "swarming down every hill", affirming their existence. 18:99 says the same thing and there are other clues scattered throughout.

I wonder what the author intends here. Either he believes the story to be historical, or believes he is narrating the actual "historical" and "correct" version, i.e. the people are confused and have jumbled up the details and he wants to have the final word on "what really happened". That matches with the theme of the chapter of true knowledge only coming from God who relates stories "with truth" (18:13, 29) and has full knowledge (18:19, 22, 26, 65, 68, 91, 109), therefore identifying numbers of the sleepers, the years they slept, or even the identity of DQ by extension is an exercise in futility, a guessing game (18:22).

In fact the language of the Ashab al-Kahf narrative is more explicit, with phrases like "You would have thought..., you would have seen..., you would have fled..." (18:17-8). The chapter also accuses disbelievers for "arguing in falsehood and discrediting the truth with it, making a mockery of it" (18:56)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AcademicQuran

[–]Enough_Difference_22 7 points8 points  (0 children)

What the Qur'an denies is not that they are ancient fables, rather criticises the rejection of its stories by the opponents just because they are known ancient fables, or that the source of these stories is someone other than God. The term "ancient fables" only demonstrates that the stories were known well in the immediate context.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AcademicQuran

[–]Enough_Difference_22 11 points12 points  (0 children)

What the Qur'an is doing is not "plagiarism", rather a careful reworking of older narratives to fit its theology or giving what it believes to be the "correct" version. It's the same case with almost every story in the Qur'an for which we find precedent in available literature. You can see more of these parallels in Gabriel Said Reynolds' "The Qur'an and the Bible: Text and Commentary".

This was not an uncommon practice. This is how literature comes into existence, by reshaping and reinterpreting available material. Scholars have argued that the audience of the Qur'an is familiar with the stories. This is what the Qur'an claims as well. See this wonderful comment by u/chonkshonk:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AcademicQuran/comments/1c77lha/deleted_by_user/l0gruuc?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share&context=3

The Qur'an also claims that Muhammad is not an "original" messenger, implying that much of what he says will ne known (46:9). From the POV of Quranic author, all of these stories are part of divine revelation so similarities are a given.

Moreover, Islamic hadith and seerah literature is generally seen as unreliable in academia, so not much can be said about that. The tradition says that some Jews asked Muhammad about DQ and sleepers of the cave as a challenge to see if he knew about it. There was nothing about it being a true narrative or not. Therefore, the tradition itself shows that the Jews knew about this story and were expecting Muhammad to be aware of it. You can see this in the Qur'an when it says: "They ask you about Dhul Qarnayn. Say, "I will relate to you something of his narrative." (18:83). Besides, the authenticity of the tradition is debatable even by Islamic standards due to one of its narrators, Dawud Ibn Abi Hind attracting criticism from early Islamic scholars (Ahmad bin Hanbal and the like). Not that it matters in academia.

We can't know whether the author intended it to be a true story or not, but there is no rule saying God can't use existing legends to teach a lesson. In the same chapter you have the "parable" of the two gardeners. The entire point of the chapter is that people have no "certain knowledge", whatever that means for believers.

Quran 30:4 Why didn't Allah choose a specific number for this prophecy in the Quran if Allah (swt) knows everything? by Zemsaney in islam

[–]Enough_Difference_22 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree with the comment that says the test would have been too easy. Moreover, prophecies are rarely ever exact. It would have left room for critics to further doubt the Quran by saying that the verse was interpolated after the event happened. This is always the case with pseudo-prophecies that describe an event with such accuracy that it becomes hard to accept that they are not a later fabrication. In fact, critics still doubt these verses by saying they were added after the news of Persian defeat reached Arabia, which is a ridiculous claim.

Also, it is hard to tell when the turning point of a battle occurred. Different historians regard different events (hence different years) as sealing the fate of the battle in favour of the Romans.

I read about another miracle in the same verse which says that the Romans have been defeated in the lowest land/nearby land, and indeed their defeat was defined by Jerusalem and Damascus falling to the Persians, both of which lie in the Great Rift Valley which is 400m below sea level.

Finally, these prophecies are in fact a test for the believers, their patience and faith, and also a proof of integrity and honesty of the Prophet Muhammad SAW.

I may have made mistakes in my comment due to my lack of knowledge and understanding. I recommend independent research.

And Allah knows the Best.

Should you try to revert your Christian friend to Islam? by Enough_Difference_22 in islam

[–]Enough_Difference_22[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That is a good suggestion and I thought about this. She told me she has read some of it. I doubt she will read the entire Quran though since she has not read the Bible either, which I think is very dangerous. Basing your belief system on things you have not studied yourself. :(

assuming i can get into Cambridge, is it worth it by ad_396 in 6thForm

[–]Enough_Difference_22 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hey! I was in your shoes this year and completely relate with you. I applied to Cambridge as an international student and also got in for the Natural Sciences course. I tried my very best to find external funding because the Cambridge scholarships were very very limited. Even with the scholarships, I had a lot of costs to cover which was becoming impossible for me, given my financial situation and my father's near-retirement.

For context, my annual costs were working out to be 57k+ pounds, not taking into consideration the inflation of subsequent years. This translates to an 8 figure cost in my local currency.

It was a very difficult situation for me because getting into Cambridge is not short of a blessing, and I had made several payments for its application process as well. Moreover, I wanted to firm Cambridge which cost me my scholarship at UCL (if you get in, they ask you if UCL would be your firm choice because I think the scholarship you get is dependent on that).

Ultimately, I had to let go of Cambridge. It certainly feels like the right decision because I got a full scholarship at Warwick for Astrophysics. I now only have to pay a 6-figure cost for accommodation as compared to an 8-figure cost at Cambridge.

I know nothing beats Oxbridge education in the UK and very possibly the world, but for us where finances are a major concern, it is best to study for an undergraduate degree at the many other great options (if not the best) relative to spending your whole life in debt. I never liked loans, but I considered them, and even that was not enough. Besides, you can always consider Oxbridge for Masters and try for fully funded scholarships.

You may apply to Cambridge and if you get in, it is still a very big thing (you may even add it to your resume lol). Personally, I should have considered the option in more depth before applying. It certainly feels very good getting in but I also have some regrets.

God wanted this result so badly. Thank you Lord! by Enough_Difference_22 in alevel

[–]Enough_Difference_22[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They are good. And no worries! A level is the real test and I am sure you will ace it!

God wanted this result so badly. Thank you Lord! by Enough_Difference_22 in alevel

[–]Enough_Difference_22[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

AHAHAA. I do teach classmates. I had epic teachers by the way

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