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Zul-Qarnain - What is the argument?
Let me make a few comments as well.
Apart from minor quibbles, I fully agree with Khalid Jan
and most of the Muslim responses on this issue that have been given
on various forums.
That is, I agree as far as they stressed that Zul-Qarnain cannot
possibly be the historical figure of Alexander the Great.
As such I am greatful to Khalid Jan that he has provided even more
reasons than are found in the chapters by Mr. Rafiqul-Haqq and
Mr. Newton showing that Zul-Qarnain doesn't fit what we know of
the historical Alexander.
Isn't it wonderful that we can all unanimously agree?
Well, what is wrong? I have never claimed that Zul-Qarnain IS
the historical Alexander the Great. I don't know why your move to agree
with me in this is considered a rebuttal.
Let me explain what the argument is:
- There is the historical figure of Alexander the Great.
- There are many Alexander legends which have very little to
do with history but which have spread widely all over the
ancient world and especially the Jews and the Christians have
made him into "a saint and godly man". The people of the Book
had many legends about Alexander the Great.
- There is the account of Zul-Qarnain in the Qur'an.
The argument is then that the Qur'anic story is clearly taken from
the legends about Alexander. There are many many details of the Qur'an
account which are nearly verbatim to be found in the Alexander legends.
Conclusion: Zul-Qarnain clearly is the Alexander the Great
of the legend stories. And because the Qur'an presents the material from
the legends as if this were history, it shows that Muhammad could
not distinguish between legends and history when he incorporated
this material in the Qur'an. This is evidence that the Qur'an is
not of divine origin.
Everything the Muslims have written on this topic so far which shows
further discrepancies between Zul-Quarnain of the Qur'an and Alexander
of history strengthens the original argument instead of refuting
it. Arguing that because of the discrepancies the Qur'an does not talk
about Alexander but about somebody else is fallacious.
Nobody has yet answered to the evidence presented that the account
of Zul-Qarnain in the Qur'an is not taken from the legends.
I hope that is helped to clarify the structure of the argument.
Best regards,
Jochen Katz
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