Akhenaten - was he a Monotheist?
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God has many names, those that are mentionned inthe Qur'an and those that are not mentionned. Baal in Arabic means lord, so that is a name of God, I think the Qur'an goes down to the intention of the sayer, what is in the mind of the sayer, and for the hearer, obviously it is what is in his mind when he hears. Many times, what the hearer hears is not what the sayer says. And a lot of discussions on theology, God, etc. are about what one says and another one hears. And there is no meeting because what is in the mind is different, and that may have little to do with what is officially or unoficially recognized as a distinct religion, and that is why I say that the Qur'an speaks about persons, about conducts and not about religions. Because it is what is in the mind and the heart and what we do that defines the faith, what we believe. It is not that you say I am this or that. In fact, I think we should not have to say that. And it does not mean much.
Salaam
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Peace huruf,
I don't have much more to add to our discussion here other what I have already stated. In terms of Baal - I mentioned that it could refer to one God if it's not viewed that God/the Creator has partners because God does not have partners again, La ilaha illAllah. The things here seem to be what is a correct representation and what is false, as mentioned earlier. I agree that what matters is intent and I believe there are differences in people's believe that its possible only Allah and the individual know about as mentioned by Isa below - and that's why I mentioned 'hard' and 'soft' polytheism. That's why this issue of faith is between God and the individual. This is also mentioned by Isa in the Quran - of course lets give credit to our source - in 5116-117.
I can't tell if you are referring to me, but I have not stated that it matters what someone calls themselves. That must be something I've mentioned a lot of times on here, and I even referred to it in my last post. If you aren't referring to me, and making a general comment, then ok but sometimes it doesn't always come across that way.
God swt is the bestower of understanding - to Him all credit is ultimately due and of course to God is the return
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What I think is that pharaoh Akhenaten was a brother of pharaoh Tuthmosis. It was proven scientifically they are related. Tuthmosis is the pharaoh of the Prophet Moses time. The name Akhenaten, Akhen mean slave and atan mean god. Like a name similar to Abdullah. It's not his real name. His real name was something like Amenhotep IV. I feel that prophet Moses name is somewhat drive from the powerful pharaoh Tuthmosis whose wife was the one adopted the Prophet Moses.
We can see in the Quran that in the pharaoh's family there are people who are monotheist and they are very powerful in the royal family.
4028 A believing man among Pharaoh's people, who was concealing his belief, said, "How can you kill a man just for saying,
My Lord is God,' and he has shown you clear proofs from your Lord? If he is a liar, that is his problem, and if he is truthful, you benefit from his promises. Surely, God does not guide any transgressor, liar. 4029 "O my people, today you have kingship and the upperhand. But who will help us against God's judgment, should it come to us?" Pharaoh said, "You are to follow only what I see fit; I will guide you only in the right path." 4030 The one who believed said, "O my people, I fear for you the same fate as the previous opponents. 4031 "The opponents of Noah, and?d, Thamoud, and others who came after them. God does not wish any injustice for the people.
4032 "O my people, I fear for you the Day of Summoning.
4033 "That is the day when you may wish to turn around and flee. But nothing will protect you then from God. Whomever God sends astray, nothing can guide him."
4034 Joseph had come to you before that with clear revelations, but you continued to doubt his message. Then, when he died you said, "God will not send any other messenger after him. God thus sends astray those who are transgressors, doubtful.
4035 They argue against God's revelations, without any basis. This is a trait that is most abhorred by God and by those who believe. God thus seals the hearts of every arrogant tyrant.
4036 Pharaoh said, "O H?m?n, build for me a high tower, that I may reach out and discover.
4037 "I want to reach the heaven, and take a look at the god of Moses. I believe he is a liar." Thus were the evil works of Pharaoh adorned in his eyes, and thus was he kept from following (the right) path. Pharaoh's scheming was truly evil.
4038 The one who believed said, "O my people, follow me, and I will guide you in the right way.
4039 "O my people, this first life is a temporary illusion, while the Hereafter is the eternal abode."
4040 Whoever commits a sin is requited for just that, and whoever works righteousness - male or female - while believing, these will enter Paradise wherein they receive provisions without any limits.
4041 "O my people, while I invite you to be saved, you invite me to the hellfire.
4042 "You invite me to be unappreciative of God, and to set up beside Him idols that I do not recognize. I am inviting you to the Almighty, the Forgiver.
4043 "There is no doubt that what you invite me to do has no basis in this world, nor in the Hereafter, that our ultimate return is to God, and that the transgressors have incurred the hellfire.
4044 "Some day you will remember what I am telling you now. I leave the judgment of this matter to God; God is the Seer of all the people."
4045 God then protected him from their evil schemes, while the people of Pharaoh have incurred the worst retribution. -
Thanks for your post macromode. Very interesting about the name Moses/Moshe and Tuthmosis/Thutmose.
May Allah swt bless and protect you
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Moshe -
Moshe means "Drawn out of Water"
(Biblical Moshe freed the Israelites from Egypt and led them through the wilderness.)Moses
In Egyptian, Moshe means a son. Thus, his naming is prefaced by a phrase that is literally translated, ?he became to her as a son? (cf. Ibn Ezra; Hadar Zekenim). Significantly, the suffix moshe is found (and exclusively so) in the names of many Pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty, such as Ka-moshe (?son of majesty?), Ach-moshe (Ahmose; ?son of the moon,? or ?the moon is born?) and Toth-moshe (Thutmose; ?son of Toth?). The word moshe may indeed be of Semitic origin (see next note, this verse, ?bore?), introduced by the Semitic Hyksos.
According to other ancient sources, the name Moses comes from the Egyptian mo (water) and uses (drawn from) (Josephus, Antiquities 296, Contra Apion 131; Philo De Vita Moses 217; Malbim).
Some sources state that Moses? Egyptian name was Monius (Ibn Ezra; cf. Abarbanel; Josephus, Contra Apion 126, 2. Other ancient sources claim that Moses? name was preserved among the Gentiles as the legendary Musaeus, teacher of Orpheus, from whom the Muses obtained their name (Artapanus, in Eusebius, Preparatio Evangelica 927).
bore
See 2 Samuel 2217, Psalms 1812; note on Genesis 4711. In Egyptian, mase or mashe means to give birth. Others see the word as related to the Hebraic mush, and of Semitic origin (Rashi; Chizzkuni; Tur; see note, this verse, ?Moses?). -
There could have been several different reasons why he was called Moshe/Moses/Musa. Whether or not we'll ever know with complete certainity the different origins is another matter. It's nice to explore these topics sometimes, but it's not vital for belief and understanding of the main principles of islam - so the fact we may never know it with that kind of certainity is not an issue.