Debunking Anachronism Claims in Quran

An anachronism is a term used to describe something out of place in terms of time or chronology. It refers to an object, a person, a phrase, a technology, or any other element that doesn’t fit the time period in which it is found. An example of an anachronism would be stating that George Washington used an iPhone. This is because George Washington lived hundreds of years before the creation of the iPhone.

One of the arguments opponents make about the Quran is that it contains anachronisms. Below are the common examples that are brought up, as well as refutations to these claims.

Dirham

The history of Joseph in Sura 12 of the Quran states that the caravan that took Joseph sold him for a few dirhams.

[12:20] They sold him for a cheap price— a few Dirhams—for they did not have any need for him.

 وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍۭ بَخْسٍ دَرَٰهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ

1	washarawhu	وَشَرَوْهُ	And they sold him
2	bithamanin	بِثَمَنٍۭ	for a price
3	bakhsin	بَخْسٍ	paltry / cheap,
4	darāhima	دَرَٰهِمَ	dirhams
5	maʿdūdatin	مَعْدُودَةٍ	determined / numbered / limited (few),
6	wakānū	وَكَانُوا۟	and they were
7	fīhi	فِيهِ	comparing him
8	mina	مِنَ	among
9	l-zāhidīna	ٱلزَّٰهِدِينَ	the ones undesirable / of low value (no need).

The argument is that during the life of Joseph, coins didn’t exist and instead, people used bullion valued by weight. So does this conflict with using the term Dirhams as used in the Quran?

For background, the word “dirhams” ( دَرَٰهِمَ ) in Arabic is derived from the Greek word “drachma” (δραχμή), which was an ancient Greek currency and weight unit. The drachma was widely used in the Greek-speaking world and its vast colonies. When the Greek and Persian empires expanded into regions that are now part of the modern Middle East, the term was adopted into Middle Persian as “drahm.” It was from this Middle Persian form that the word was then borrowed into Arabic as “dirham” ( درهم ). The Arabs adopted the term dirham both as a weight unit as well as for silver coins. Therefore, it would be a disingenuous reading to try to limit the text to limit the term to only mean coins.

Below are several Classical Arabic dictionaries showing that Dirham is used for both weight and coins.

Also, if we look at the word “bakhsin” ( بَخْسٍ ), which is translated in the above verse as paltry or cheap, we see the root of this word is used in another verse in the context of cheating people when trading by withholding the physical weight of what is due.

[7:85] To Midyan we sent their brother Shu’aib. He said, “O my people, worship GOD; you have no other god beside Him. Proof has come to you from your Lord. You shall give full weight and full measure when you trade. Do not cheat the people out of their rights. Do not corrupt the earth after it has been set straight. This is better for you, if you are believers.

وَإِلَىٰ مَدْيَنَ أَخَاهُمْ شُعَيْبًا قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم بَيِّنَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ فَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ وَلَا تَبْخَسُوا۟ ٱلنَّاسَ أَشْيَآءَهُمْ وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَـٰحِهَا ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ

19	fa-awfū	فَأَوْفُوا۟	So pay in full [you all]
20	l-kayla	ٱلْكَيْلَ	[the] measure
21	wal-mīzāna	وَٱلْمِيزَانَ	and the weight / scale
22	walā	وَلَا	and (do) not
23	tabkhasū	تَبْخَسُوا۟	you [all] cheat / diminish / withhold what is due
24	l-nāsa	ٱلنَّاسَ	[the] people (of)
25	ashyāahum	أَشْيَآءَهُمْ	their things / affairs in any way (rights)

Chain Mail

Sura 34 of the Quran describes that David had the iron softened for him, which he used to make armor.

[34:10] We endowed David with blessings from us: “O mountains, submit with him, and you too, O birds.” We softened the iron for him.

وَلَقَدْ ءَاتَيْنَا دَاوُۥدَ مِنَّا فَضْلًا يَـٰجِبَالُ أَوِّبِى مَعَهُۥ وَٱلطَّيْرَ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ ٱلْحَدِيدَ

[34:11] “You may make shields that fit perfectly, and work righteousness. Whatever you do, I am Seer thereof.”

أَنِ ٱعْمَلْ سَـٰبِغَـٰتٍ وَقَدِّرْ فِى ٱلسَّرْدِ وَٱعْمَلُوا۟ صَـٰلِحًا إِنِّى بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ

1	ani	أَنِ	“That
2	iʿ’mal	ٱعْمَلْ	make
3	sābighātin	سَـٰبِغَـٰتٍ	full coats (of armor)
4	waqaddir	وَقَدِّرْ	and it balanced / measured precisely
5	fī	فِى	[of]
6	l-sardi	ٱلسَّرْدِ	the links (of armor),
7	wa-iʿ’malū	وَٱعْمَلُوا۟	and work [you all]
8	ṣāliḥan	صَـٰلِحًا	righteous (deeds),
9	innī	إِنِّى	Indeed, I am
10	bimā	بِمَا	of what
11	taʿmalūna	تَعْمَلُونَ	you [all] do
12	baṣīrun	بَصِيرٌ	Seer.”

Opponents argue that chain mail did not exist during David’s time and that the first people to invent chain mail were the Celts. Except this is not correct. To date, historians do not know the exact origins of chain mail. For example, according to Wikipedia:

The earliest examples of surviving mail were found in the Carpathian Basin at a burial in Horný Jatov, Slovakia dated in the 3rd century BC, and in a chieftain’s burial located in Ciumești, Romania. Its invention is commonly credited to the Celts, but there are examples of Etruscan pattern mail dating from at least the 4th century BC. Mail may have been inspired by the much earlier scale armour. Mail spread to North Africa, West Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, India, Tibet, South East Asia, and Japan.

Herodotus wrote that the ancient Persians wore scale armour, but mail is also distinctly mentioned in the Avesta, the ancient holy scripture of the Persian religion of Zoroastrianism that was founded by the prophet Zoroaster in the 5th century BC.

Additionally, we see that scale armour began in the Middle East, and the earliest representation is found in the tomb of Kenamon, who lived in Egypt during the reign of Amenhotep II (1436–1411 BCE). Since David lived in c. 1000 BCE, it would not be an anachronism to state that he made such armor according to the Quran.

The word “sābighātin” ( سَـٰبِغَـٰتٍ ) means a full coat of mail, which can be either rings or plates that are joined together. And the word “l-sardi” ( ٱلسَّرْدِ ) just means that they are linked together. So, the text does not indicate that the armor was chains or scales, but only that it was perfectly balanced.

Interestingly, between chain mail and scale armor, scale armor typically requires more precision in balance. Here’s a comparison of the two to illustrate why:

• Chain Mail:
  • Chain mail consists of interlinked metal rings forming a flexible mesh.
  • Its flexibility allows it to drape over the body much like fabric, conforming to the wearer’s movements. This property reduces the need for precise balance or fitting as the mail can easily adjust to different body shapes and sizes.
  • While the weight distribution in chain mail is a consideration (especially in heavier variants), its inherent flexibility generally ensures a relatively even distribution of weight across the covered areas.
• Scale Armor:
  • Scale armor is made of small, overlapping plates (scales) attached to a backing material like cloth or leather.
  • Each scale must be correctly positioned and aligned to ensure effective coverage and flexibility. The arrangement of scales is crucial to maintain the armor’s effectiveness without impeding the wearer’s mobility.
  • The precision in the placement and attachment of the scales is vital for both protection and balance. Incorrectly aligned or imbalanced scales can create vulnerabilities and hinder movement.
  • Additionally, scale armor can be more rigid compared to chain mail, requiring more careful fitting to the wearer’s body to ensure proper balance and weight distribution.

In summary, while both chain mail and scale armor have their own complexities in terms of construction and fitting, scale armor generally demands greater precision in balance due to its structure and the need for exact placement and alignment of the scales. Chain mail’s more flexible and forgiving nature makes it less demanding in terms of balance and precision in fitting.

Crucifixion

In the history of Joseph in Sura 12, Joseph interpreted the dreams of two of his prison mates and informed one of them that he was going to be crucified.

[12:41] “O my prison mates, one of you will be the wine butler for his lord, while the other will be crucified— the birds will eat from his head. This settles the matter about which you have inquired.”

 يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ ٱلسِّجْنِ أَمَّآ أَحَدُكُمَا فَيَسْقِى رَبَّهُۥ خَمْرًا وَأَمَّا ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ فَيُصْلَبُ فَتَأْكُلُ ٱلطَّيْرُ مِن رَّأْسِهِۦ قُضِىَ ٱلْأَمْرُ ٱلَّذِى فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ

1	yāṣāḥibayi	يَـٰصَـٰحِبَىِ	“O my two companions (of)
2	l-sij’ni	ٱلسِّجْنِ	the prison!
3	ammā	أَمَّآ	As for
4	aḥadukumā	أَحَدُكُمَا	one of the two of you
5	fayasqī	فَيَسْقِى	so he will give drink
6	rabbahu	رَبَّهُۥ	(to) his lord
7	khamran	خَمْرًا	wine;
8	wa-ammā	وَأَمَّا	and as for
9	l-ākharu	ٱلْـَٔاخَرُ	the other
10	fayuṣ’labu	فَيُصْلَبُ	so he will be crucified,
11	fatakulu	فَتَأْكُلُ	and [it] eats
12	l-ṭayru	ٱلطَّيْرُ	the birds
13	min	مِن	from
14	rasihi	رَّأْسِهِۦ	his head.
15	quḍiya	قُضِىَ	[It] was settled
16	l-amru	ٱلْأَمْرُ	the matter
17	alladhī	ٱلَّذِى	which
18	fīhi	فِيهِ	in it
19	tastaftiyāni	تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ	you both sought a ruling.”

Some argue that the oldest history of the use of crucifixion was conducted by the Persians. The Historian Herodotus states that:

Polycrates, the tyrant of Samos, was put to death in 522 BCE by the Persians, and his dead body was then crucified.^[60]

Herodotus, in his Histories, ix.120–122, also describes the execution of a Persian general at the hands of Athenians circa 479 BCE:

“They nailed him to a plank and hung him up … this Artayctes who suffered death by crucifixion.”^[50] The Commentary on Herodotus by How and Wells remarks: “They crucified him with hands and feet stretched out and nailed to cross-pieces; cf. vii.33. This barbarity, unusual on the part of Greeks, may be explained by the enormity of the outrage or by Athenian deference to local feeling.”^[51]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion

Today, people typically associate crucifixion, where the individual has their hands and feet stretched out and nailed to a cross, except historically, crucifixion was not limited to this form.

The Greek and Latin words corresponding to “crucifixion” applied to many different forms of painful execution, including being impaled on a stake, or affixed to a tree, upright pole (a crux simplex), or to a combination of an upright (in Latin, stipes) and a crossbeam (in Latin, patibulum). Seneca the Younger wrote: “I see crosses there, not just of one kind but made in many different ways: some have their victims with head down to the ground; some impale their private parts; others stretch out their arms on the gibbet”.^[61]

In Classical Arabic, the term “s’lab” ( صْلَبُ ) is used for both crucifixion and impalement. This is because Classical Arabic doesn’t distinguish between these two forms. So when Joseph states that his prison mate will be crucified, this does not mean that he will be nailed to a cross, but very well that he will be impaled. This is because, according to Classical Arabic, it is the same word.

Further proof of this is when Pharoah threatened to crucify the magicians, he stated that he would first cut off their hands and feet on alternate sides, showing that his crucifixion was not in the standard form as understood today with their hands and feet stretched out, but as a form of impalement.

[20:71] He said, “Did you believe in him without my permission? He must be your chief; the one who taught you magic. I will surely sever your hands and feet on alternate sides. I will crucify you on the palm trunks. You will find out which of us can inflict the worst retribution, and who outlasts whom.”

 قَالَ ءَامَنتُمْ لَهُۥ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ لَكَبِيرُكُمُ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَكُمُ ٱلسِّحْرَ فَلَأُقَطِّعَنَّ أَيْدِيَكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُم مِّنْ خِلَـٰفٍ وَلَأُصَلِّبَنَّكُمْ فِى جُذُوعِ ٱلنَّخْلِ وَلَتَعْلَمُنَّ أَيُّنَآ أَشَدُّ عَذَابًا وَأَبْقَىٰ

Samarian

The Quran exonerates the lie propagated in the Bible that Aaron created the golden calf for the Children of Israel to worship when Moses was gone.

32 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

² Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” ³ So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

⁵ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.” ⁶ So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.

Exodus 32

The Quran demonstrates that it was the Samarian who committed such a horrendous act and not one of God’s righteous prophets.

[20:83] [God said,] “Why did you rush away from your people, O Moses?”
[20:84] He said, “They are close behind me. I have rushed to You my Lord, that You may be pleased.”
[20:85] He said, “We have put your people to the test after you left, but the Samarian ( ٱلسَّامِرِىُّ ) misled them.”
[20:86] Moses returned to his people, angry and disappointed, saying, “O my people, did your Lord not promise you a good promise? Could you not wait? Did you want to incur wrath from your Lord? Is this why you broke your agreement with me?”
[20:87] They said, “We did not break our agreement with you on purpose. But we were loaded down with jewelry, and decided to throw our loads in. This is what the Samarian ( ٱلسَّامِرِىُّ ) suggested.”
[20:88] He produced for them a sculpted calf, complete with a calf’s sound. They said, “This is your god, and the god of Moses.” Thus, he forgot.
[20:89] Could they not see that it neither responded to them, nor possessed any power to harm them, or benefit them?
[20:90] And Aaron had told them, “O my people, this is a test for you. Your only Lord is the Most Gracious, so follow me, and obey my commands.”
[20:91] They said, “We will continue to worship it, until Moses comes back.”
[20:92] said, “O Aaron, what is it that prevented you, when you saw them go astray,
[20:93] “from following my orders? Have you rebelled against me?”
[20:94] He said, “O son of my mother, do not pull me by my beard and my head. I was afraid that you might say, ‘You have divided the Children of Israel, and disobeyed my orders.’ ”
[20:95] He said, “What is the matter with you, O Samarian ( يَـٰسَـٰمِرِىُّ )?”
[20:96] He said, “I saw what they could not see. I grabbed a fistful (of dust) from the place where the messenger stood, and used it (to mix into the golden calf). This is what my mind inspired me to do.”
[20:97] He said, “Then go, and, throughout your life, do not even come close. You have an appointed time (for your final judgment) that you can never evade. Look at your god that you used to worship; we will burn it and throw it into the sea, to stay down there forever.”

The argument posed regarding these passages is that the “Samaritans,” emerged as a distinct community with their specific religious practices dating to several centuries after the time of Moses. During the time of Moses, which is traditionally placed in the second millennium BCE, the term “Samaritans” would not have been relevant or applicable.

An article by Islamic Awareness shows that according to Samaritan sources, this group traces its origins to direct descent from the Ten Tribes of Israel.

Mary The Descendant of Aaron (19:28)

In the Quran, Mary, the mother of Jesus, is described in 19:28 as ( يَاأُخْتَ هَارُونَ ), which can be interpreted in one of two ways: either as “O sister of Aaron” or as “O descendant of Aaron.”

[19:27] She came to her family, carrying him. They said, “O Mary, you have committed something that is totally unexpected.

فَأَتَتْ بِهِ قَوْمَهَا تَحْمِلُهُ قَالُوا يَامَرْيَمُ لَقَدْ جِئْتِ شَيْئًا فَرِيًّا

[19:28] “O descendant of Aaron, your father was not a bad man, nor was your mother unchaste.”

يَاأُخْتَ هَارُونَ مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ امْرَأَ سَوْءٍ وَمَا كَانَتْ أُمُّكِ بَغِيًّا

In the Arabic of the Quran, the terms father, mother, brother, sister can be used for both someone’s immediate family member or ancestral family member. The most notable example of this is with the term “the Children of Israel” used towards people who are descendants of Israel (Jacob).

[2:83] We made a covenant with the Children of Israel: “You shall not worship except GOD. You shall honor your parents and regard the relatives, the orphans, and the poor. You shall treat the people amicably. You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat).” But you turned away, except a few of you, and you became averse.

وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ لَا تَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَقُولُوا لِلنَّاسِ حُسْنًا وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّيْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا مِنْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ مُعْرِضُونَ

Additionally, we also see similar language used for the believers towards Abraham whose son Ishmael was the descendent of the Arab people.

[22:78] You shall strive for the cause of GOD as you should strive for His cause. He has chosen you and has placed no hardship on you in practicing your religion—the religion of your father Abraham. He is the one who named you “Submitters” originally. Thus, the messenger shall serve as a witness among you, and you shall serve as witnesses among the people. Therefore, you shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and hold fast to GOD; He is your Lord, the best Lord and the best Supporter.

وَجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ مِلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَفِي هَٰذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاءَ عَلَى النَّاسِ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَىٰ وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ

Also, the use of Adam as the father of the humans.

[7:27] O children of Adam, do not let the devil dupe you as he did when he caused the eviction of your parents from Paradise, and the removal of their garments to expose their bodies. He and his tribe see you, while you do not see them. We appoint the devils as companions of those who do not believe.

يَابَنِي آدَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ كَمَا أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ يَنْزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْآتِهِمَا إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا الشَّيَاطِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Another example can be found in 46:21 about ‘Ād, the community that Hud was sent to. While ‘Ād is the name of the community, the origins of this name come from the legendary king Ad, who ruled over a region whose capital was “Wūbar.” From this person, you have the name of the tribe. So the term ( أَخَا عَادٍ ), which can be translated as either the “brother of ‘Ād” or the “descendent of ‘Ād.” Obviously, this expression does not mean that Hud was the immediate brother of ‘Ād but the descendant of ‘Ād.

[46:21] Recall that the brother of ‘Ãd warned his people at the dunes—numerous warnings were also delivered before him and after him: “You shall not worship except GOD. I fear for you the retribution of a great day.”

وَاذْكُرْ أَخَا عَادٍ إِذْ أَنْذَرَ قَوْمَهُ بِالْأَحْقَافِ وَقَدْ خَلَتِ النُّذُرُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا اللَّهَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

In addition, we see that the expression ( أُخْتَهَا ), which could be translated as “its sister,” is used about an “ancestral group” in 7:38.

[7:38] He will say, “Enter with the previous communities of jinns and humans into Hell.” Every time a group enters, they will curse their ancestral group. Once they are all in it, the latest one will say of the previous one, “Our Lord, these are the ones who misled us. Give them double the retribution of Hell.” He will say, “Each receives double, but you do not know.”

قَالَ ادْخُلُوا فِي أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنْسِ فِي النَّارِ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَتْ أُمَّةٌ لَعَنَتْ أُخْتَهَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا ادَّارَكُوا فِيهَا جَمِيعًا قَالَتْ أُخْرَاهُمْ لِأُولَاهُمْ رَبَّنَا هَٰؤُلَاءِ أَضَلُّونَا فَآتِهِمْ عَذَابًا ضِعْفًا مِنَ النَّارِ قَالَ لِكُلٍّ ضِعْفٌ وَلَٰكِنْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

14	kullamā	كُلَّمَا	Every time
15	dakhalat	دَخَلَتْ	[it] entered
16	ummatun	أُمَّةٌ	a group
17	laʿanat	لَّعَنَتْ	it cursed
18	ukh’tahā	أُخْتَهَا	its sister (*ancestral group)
19	ḥattā	حَتَّىٰٓ	until
20	idhā	إِذَا	when
21	iddārakū	ٱدَّارَكُوا۟	they overtook (one another)
22	fīhā	فِيهَا	in it
23	jamīʿan	جَمِيعًا	all,

The understanding that 19:27 is about Mary, the mother of Jesus, being the descendant of Aaron also corresponds with the fact that Mary is never indicated to live in the same period or location as Aaron and Moses. Their histories are separate in the Quran, so this verse only informs us that Mary was the descendant of Aaron and not that Mary was Aaron’s sister. But what proof do we have that Mary was a descendant of Aaron?

From the Bible and the Quran, we can determine that Mary was part of the priest class as she was offered to God to be brought up under the guardianship of Zachariah.

[3:36] When she gave birth to her, she said, “My Lord, I have given birth to a girl”—GOD was fully aware of what she bore—”The male is not the same as the female. I have named her Mary and I invoke Your protection for her and her descendants from the rejected devil.”

فَلَمَّا وَضَعَتْهَا قَالَتْ رَبِّ إِنِّي وَضَعْتُهَا أُنْثَىٰ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا وَضَعَتْ وَلَيْسَ الذَّكَرُ كَالْأُنْثَىٰ وَإِنِّي سَمَّيْتُهَا مَرْيَمَ وَإِنِّي أُعِيذُهَا بِكَ وَذُرِّيَّتَهَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

[3:37] Her Lord accepted her a gracious acceptance, and brought her up a gracious upbringing, under the guardianship of Zachariah. Whenever Zachariah entered her sanctuary he found provisions with her. He would ask, “Mary, where did you get this from?” She would say, “It is from GOD. GOD provides for whomever He chooses, without limits.”

فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍ وَأَنْبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا الْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِنْدَهَا رِزْقًا قَالَ يَامَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَٰذَا قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

The priest class in Jewish History were the descendants of Levi, and Exodus 28 indicates that Aaron’s lineage would continue this role. Additionally, the Gospel of Luke records that Zachariah and Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary and, therefore their son John the Baptist, were all descendants of Aaron. From this, it could imply that Mary could also be a descendant of Aaron.

As the Quran confirms and supersede the Bible, we now know that Mary was a descendant of Aaron.

The Gospel of Jesus: Guidance and Light

[5:46] Subsequent to them, we sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the previous scripture, the Torah. We gave him the Gospel, containing guidance and light, and confirming the previous scriptures, the Torah, and augmenting its guidance and light, and to enlighten the righteous.

وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَآتَيْنَاهُ الْإِنْجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًى وَنُورٌ وَمُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَهُدًى وَمَوْعِظَةً لِلْمُتَّقِينَ

[5:47] The people of the Gospel shall rule in accordance with GOD’s revelations therein. Those who do not rule in accordance with GOD’s revelations are the wicked.

 وَلْيَحْكُمْ أَهْلُ الْإِنْجِيلِ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَحْكُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

Quran: The Ultimate Reference

[5:48] Then we revealed to you this scripture, truthfully, confirming previous scriptures, and superseding them. You shall rule among them in accordance with GOD’s revelations, and do not follow their wishes if they differ from the truth that came to you. For each of you, we have decreed laws and different rites. Had GOD willed, He could have made you one congregation. But He thus puts you to the test through the revelations He has given each of you. You shall compete in righteousness. To GOD is your final destiny—all of you—then He will inform you of everything you had disputed.

وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ عَمَّا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلْنَا مِنْكُمْ شِرْعَةً وَمِنْهَاجًا وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَعَلَكُمْ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً وَلَٰكِنْ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُمْ فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ

Mary The Daughter of Amram

The Quran informs us that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the daughter of ‘Imran (Amram).

[3:33] GOD has chosen Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of Amram (as messengers) to the people.
[3:34] They belong in the same progeny. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.
[3:35] The wife of Amram said, “My Lord, I have dedicated (the baby) in my belly to You, totally, so accept from me. You are Hearer, Omniscient.”

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَىٰ آدَمَ وَنُوحًا وَآلَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَآلَ عِمْرَانَ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ
ذُرِّيَّةً بَعْضُهَا مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
إِذْ قَالَتِ امْرَأَتُ عِمْرَانَ رَبِّ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِي بَطْنِي مُحَرَّرًا فَتَقَبَّلْ مِنِّي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Some critics of the Quran claim that this is inaccurate and an example of the author of the Quran mixing up Mary, the mother of Jesus, with Miriam, the sister of Moses. This is because the Hebrew Bible describes Miriam (מִרְיָם‎ Mir-yām) as the daughter of Amram and Jochebed and the older sister of Moses and Aaron (Exodus 15:20, Numbers 12:1, and 26:59). So how do we reconcile this?

The simple answer is that both the father of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, and the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus, were named Amram. This is not uncommon, as we see many individuals in the Bible sharing the same name. For instance, in the New Testament alone, there are six different individuals named Mary: Mary, mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene; Mary of Bethany; Mary, mother of James the Younger; Mary, mother of John Mark; and Mary of Rome. This does not mean they are the same person, but they share the same name.

Another example can be found in the genealogy of Jesus. The New Testament provides two accounts of the genealogy of Jesus, one in the Gospel of Matthew and another in the Gospel of Luke. Matthew starts with Abraham, while Luke begins with Adam. The lists are identical between Abraham and David but differ radically from that point. Matthew has twenty-seven generations from David to Joseph, whereas Luke has forty-two, with almost no overlap between the names on the two lists.⁠ Notably, the two accounts also disagree on who Joseph’s father was: Matthew says he was Jacob, while Luke says he was Heli.

Notice that in these two accounts, several names reappear for multiple people, including Joseph, Jacob, and Levi. This again confirms that using the same name for different people is not uncommon in Biblical history.

The name ‘Imran (Amram) occurs only three times in the Quran. The third occurrence in Sura 66 verse 12 of the Quran uses the expression ( وَمَرْيَمَ ابْنَتَ عِمْرَانَ ) which can be understood as either “Mary, the daughter of ‘Imran” or “Mary, the descendent of ‘Imran.” As we saw above, this is commonly used in the Quran. The question is, what is this about, as both are valid statements. Mary was the descendant of Amram, as in Aaron’s father, but Mary’s immediate father was also Amram. Therefore, it is safer to translate this verse as “Mary, the Amramite.”

[66:12] Also Mary, the Amramite. She maintained her chastity, then we blew into her from our spirit. She believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures; she was obedient.

وَمَرْيَمَ ابْنَتَ عِمْرَانَ الَّتِي أَحْصَنَتْ فَرْجَهَا فَنَفَخْنَا فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِنَا وَصَدَّقَتْ بِكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّهَا وَكُتُبِهِ وَكَانَتْ مِنَ الْقَانِتِينَ