Akhenaten - was he a Monotheist?
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Peace be upon you tauhid101,
Thank you for your post and those resources. Sacred texts can be a really handy resource. I have come across the idea of a general Egyptian monolatry but not so much monotheism as a whole. Although, like you alluded to, there are traces of monotheism that the early communities appear to have left. Amun seemed to sort of evolve - and the same with Ra. Of course, polytheism then developed as it states in the Quran, and the Quran directly addresses the issues of polytheism or the corruption of earlier scriptures.
I will have to read over your post again and ponder some of the topics a little further. I like the way you've presented those verses for us to consider... very interesting.
In light of the Truth from the above commands, do you feel in your heart, that our generations have anything to do with what the former people had done to His Messages?
I'm not sure exactly what you're asking. Do you mean that some of our generation is continuing the legacy of the former people who have corrupted Allah's swt clear Messages? Or do you mean that people now, both those who follow hadith and those who follow the Quran only, are not following through with His Message? Both of these groups claim guidance but there are some in both groups who neglect the Message from their own behaviour, corrupt attitudes, grudging behaviour, inequality and things like that?
Thanks again.
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Peace be within you, supportpeacenotwar
Peace be upon you tauhid101,
Thank you for your post and those resources. Sacred texts can be a really handy resource. I have come across the idea of a general Egyptian monolatry but not so much monotheism as a whole. Although, like you alluded to, there are traces of monotheism that the early communities appear to have left. Amun seemed to sort of evolve - and the same with Ra. Of course, polytheism then developed as it states in the Quran, and the Quran directly addresses the issues of polytheism or the corruption of earlier scriptures.
From what I understood from the Book of Truth (the Quran), it is the Way of our Lord that whenever His teachings have been distorted and corrupted, He will send prophets to remind and to warn the people He had chosen to receive His Book. And in the final Book, His stories about all the prophets, started from Egypt, the unlettered people.
Abraham was sent to the Egyptians and he had a Book, Joseph was planned since childhood to be among the Egyptians, just as Moses was planned since childhood to be among the Egyptians.
Abraham's short stories from the Book of Truth when he was tested, clearly shows the distortion made by the Egyptians when he rejected the Sun, the stars and the Moon as gods, and he destroyed the statues. And the verse 6611, about the Pharaoh's wife who supplicate to our Lord for a place in His Gardens and protection from the evil ways of the pharaoh.
Yes, there are many verses in the Book of Truth which witnessed and confirmed the existence of monotheism in Egypt. And yet, why the portrayal of myths and legends? Even Hawas feel proud about them being myths and legends. From the sacred text website, some writers complained why the Egyptians themselves did not write the ancient civilizations of their own country. What Truth about ancient Egypt they don't want the world to know? Alexander the Great went to Egypt but did not destroyed them? More to dig ;D
I'm not sure exactly what you're asking. Do you mean that some of our generation is continuing the legacy of the former people who have corrupted Allah's swt clear Messages? Or do you mean that people now, both those who follow hadith and those who follow the Quran only, are not following through with His Message? Both of these groups claim guidance but there are some in both groups who neglect the Message from their own behaviour, corrupt attitudes, grudging behaviour, inequality and things like that?
Thanks again.
May I ask whether you're a convert or a born Muslim? I apologize if I'm being too forward.
Yes, supportpeacenotwar, our generations are continuing following the religions established thousand of years ago. Judaism was established from the Torah and the Talmud, Christianity was established from the Gospel and the Bible, and Islam was established from the Book of Truth (the Quran) and the Hadiths.
Ponder and reflect these questions and I pray to our Lord that He will favor you with the Truth. Did God command the Prophets to create these 3 divided religions from His Books with the sayings/ doctrines of men? Was it our Lord intentions that His Books be divided into the 3 religions? Did God command the system of conversion from one religion to another, among the three religions? Did God command in the Book that we are to reform the established religions by men?
Here is a summary as to what had happened to the 12 tribes and His Books. The unlettered people of Egypt were saved from the tyrannies of the pharaoh, and God appointed Prophets for them, to teach them the Hebrew letters and the Law and the Torah. After years of living under the 12 selected elders, they wanted a king, and God appointed David and give him the Zabur/ Psalms.
They fought among themselves and anarchy breeds arrogance. They were punished twice and saved twice but did not repented. So God send down a Sign in the creation of Prophet Isa, a sign for all mankind. A man from birth, who became one with the living statement/gospel of Truth of our Lord, the Holy Spirit. Yet again, they rejected and killed him. God cursed them and prohibit them of returning to the Holy Land and scattered them as mixed groups of people, the Arabs. The word arab comes from the Hebrew word "ereb" which means "mixed/mingle/crowd of people". Arabic evolve from the Hebrew letters.
But because of His unending compassion and mercy (btw which the Muslims proclaim everyday), our Lord chose and appointed the last Prophet, from the unlettered people. To receive the final Book, the Book of Truth, to remind and warned the Children of Israel, the mixed 12 tribes, the erebs/arabs, for the last time. The last Prophet were sent to unite them, those who believe him and the Message that he brought. God commanded them to remake the Covenant with the Prophet and thus with Our Lord. The command from our Lord, the jihad, was against the Greeks and the Romans only, those who created the Trinity. To destroy the Trinity, and made corrections to the two previous Books and uphold the Truth.
They were warned that if they did not follow His commands again, and do what they did before, He promised to punish them twice as He punished them twice before. The first promise was the Yakjuj and Makjuj, the Mongols who destroyed the Islamic empire and the second promise is what's going on in the Middle-East today, with the fake 13th tribe from Europe.
After the death of the last Prophet, they argued for the leadership and fought among themselves, and created the divisions sunni and shia and the religion Islam. The two shahadah was what they spread to the nations they conquered. They did not destroy the Trinity or fought the jihad against the Greeks and the Romans as our Lord commanded.
Then, with the rise of power of the Anglo-Saxon, the 12 tribes helped them to destroy the Ottoman empire and divided the middle-east among themselves. The Anglo-Saxon established the State of Israel with the fake 13th tribe from Europe, and controlled the oil and riches of the middle-east. The leaders of the 12 tribes kowtow to the power of the Anglo-Saxon and the Eagle, and let the descendants of the 12 tribes hated their great-great-great-great grandfather's name, Israel.
Again, the verses 2135-140, God's command to the Prophet to follow the religion established as Abraham did, and not to follow the religions established by the sayings of men, thus He commanded him again
2141 That was a community which has passed away, for them what they earned and for you what you will earn. And you will not be asked about what they used to do.
Here is more verses from the Book of Truth;
929 Fight those who do not believe in Allah and not in the Last Day, and not they make unlawful what Allah and His Messenger has made unlawful, and not they acknowledge the Religion of Truth, from those who were given the Scripture/ Book, until they pay the jizyah willingly, while they are subdued.
2867 But any who had repented, believed, and worked righteousness, will have hopes to be among those who achieve salvation.
4213 The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - that which We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus namely, that ye should remain steadfast in Religion, and make no divisions therein to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).
4221 What! have they partners, who have established for them some religion without the permission of Allah? Had it not been for the Decree of Judgment, the matter would have been decided between them. But verily the wrong-doers will have a grievous Penalty.
In the verse 929, the Prophet was to unite the mixed group of the 12 tribes, the arabs/erebs and they were to acknowledge the Religion of Truth. And in the verse 4213, it is our Lord with His permission, He established the religion for all the prophets, since Noah; and not like in the verse 4221. Our generations have been following the 3 religions established by men without the permission from our Lord.
Yes, supportpeacenotwar, in light of the Truth of these verses, yes I am certain, I will not be asked why I rejected the 3 divided religions established by men.
933 He is the One Who has sent His Messenger (the Holy Spirit) with the guidance and the religion of Truth, to manifest it over all religions. Even if the polytheists dislike it.
Sorry about the long post ;D
Peace and blessings be within you
tauhid101 -
Peace tauhid101,
I was born Muslim, but followed new age spirituality for a while and then came back to Islam recently. Having left Islam and coming back, it's really made me look at why I should follow the Quran - what makes it the book of Truth as you say. And so I think my experience with new age spirituality proved valuable. I'm not just following it because my family follow it, or because that's all I've known. So I thank God for guiding me and pray He continues to guide all of us who seek Him. When you say you pray to God that I will be favoured with the Truth what do you mean? In the end, I'm not sure any of us can be certain about the history of Akhenaten and even the Egyptians or other groups.
I agree with your general approach, I myself reject the idea that somehow we have to submit to conventional scholarship and all they do. This is something I find tiresome actually, people who live for academia and scholarship and don't consider other things as having the same importance and thinking outside the box - and realising that perhaps knowledge can be ascertained in many ways (and I would say in the most simple of ways sometimes). I've written a similar post about the problems with this approach on another thread.
They're kind of like the people who think God is masculine because it says He. They don't want to look at the message and what it actually says to counteract that perception, they want to continue with their own idea that the Quran was created in particular time - so therefore it must be purely of that time according to them. And there's a lot of people who think that way, but I guess thats the thing with convention. I wonder if their approach is much more grounded in their own nature/perceptions, just as they would say we are following what we want to apply a more modern interpretation on the Quran. We believe in God - so He is the Guide, they believe in no God ultimately, at least to guide them in their search for knowledge apparently. So looking at it from this perspective, they are driven by their own particular predisposition. Everyone is - that's what being human is. In fact, that's why sometimes people want the human touch rather than machinary for some things, its what defines us.
In response to your question No, I don't believe God commanded those religions at all - otherwise I wouldn't be following Quran only. The way you ask your questions though could you clarify - is it that you think I believe in some of these things or is that you are asking rhetorically because you want to put such questions in your approach? Oh and in terms of Judaism, Christianity and Islam with hadiths - I'm already aware of that. In fact, most of my posts here have been related to that. I thought you might be referring to another more sort of philosophical point.
Yes, Millat Ibrahim, following what was already given to Abraham, the verses you mention I'm also familiar with. I've mentioned such things on this forum myself. I would also say that God did not command conversion as such from any label - but more like whoever you are and whatever you call yourself, if you believe in the One Creator, the last day/that justice will be done and do good (seeking help from our Creator) then you believe in the principles of Islam as defined in the Quran. -
Peace supportpeacenotwar,
Yes, it is as simple as that.
- Believe in God
- Judgment day
- Lead a righteous life
People make God and His system/religion complicated while God does not want to make it hard at all for us.
Some details are written in Quran though, but nothing particularly hard to obey and follow. Those things are recommendations however. Quran gives us lot of clear guidelines and a few fixed rules.
God bless you
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Peace be within you, supportpeacenotwar
I was born Muslim, but followed new age spirituality for a while and then came back to Islam recently. Having left Islam and coming back, it's really made me look at why I should follow the Quran - what makes it the book of Truth as you say. And so I think my experience with new age spirituality proved valuable. I'm not just following it because my family follow it, or because that's all I've known. So I thank God for guiding me and pray He continues to guide all of us who seek Him. When you say you pray to God that I will be favoured with the Truth what do you mean? In the end, I'm not sure any of us can be certain about the history of Akhenaten and even the Egyptians or other groups.
Thank you for answering. Well then, we're from the same boat, sort of. I too was born into a sunni Islam family, but I never follow any new age thing and only follow my own desires of booze, women, on/off the drugs and booze. But I thank God every day for bringing me back and guiding me to His Graces and Mercy. When I said I pray to God for you, I pray that He will favor you with all the Truth, not just about Egypt and Akhenaten. And don't give up on Egypt yet, there is more to the unlettered people than Akhenaten/Abraham.
I agree with your general approach, I myself reject the idea that somehow we have to submit to conventional scholarship and all they do. This is something I find tiresome actually, people who live for academia and scholarship and don't consider other things as having the same importance and thinking outside the box - and realising that perhaps knowledge can be ascertained in many ways (and I would say in the most simple of ways sometimes). I've written a similar post about the problems with this approach on another thread.
They're kind of like the people who think God is masculine because it says He. They don't want to look at the message and what it actually says to counteract that perception, they want to continue with their own idea that the Quran was created in particular time - so therefore it must be purely of that time according to them. And there's a lot of people who think that way, but I guess thats the thing with convention. I wonder if their approach is much more grounded in their own nature/perceptions, just as they would say we are following what we want to apply a more modern interpretation on the Quran. We believe in God - so He is the Guide, they believe in no God ultimately, at least to guide them in their search for knowledge apparently. So looking at it from this perspective, they are driven by their own particular predisposition. Everyone is - that's what being human is. In fact, that's why sometimes people want the human touch rather than machinary for some things, its what defines us.
If you check my profile, that's why there's only a few post and replies, and I'm a member here since 1995 or thereabout. ;D
In response to your question No, I don't believe God commanded those religions at all - otherwise I wouldn't be following Quran only. The way you ask your questions though could you clarify - is it that you think I believe in some of these things or is that you are asking rhetorically because you want to put such questions in your approach? Oh and in terms of Judaism, Christianity and Islam with hadiths - I'm already aware of that. In fact, most of my posts here have been related to that. I thought you might be referring to another more sort of philosophical point.
Yes, Millat Ibrahim, following what was already given to Abraham, the verses you mention I'm also familiar with. I've mentioned such things on this forum myself. I would also say that God did not command conversion as such from any label - but more like whoever you are and whatever you call yourself, if you believe in the One Creator, the last day/that justice will be done and do good (seeking help from our Creator) then you believe in the principles of Islam as defined in the Quran.Well, its a rhetoric, and I was asking it for wanting to put them in your approach. That's clear things up, I hope. But why do you still maintain the arabic word Islam and the word Quran?
When I said that we were born into each of the established religion, each of us only knows the doctrines of the religion we were born into. And those of us who were born into Islam thought the Book of Truth (the Quran) is all about Islam. And others from the two religions also thought it about the religion Islam, and converted. Until our Lord guided us.
But when you ponder on it, Islam is all based on the hadiths, the two shahadah and the five pillars and the Quran is only a reading/ a recitation in Arabic. That's why it is called the Al-Quran (the Great Reading).
But our Lord's purpose of sending down the Book was to correct all the distortions made to the previous Books only. It is the Book with all the Truth which witnessed and confirmed His teachings of the previous Books. It does not witness and confirm the existence of the Books alone, but witness and confirm the teachings/ His Messages within the previous Books, especially His Gospel. Are we on the same page here, or do you think the Quran witnessed and confirmed their existence only?
There are no spiritualities in the doctrines of Islam. The doctrines did not stressed about our creation of the Spirit from God, and there is no mention about the Holy Spirit or the spirit of Truth, the living words of our Lord. And yet, these teachings are explained in the Book of Truth (the Quran) in details, especially about the true resurrection of mankind while still living in this world. The Book of Truth is also to correct the distortion made by the doctrines of the Trinity.
And our sisters and brothers from Christianity who were taught more about spiritualities because of the Gospel, when they converted they thought the Quran is only about Islam. Do you see the dilemmas, the confusions and arguments in a forum about our Lord and His Teachings, when they are still based on the established religion Islam or the label Islam?
If you would like, we could continue the discussion through PM. I have taken your thread away from Egypt. As you can see from my replying to your post, I am the kind who thinks a lot before putting them into words. I'm also from Borneo and English is only when required.
Peace and blessings be within you.
tauhid101 -
Peace be within you, Man of Faith
Peace supportpeacenotwar,
Yes, it is as simple as that.
- Believe in God
- Judgment day
- Lead a righteous life
People make God and His system/religion complicated while God does not want to make it hard at all for us.
Some details are written in Quran though, but nothing particularly hard to obey and follow. Those things are recommendations however. Quran gives us lot of clear guidelines and a few fixed rules.
God bless you
Yes brother Man of Faith. It is that simple because our Lord too has set upon Himself the Law, forgot the chapter and no. will post it if you want. But the Law He set upon Himself is this, "Those who believe and do good in this world, and did not know about the Truth, did not commit any sin." And He never lets go any of His creation, if He lets ago astray.. He is after all the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful.
Since we are all guided to His Books for the Truth, there is always a purpose, MoF. God alone or Quran only members from around the world is only about 30,000 members, out of the 7 billions He created. "Who wants to be the helpers of Allah," as the Prophet Isa said. Also the purpose of understanding His Truth, so that He establish/write His living words of Truth into our heart, which is called the spirit of Truth/ the faith/ the iman, which will be our testimony and a witness against ourselves when we meet Him, upon death. It is the true resurrection in this life with His light of Truth.
Peace and blessings be within you.
tauhid101 -
Peace tauhid101,
I will answer your question "Well, its a rhetoric, and I was asking it for wanting to put them in your approach. That's clear things up, I hope. But why do you still maintain the arabic word Islam and the word Quran?"
I think I understand what you mean. If I do, because essentially you are saying in asking those questions that with those three systems - you wondered if I believed God sent them down separately. I don't know why you would think I believe them and put them in my approach Haven't you seen any of my other responses on here? I reject the hadith based version of Islam, I don't follow the second shahadah etc. I was never even brought up in traditional Islam. If you please also consider that I've mentioned this several times elsewhere, I don't really want to get into my life story on quite a few threads here.
I think I'll also clarify why I posted this thread its because I came across it and just thought it was noteworthy. I wanted to share it in case anyone else found it noteworthy and hadn't come across it. Going of the responses to this thread, only one person so far has found it of interest. Even if its only of interest to one person, that's still good to me. There are always parts of history we may never know - I don't believe Allah expects us constantly search for that, but if we want to enquire we can but its not incumbent on every believer to do that.
When you keep saying that the Creator will favour me with the truth - are you saying I don't already believe in the Quran? You just agreed with Man of Faith, that it's that simple. But Man of Faith was simply agreeing and confirming what I said. I really don't understand why you are saying that and why you keep implying that I don't have the truth or that I have not been guided yet to the truth.
If the truth is that everything is also in submissions/ordered by our Creator and we are simply back with that natural order - then the truth is not just words or a recitation. The truth is about living and actually practicing what you believe, as best you can and as is humanly possible, with all people, with all things, without prejudice as our Creator intends.
What do you mean why do I still maintain the words Islam and the Quran? Everyone here uses these words. The Quran is used to describe that book and recitation called the Quran. I view Islam as defined in the Quran - as I already stated in the post to you and to further explain as part of a whole order, a whole natural order from our Creator.
I am really puzzled at the way you are corresponding with me. It's like you think I am not following what you are, which you think you are following the truth, and then on the other hand you are agreeing with Man of Faith, who is actually only agreeing with me. Man of Faith and I both agree on the same thing, so if you think he has the answer - well I just said the same thing. Can you understand the way this seems very strange?
I also believe that the Quran provides test and challenges in it for the believers. When the Quran talks of hypocrities - don't be of those who think its just the people who follow the hadith. the Quran provides examples of people who say everything right - even in the time of Prophet Muhammad, which was a Quran only time - but they don't believe, they are knowingly corrupt/unfair/unjust and Allah swt does not love the corrupt.
So in my opinion, at least some of the things on this forum - or even the nature of this forum and the way people are here (and possibly elsewhere as a whole) Allah knows best - are an exact example of some of the things warned about in the Quran... maybe a little controversial there, but look for it and you'll see it. And I wouldn't want to get into any examples, it's just something to consider.
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Peace be within you, supportpeacenotwar
Peace, supportpeacenotwar, I am so sorry if my correspondence to you seems like I presume too much. As God is my only witness, I have no intentions whatsoever to presume anything. I'm so sorry. -[
I think I have a lot to learn in writing my thoughts and communications through forum. Please, accept my apologies. -[
Peace and blessings be within you
tauhid101 -
Peace be upon you tauhid101,
That's ok, I accept your apology. Please don't feel embarrased. English is also a foreign language for you so I understand that at times there could be some issues around expressions of phrases etc as well. I'm sure many people, including myself, at times could have expressed ourselves better! We all learn along the way.
You raised many important points on the other topics you mentioned and I very much agree with and support your critical approach to popular conceptions in history - the only thing was the way the questions about my beliefs were asked as I've already mentioned, so no need to again.
Also, please don't take the last comment personally - it really was a general comment about how I feel about this forum/aspects of this forum. I'm the type of person who expresses these things so it really was a general comment.
May Allah swt shower you with peace and blessings
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Peace be within you, supportpeacenotwar
I'm so sorry if you think I'm questioning your beliefs.
I don't have the rights to questions anyone's belief. I need a lot to learn, especially communicating through forums, don't I? -[Thank you for understanding and its around 5.00am here, need the sleep.
Peace and blessings be within you.
tauhid101 -
Peace be upon you tauhid101,
I think this is possible to rectify quite easily you can ask questions about my beliefs - my suggestion, if you want it, in terms of what happened here is to ask more open ended questions that gives more room for the person to answer themselves avoiding presumptions in the question how do you practice Islam, what do you believe about Islam, what do you believe about the Quran? etc That way the individual can confirm for you what they believe rather than it sounding like you are saying they believe in things they don't really believe in (and that they need the truth when they already believe in what you might believe in!)
Enjoy your rest!
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So in my opinion, at least some of the things on this forum - or even the nature of this forum and the way people are here (and possibly elsewhere as a whole) Allah knows best - are an exact example of some of the things warned about in the Quran... maybe a little controversial there, but look for it and you'll see it. And I wouldn't want to get into any examples, it's just something to consider.
Ok, so I've been in a PM exchange with someone else - about a similar topic to this, and I feel that this can get misunderstood. So I'd like to add a few quick clarifier about I mean. What I'm essentially saying is that any place or anything can be separate or apart from the teachings or God - even if it a place with more people who are following Quran only. So really it comes back to the point about being guided and what that really means.
A non-Muslim can tell us that the hadiths are flawed and that the Quran actually doesn't tell us to follow hadith. Is that guidance? Or is guidance actually following what you profess to uphold? Not looking for division, being concerned with justice and a general fair or just attitude, non-arrogance and so on. So guidance is more about living your faith for God, not just saying "well I know this about the Quran" etc.
Anyway, its also what I've noticed upon reflection. I've found that I can end up agreeing much more with some atheists, Pagans, other people about some issues regarding how we conduct ourselves, central principles, thanI do even with "Quran only". So its an ongoing reflection thing for me. I just wanted to add that in case anyone reads this and get a very different impression. Forums are forums yes, I've been on a fair few and they're a lot like this (I guess that's the point I'm getting at in this post although anyone can join we a lot of us here are quran followers of some kind), but this is about the way many in Quran only hold this view that we can have a better code of conduct etc - otherwise would we believe in it and consider it truth? - compared to hadith followers or others on a "wrong" path? Is it really that simple or do some of them actually have a form of guidance in fact? Other faiths probably have this sort of deliberation too, I think its a human thing to do. I don't think its just peculiar to us. Anyway, getting too deep now, and its getting late.
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Has anyone here read the claims of Ahmed Osman, that Akhenaten is/was Moses?
http//www.ahmedosman.com/
MOSES AND AKHENATEN
One And The Same Person
The First Monotheist
Akhenaten is the most mysterious and interesting of all the ancient Egyptian pharaohs. He created a revolution in religion, philosophy, and art that resulted in the introduction of the first monotheistic form of worship known in history. Sigmund Freud, father of psychoanalysis, was the first to suggest a connection between Moses and Akhenaten. In his last book, Moses and Monotheism, published in 1939, Freud argued that the biblical Moses was an official in the court of Akhenaten, and an adherent of the Aten religion. After the death of Akhenaten, Freud's theory goes, Moses selected the Israelite tribe living east of the Nile Delta to be his chosen people, took them out of Egypt at the time of the Exodus, and passed on to them the tenets of Akhenaten's religion. When modern archaeologists came across the strangely-drawn figure of Akhenaten in the ruins of Tell el-Amarna in the middle of the 19th century, they were not sure what to make of him. Some thought he was a woman disguised as a king. By the early years of the 20th century when the city of Amarna had been excavated and more became known about him and his family, Akhenaten became a focus of interest for Egyptologists, who saw him as a visionary humanitarian as well as the first monotheist.
In my attempt to pursue Freud's theory through the examination of recent archaeological findings, I came to the conclusion that Moses was Akhenaten himself. The son of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye (daughter of Yuya, whom I have identified as Joseph the patriarch), Akhenaten had an Egyptian father and an Israelite mother. Yuya had been appointed by Tuthmosis IV to be the Master of the King's Horses and Deputy of the Royal Chariotry. On coming to the throne, and according to Egyptian customs, Amenhotep III married his sister Sitamun, who was just a child of three years at the time. However, in his Year 2, Amenhotep decided to also marry Yuya's daughter Tiye, the girl whom he loved, and made her, rather than Sitamun, his Great Royal Wife, his queen. (According to Egyptian customs the king could marry as many women as he desired, however the queen, whose children would follow him on the throne, had to be his sister, the heiress.) As a wedding present, Amenhotep presented Tiye with the frontier fortress of Zarw, in the area of modern Kantara in north Sinai, the capital of the Land of Goshen, mentioned by the Bible as the area where the Israelites dwelled in Egypt. Here he built a summer palace for her. To commemorate his marriage with Tiye, the king issued a large scarab and sent copies of it to foreign kings and princes.
The Birth of Moses
Amenhotep, who was later known as Akhenaten and Moses, was born in Year 12 of his father Amenhotep III, 1394 BC, in the summer royal palace in the border city of Zarw in northern Sinai. Zarw, modern Kantara East, was the center of the land of Goshen where the Israelites dwelt, and in the same location where the biblical Moses was born. But contrary to the biblical account, Moses was born inside the royal palace. His mother Queen Tiye had an elder son, Tuthmosis, who died a short time before Amenhotep's birth. Tuthmosis had been educated and trained at the royal residence in Memphis before he mysteriously disappeared?believed to have been kidnapped and assassinated by the Amun priests. Fearing for his safety, Tiye sent her son, the infant Amenhotep, by water to the safekeeping of her father's Israelite family outside the walls of Zarw. (Which was the origin of the biblical baby-in-the-bulrushes story.)
The reason for the priests' hostility to the young prince was the fact that Tiye, his mother, an Israelite, was not the legitimate heiress to the throne. She couldn't therefore be accepted as a consort for the state god Amun. If Tiye's son acceded to the throne, this would be regarded as forming a new dynasty of non-Amunite kings over Egypt. During his early years, his mother kept Amenhotep away from both the royal residences at Memphis and Thebes. He spent his childhood at the border city of Zarw, nursed by the wife of the queen's younger brother, General Aye. Later, Amenhotep was moved to Heliopolis, north of Cairo, to receive his education under the supervision of Anen, the priest of Ra, who was the elder brother of Queen Tiye.
Young Amenhotep first appeared at the capital city of Thebes when he reached the age of sixteen. There he met Nefertiti, his half-sister, daughter of Sitamun, and fell in love with her. Tiye, his mother, encouraged this relationship, realizing that his marriage to Nefertiti, the heiress, was the only way he could gain the right to follow his father on the throne.
Akhenaten Co-Regent
Following his marriage to Nefertiti, Amenhotep III decided to make Amenhotep his co-regent which upset the priests of Amun. The conflict between Amenhotep III and the priests had started sixteen years earlier as a result of his marriage to Tiye, an Israelite, daughter of Yuya and Tuya. During his reign, Nefertiti was active in supporting her husband, Amenhotep, and was more prominently seen at official occasions as well as on all monuments. However, the climate of hostility that surrounded Amenhotep at the time of his birth surfaced again after his appointment as CO-regent On joining his father on the throne Amenhotep became Amenhotep IV. The Amun priesthood opposed this appointment, and openly challenged Amenhotep III's decision.
When the priests of Amun objected to his appointment, the young CO-regent responded by building temples to his new God, Aten. He built three temples for Aten one at the back end of the Karnak complex, another at Luxor near the Nile bank, and the third at Memphis. Amenhotep lV snubbed the Amun priests by not inviting them to any of the festivities in the early part of his co-regency and, in his fourth year, when he celebrated his bed festival jubilee, he banned all deities but his own God from the occasion. Twelve months later he made a further break with tradition by changing his name to Akhenaten in honor of his new deity. To the resentful Egyptian establishment, Aten was seen as a challenger who would replace the powerful State god, Amun, not falling under his domination. In the tense climate that prevailed, Tiye arranged a compromise by persuading her son to leave Thebes and establish a new capital at Amarna in Middle Egypt, on the east bank of the Nile.
A New City for Aten
The situation calmed down following Akhenaten's departure, while Amenhotep III ruled alone in Thebes. For the site of his new city at Amarna, Akhenaten chose a land that belonged to no god or goddess. The building started in his Year 4 and ended in Year 8; however he and his family moved from Thebes to Amarna in Year 6. At that point of land, the cliffs of the high desert receded from the river, leaving a great semi-circle about eight miles long and three miles broad. Here Akhenaten built his new capital, Akhetaten, the Horizon of Aten, where he and his followers would be free to worship their God. Huge boundary stelae, marking the limits of the city and recording the story of its foundation, were carved in the surrounding cliffs. Akhetaten was a capital city possessed of both dignity and architectural harmony. Its main streets ran parallel to the Nile with the most important of them, the King's Way, connecting the city's most prominent buildings, including the King's House, where Akhenaten and his family had their private residence. To the south of the house was the king's private temple to Aten.
Military Coup
Following the death of his father, Amenhotep III, in Akhenaten's Year 12, he organized a great celebration at Amarna for foreign princes bearing tribute because of his assumption to sole rule. Akhenaten and Nefertiti appeared to receive the tribute of foreign missions coming from Syria, Palestine, Nubia, and the Mediterranean islands, who offered them their gifts. It was at that time the king decided to abolish the worship of all gods in Egypt?except Aten.
Akhenaten gave orders to his troops, instructing them to close all the temples, confiscate their estates, and sack the priests, leaving only Aten's temples throughout the country. Units were dispatched to excise the names of the ancient gods wherever they were found written or engraved, a course that can only have created mounting new opposition to his already rejected authority. This persecution, which entailed the closing of the temples, the confiscation of property, the dispatch of artisans who hacked out the names of the deities from inscriptions, the banishment of the clergy, and the excommunication of Amun's name, was supervised by the army. Each time a squad of workmen entered a temple or tomb to destroy the name of Amun, it was supported by a squad of soldiers who came to see that the royal decree was carried out without opposition.
The persecution of the old gods, however, proved to be hateful to the majority of Egyptians, including the members of the army. Ultimately, the harshness of the persecution had a certain reaction upon the soldiers who, themselves, had been raised in the old beliefs. After all, the officers and soldiers themselves believed in the same gods whose images the king ordered them to destroy; they worshipped in the very temples that they were ordered to close. A conflict arose between the king and his army. Horemheb, Pa-Ramses, and Seti planned a military coup against the king, and ordered their troops from the north and south to move toward Amarna. When the army and chariots came face to face at Amarna's borders, Aye advised the king to abdicate the throne to his son, Tutankhaten, in order to save the dynasty and avoid a wholesale defection and perhaps even a civil war. Akhenaten agreed to abdicate and left Amarna with Pa-Nehesy, the high priest of Aten, and a few of his followers, to live in exile in the area of Sarabit El-Khadem in southern Sinai. When Tutankhaten took the throne, he changed his name to Tutankhamun to appease the priesthood of the powerful State god Amun. He did not, however, renounce the Atenist religion of his father.
Back From Exile
The root of the name Moses is in the Egyptian word Mos which means "child." But this word also had a wider legal meaning?"the rightful son and heir." As it was punishable by death to mention Akhenaten's name after his banishment, a code name was established through which his followers could refer to him. Therefore they called him MOs, the son, to indicate that he was the legitimate son of Amenhotep III and the rightful heir to his father's throne. The ancient Egyptian language had no written vowels, although the vowels were pronounced. The written word meaning a child or son consisted of two consonants, m and s, It is therefore easy to see that the Hebrew word, Moses, was derived from the Egyptian, Mos. The final 's' of Moses derives from the Greek translation of the biblical name.
Following his abdication, Akhenaten/Moses lived with his followers in exile in southern Sinai for about twenty-five years, during the reigns of Tutankhamun, Aye, and Horemheb. Here, Akhenaten/Moses lived among the Shasu (Midianites) Bedouins with whom he formed an alliance. On hearing of Horemheb's death, Akhenaten/Moses decided to leave his exile in Sinai and come back to Egypt, in order to reclaim his throne.
In his rough Bedouin clothes, Akhenaten/Moses arrived with his allies at General Pa-Ramses' residence in the border city of Zarw, his birthplace, which had now been turned into a prison for his followers. Pa-Ramses, by now an old man, was making arrangements for his coronation and getting ready to become the first ruler of a new 19th Ramesside dynasty when he was informed of Akhenaten/Moses arrival.
Akhenaten/Moses challenged Pa-Ramses' right to the throne. The general, taken by surprise, decided to call a meeting of the wise men of Egypt to decide between them. At the gathering, Akhenaten/Moses produced his scepter of royal power, which he had taken with him to exile, and performed secret rituals that only the king could have had knowledge of. Once they saw the scepter of royal authority and Akhenaten/Moses' performance of the rituals, the wise men fell down in adoration in front of him and declared him to be the legitimate king of Egypt. Pa-Ramses, however, who was in control of the army, used his power to frustrate the verdict of the priests and elders and retained the right to rule by force?a coup d'etat.
General Pa-Ramses ascended to the Egyptain throne as Ramses I, the first Pharoah of the 19th dynasty. Left with no choice but to flee from Egypt with his followers?the Israelites and Egyptians who embraced the Atenist faith?Akhenaten/Moses began the Exodus toward the Sinai via the marshy area to the south of Zarw and north of Lake Temsah, as this watery route would hinder the pursuit of Egyptian chariots. After a time Akhenaten/Moses then marched north toward Gaza and attempted to storm the city with his Shasu allies. Seti I, son of Ramses, led an army against Akhenaten/Moses, the Israelites, and the Shasu, and defeated them, with great slaughter, at many locations on the Horus Road as well as central Sinai.
It is likely that Akhenaten/Moses was killed by Seti I himself in the course of these military operations.
Ahmed Osman
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Peace
History is just for purpose of knowledge only and it has no relation in our faith.
History is good for knowledge, but also can misslead our faith to Allah.The example is the existence of Sunni and Shiah which happened not only because difference on Quran tafseer but also the confusion in history.
The example is the history of Nabi Muhammad's inheritance to Umar or to Ali, Battle of Karbala, and coup on Ustman Ibn Affan which all that stories is the main problems which always debated by Sunni and Shia.
So thats why the Quran never tell the Phrophet stories fully like in the Bible instead only pick some short quote from stories which we can get the lesson from that.
History is like Ahadith, this means they are not 100% valid and still have some contradicts.Allah only ordered us to believe what he sent down to us (The Quran) see 2191.
My post is just for reminder only, I will not take part in this discussion cause I'm not expert in history.My suggest to all is don't take the history too much
Salaam
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Peace ephraim7,
I haven't come across this. Thank you for sharing this resource with us.
My suggest to all is don't take the history too much
Salaam
Peace Earthdom,
Thanks for your post. Good advice. You're right - the Quran gives us "snippets" of the Prophet's stories and then the lesson/theme to learn from them. The Quran/guidance from Allah swt is our first priority. History is only optional and I believe a lot of caution needs to be taken with it - with any discipline there are issues/criticisms and popular scholarship doesn't have all or - dare I say it - many answers in my humble opinion.
EDIT Of course, history is contained in the Quran but I mean the discipline known as "History".
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Peace,
The source of this information Ephraim laid forth is perhaps biased even if containing true elements. The narrator is maybe Akhenaten's opposition and the whole story a bit different. Nevertheless it was a good story and it may be elements of the Truth.
The narrative is supporting the existence of Moses more or less.
But I wonder where the Quranic killing of a man which Moses committed enters the picture in support of this story, as well as some other occurrences of Moses in Quran.
God bless you
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The narrator is maybe Akhenaten's opposition and the whole story a bit different. Nevertheless it was a good story and it may be elements of the Truth
Man of Faith, the word "maybe" is forbidden in any science, you may also realize it too.
The word maybe in any statement indicate if that statement is only an assumption
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Peace,
What alternative should be used then when there is no certainty?
I use many synonymous phrases too, such as could be and perhaps. If there is no certainty why speak but hypothetically?
It was only an assumption if you did not see this.
On a side-note, I agree that 'maybe' might be a bit informal, but strong formality was not my intention.
God bless you
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Peace,
I use maybe and perhaps quite a bit. When talking about the Quran - it feels appropriate at times because I can't say some things for certain yet or ever. In terms of history and such things, remaning tentative seems the best course of action and words like "maybe" reflect that.
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On a side-note, I agree that 'maybe' might be a bit informal, but strong formality was not my intention.
I use maybe and perhaps quite a bit. When talking about the Quran - it feels appropriate at times because I can't say some things for certain yet or ever. In terms of history and such things, remaning tentative seems the best course of action and words like "maybe" reflect that.
Man of Faith and supportpeacenotwar looks like I must agree with both of you two. handshake
Yeah it's "just" forum online indeed, so lets don't take this chit chat too seriously like in the workplace instead let's us share and exchange our arguments together with any discussion, so we can cover each other's weakness.
It's nothing, but in university I was scolded by my lecturer 2-3 times because I say something doubtful such like "maybe" and "something" during class discussion.
Example is if lecturer ask "What is market?" then I will say like "something which made us meet the seller and buyer"
Maybe both of you two who I believe ever or still study in university may recognize it too, if doubtful arguments is forbidden in academical world.
peace