THE QURAN'S KNOWLEDGE OF NON-ARAB NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS [THREAD]
![THE QURAN'S KNOWLEDGE OF NON-ARAB NAMES AND THEIR MEANINGS [THREAD] https://t.co/mSZGJZ4RXp](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FeU8uvpXwA0-W1-.jpg)
During the time of Prophet Muhammad ļ·ŗ, Hebrew was an extinct spoken language, surviving only as a liturgical language, for example biblical Hebrew for Judaism.
We could compare this to Latin today. Catholics use Latin in some religious capacities, and there are scholars who study and read old Latin works. But nobody in everyday language is speaking Latin.
Muhammad ļ·ŗ was also an Arab, so he would not have knowledge of the Hebrew language. Despite this, The Quran mentions names with Hebrew origins and references their meanings.
Let's take a look at some examples:
Gabriel is a name derived from Hebrew meaning āGod is my strengthā [1]. Amazingly, we find in the Quran the Angel Gabriel is synonymous with strength:
![Gabriel is a name derived from Hebrew meaning āGod is my strengthā [1]. Amazingly, we find in the Qu...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FeU2cJ_XkAAfCFP.png)
The name Abraham in Hebrew means father of great multitude or many nations [2]. The Quran also mentions Abraham as the father of the believers in a metaphorical and spiritual way:
![The name Abraham in Hebrew means father of great multitude or many nations [2]. The Quran also menti...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FeU24zwXkAkPjwN.png)
Isaac is a Hebrew name which means laughter or to laugh [3]. The Quran also mentions laughter with Isaac:
![Isaac is a Hebrew name which means laughter or to laugh [3]. The Quran also mentions laughter with I...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FeV5KbqXoAEqRdV.png)
In Hebrew, Ishmael means āGod will hearā [4]. In the Quran, God hearing is mentioned alongside Ishmael:
![In Hebrew, Ishmael means āGod will hearā [4]. In the Quran, God hearing is mentioned alongside Ishma...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FeV6NHpWQAcHkZZ.png)
In Hebrew, Zechariah means āGod has rememberedā [5]. The Quran mentions something similar along with the name:
![In Hebrew, Zechariah means āGod has rememberedā [5]. The Quran mentions something similar along with...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FeV6gnbXwAMZFkG.png)
The name John is derived from the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning āgraced by Godā [6]. The Quran uses the Arabic word āHannanā when John is mentioned, meaning graciousness or affection:
![The name John is derived from the Hebrew Yohanan, meaning āgraced by Godā [6]. The Quran uses the Ar...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FeV69tCX0AABm7Y.png)
To conclude, the Bible was not translated into Arabic until a couple of centuries after the time of the Prophet Muhammad ļ·ŗ.
Therefore, all of these examples mean Muhammad ļ·ŗ must have had a teacher well versed in Hebrew explaining all the terms to him. But there are a few problems with such a claim.
Firstly, there werenāt many, if any, Jews living in Makkah and those in Madinah were hostile to Islam.
Secondly, had someone been teaching Muhammad ļ·ŗ, it would have been easily noticed by his companions and enemies which would have tarnished his credibility as a Prophet.
Thirdly, the Quran consistently rebukes the Jews, so it would make no sense for a well-versed Rabbi or student of Jewish texts to teach anything to someone who offends his people.
From where then did the Prophet ļ·ŗ get this knowledge of Hebrew from?
REFERENCES:
[1] Dictionary of Middle Egyptian by Paul Dickson, December 2001, p. 61
[2] A Concise Dictionary of the Hebrew Bible by James Strong SH85 & SH87
[3] A Concise Dictionary of the Hebrew Bible by James Strong SH3327 & SH3446
[4] abarim-publications.comā¦
[1] Dictionary of Middle Egyptian by Paul Dickson, December 2001, p. 61
[2] A Concise Dictionary of the Hebrew Bible by James Strong SH85 & SH87
[3] A Concise Dictionary of the Hebrew Bible by James Strong SH3327 & SH3446
[4] abarim-publications.comā¦
[5] A Concise Dictionary of the Hebrew Bible by James Strong SH2148
[6] A Concise Dictionary of the Hebrew Bible by James Strong SH1403 & SH1397
[6] A Concise Dictionary of the Hebrew Bible by James Strong SH1403 & SH1397
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