Answering Christianity Research Center

As-Salam aleikum,

thank you dear brother Osama, I was thinking also that it will be better to preserve those images from being lost, exactly like you have made it with my previous images from the post concerning DSS corruption, remember ?

CD....

Other scholars also shares a similar view. This of course explain why rabbi Saadia Gaon has mentioned Mecca and Medina in Genesis 10:30. This is not only his paraphrase concluded from the context as some might think, because if you go to the Hebrew text you will notice there such word as באכה (baka) which was translated as “as thou goest” ! 


On that occasion it must be stressed that the Hebrew משׁא (Mesha), that preceds באכה, does not stand here for Mecca as some of you would suppose. Lexicons says that this word is of foreign derivation, and there is no consensus as to whether it refers to a place somewhere in Arabia, or to a region, or to a north Arabian tribe. In any case, we have to concentrate on באכה (bakah), and it would be quite preferable to remember this word in its exact Hebrew form for the next portion of information’s.

The second proof which Allah Almighty let me to discover comes from a rare book called The Asatir: The Samaritan Book of the Secrets of Moses which was translated and published by Dr. Moses Gaster in 1927. This ancient document according to Dr. Moses is much older than Josephus or the Palestinian Targum, and after comparing it with the other manuscripts assumes that this book could not have been compiled later than between 250-200 B.C. In Chapter VIII of this book we read:



No comment… you have a crystal clear proof! But let’s read what Dr. Moses have said in his commentary to the last fragment “Built Mecca” of the verse 3:



Reference: The Asatir: The Samaritan Book of the Secrets of Moses, together with the Pitron or Samaritan commentary and the Samaritan story of the death of Moses, introduction, translation and notes by M. Gaster, Ph.D. (London: The Royal Asiatic Society, 1927), p. 262.

Notice the same word באכה (Baka) which can be found in the Hebrew text of Genesis 10:30 !
Mecca was mentioned among others biblical places, and so in the first and oldest book of the Torah. On the other hand, Ptolemy’s Makoraba - or most probably Makkorabba as some scholars suggested – is also an intriguing issue, and it seems that this word consist of two separable segments, namely:
 
1. Makko = Mekka = Bakka
2. Rabba = from rabb which means in arabic "The Lord"

Based on this, it can be translated literally as “Mekka of the Lord” or “the Lord of Mekka”. Such interpretation is reinforced by discovering an inscription which was engraved in one of the corners of the foundation of the Kaaba during its renovation in 605 A.D. by the people of Quraysh. The mysterious writing was composed in Syriac as relates Ibn Ishaq, and they could not understand it until some Jew read it for them. The text goes as follows: “I am Allah, the Lord of Bakka, I created it on the day that I created heaven and earth and formed the sun and moon, and I surrounded it with seven pious angels. It will stand while its two mountains stand, a blessing to its people with milk and water.” [Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah, trans. A. Guillaume, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2004), pp. 85-86.]

Ibn Ishaq immediately after citing this amazing inscription have said: “I was told that they found in the maqam a writing: ‘Mecca is God’s holy house…”

I believe this is the answer, because if Ptolemy by saying Makorabba has in mind a temple rather than a city it would make sense in relation to what we have just read, i.e. that Mecca according to the writing on maqam was called a “holy house of God”, and in result this perfectly fits the conception about Ptolemy’s Makkorabba as “The Lord of Mekka”. Some scholars also have proposed the translation “The Temple of the Lord” which again leads to the same point.

Anyway, in conclusion we have at least two strong proofs directly from an ancient source showing that Mecca is a historical location and indeed existed long before Christian era, and as it is testified by ancient versions of Torah. The Christians of course will try to deny their authority as usually.

Take care, and salam
Ahmed (Poland, Warsaw)

Salam aleikum,

I know all about of those informations you've posted brother. Maybe you right, since Mecca was covered by mountains and it has not too much population, perhaps this argument would justify why there are so few historical witnesses to its existence.

As to my obvious proof, it comes directly from an early translation of Genesis (the first book of the Pentateuch), and also from an ancient samaritan writing ascribed to the Prophet Moses (pbuh). I will discuss it insha'Allah today

As-Salam aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa baraketuh,

How to explain that there is no non-Islamic testimony about the existence of Mekka in old times except only from the Greco-Egyptian geographer Ptolemy in the mid-2nd century A.D., who mentioned a place Makoraba, but even here it is not certain whether this allusion indeed referred to Mecca, as he only mentioned the name in passing (I know that many historians have said that Prolemy mentioned Mekka naming it as Makoraba, but it does not satisfy me)
Do we have some early, historical report which can prove that Mekka existed before Christian era ?

Actually I have found an obvious proof, but I need first to know how Muslims explain almost completely lack of evidences dealing with the historicity of Mekka.

As-Salam aleikum wa rahmatullahi wa baraketuh,

I am really amazed when I read that Christians are still trying to prove that Isaiah 42 foretells Jesus advent (pbuh) - and not Mohammed (pbuh) - by using these miserable arguments based only on translations, and by alluding mostly to the New Testament's content which is not regarded as a historical source according to the Christian scholars themselves. On the other hand, there are a lot of info which clearly indicates that this servant of God must have been originally named as "Ahmed". Also, for instance, the person which was mentioned in Haggai 2:7 as the "desire of all nations" (heb. hemdat) is described as a "Chosen one" similarly to the servant of God from Isaiah 42:1 ! I have a proof from one of the greatest rabbi that the Hebrew term hemed which appears among others in Haggai 2:7 is a proper name! Even Isaiah 53 - a Chapter which perhaps none of muslim would imagine as a prophecy about Muhammed (pbuh) - paradoxically describes Prophet Mohammed (pbuh). How ? Uff...long research brothers, but I will share with you insha'Allah my project, just be patient.

Take care, and salam
Ahmed (Poland, Warsaw)

Oh, it's OK, I didn't check the second link in which are preserved all of those images. I apologize. Uff, but it was close! Thank's to brother Osama who took care of those images.

Take care, and salam
Ahmed (Poland, Warsaw)

Assalamu alaikum,

Brother Idris,I couldn't find anything about a man who was named Voscan Erewanci on the internet. Can you give us more details about him?

Wa aleikum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa baraketuh dear brother Abdullah Almadi,

Of course akhi, the person that I wrote as Archbishop Voscan Erewanci exist. It’s true, it is very difficult to find this guy, but after a long days of search finally I’ve found his bibliography in Russian wiki (just use “translate it” function in Google Chrome):

Link: https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%95%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9

His surname “Yerewanci” probably derives from the word Yerevan or Erivan (which is a capital city of Armenia).

The reason that it is difficult to find him is because his name and surname are written differently: sometimes you find him as Uscan, Auscan, Oscan or Voscan…. Yerevantsi, Yerevantsy, Erevanci etc. but as I noticed, his name is usually written as “Oskan Yerewanc‘I” or “Voscan Yerevantsi”.

Read also about the Armenian printing (you have to translate it also):

Link: http://xn--b1aeclack5b4j.xn--c1avg.xn--p1ai/wiki/%D0%98%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BC%D1%8F%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE_%D0%BA%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F

The references for his Armenian Bible are:

1. Astuacasunc‘ [Bible] Amsterdam: pr. Oskan Yerewanc‘i, St. Ejmiacin & St. Sargis Press, 1666-1668. - 1470p. -Size 21/14.7cm.
Link: http://greenstone.flib.sci.am/gsdl/collect/armenian/Books/astvacashunch_index.html
2. Astuacasunc‘ [Bible] Venice: pub. Mxit‘ar Sebastac‘i, pr. Anton Bortoli, 1733. -1290p. -Size: 24.2/14.2cm
Link: http://greenstone.flib.sci.am/gsdl/collect/armenian/Books/astvacashunch1733_index.html

Link: https://hy.wikisource.org/wiki/%D5%84%D5%A1%D5%BD%D5%B6%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%AB%D6%81:Chaojoker/%D4%B1%D5%B6%D5%A3%D5%AC%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%A7%D5%B6_%D5%B4%D5%A1%D5%BF%D5%A5%D5%B6%D5%A1%D5%A3%D6%80%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%AB%D6%82%D5%B6#1603_-_1700

And do you still need someone who speaks Armenian?

Yes brother, actual all the time, we need someone who can read Armenian! The Voscan's Bible 1666 originally contains vocabulary in which are - or should be - listed all proper names that was mentioned in the Bible. Thus, based on this, the prophetic name Ahmed - that according to Khaydar al-Qurayshi was mentioned in Isaiah 42 - must have been mentioned in the vocabulary of Voscan's Bible (either in 1666 or 1733 edition). Those two Bible's are based on the ancient Armenian version of Meshtot Mesrop from 5th cent. A. D. which was translated from Septuagint.

Take care, and salam
Ahmed (Poland, Warsaw)

As'salamu Alaikum dear brother Ahmed,

Jazaka Allah Khayr, akhi.  Your idea is an excellent one.  Perhaps if you take the lead on it and post the certain areas that you need help on, or certain questions to be answered, then the brothers here can insha'Allah help, myself included, insha'Allah.  You can treat it similar to the interactions that happen here between those who ask questions and those who go out their way to research the answers.  I myself have researched my answered many times in the past.

So if you take the lead akhi and post the equiries, then insha'Allah you'll find me and others very active in responding.  Speaking about myself, I am very interested in your research .  I know deep in my heart that there are a lot of things hidden that prove Islam.  I know that there is a lot to discover from the previous books.

May Allah Almighty bless you akhi, Ahmed.  Ameen.

Take care,
Osama Abdallah

Wa aleikum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa baraketuh dear brother Osama,

Okay akhi, so I will post insha'Allah some specific fragments (from the Bible or Quran) and I will give you instructions on how to search for necessary informations. Indeed, there is a lot to discover in the Bible. I personally discovered a beautiful testimony which reinforced my faith, and now no one can lead me away from Islam after I discovered this secret truth (no matter what evidences they will bring!). Personally, I 'am interested with the Book of Isaiah, since as I noticed this book was almost entirely dedicated to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and Allah knows best!

Take care, and salam
Ahmed (Poland, Warsaw)