Dhul-Qarnayn and the Alexander Romance: Difference between revisions

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==Modern Views and Controversies==
==Modern Views and Controversies==
 
===Cyrus the Great===
Recent historical and archaeological evidence clearly points to the real Alexander of Macedon as a polytheistic pagan who fashioned himself after Greek and Egyptian gods. The more recent questions about Alexander's sexuality and personal relationships also raises serious problems for anyone who believes he was a follower of Islam.  Based on this information, some Islamic apologists and theologians have constructed alternative theories to the identity of Dhul-Qarnayn.  The most prominent alternative theory among modern apologists is that Dhul-Qarnayn was Cyrus the Great of Persia. This theory has been advanced by  Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi,<ref name="Maududi">{{cite web|url= http://www.islamicstudies.info/result.php?sura=18&verse=83|title= Tafsir Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an|publisher= |series= Surah 18 Ayah 83|author= Maududi|date= 1972|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.islamicstudies.info%2Fresult.php%3Fsura%3D18%26verse%3D83&date=2013-11-22|deadurl=no}}</ref> Maulana Abul Kalam Azad,<ref name="Azad"> Baljon , Johannes Marinus Simon. [http://books.google.com/books?id=IOEUAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA33 "Modern Muslim Koran Interpretation: (1880 - 1960)"]. pp. 32-33. 1961.  Relates a typical defense by Azad of the Cyrus theory by explaining first why Alexander should be rejected based on the historical Alexander and not the legendary one.</ref> Allameh Tabatabaei,<ref>Allameh Tabatabae. Tafsir al-Mizan Vol 26 </ref> and Naser Makarem Shirazi.<ref>Naser Makarem Shirazi. Bargozideh Tafseer-i Nemuneh, Vol 3, p. 69</ref>
Recent historical and archaeological evidence clearly points to the real Alexander of Macedon as a polytheistic pagan who fashioned himself after Greek and Egyptian gods. The more recent questions about Alexander's sexuality and personal relationships also raises serious problems for anyone who believes he was a follower of Islam.  Based on this information, some Islamic apologists and theologians have constructed alternative theories to the identity of Dhul-Qarnayn.  The most prominent alternative theory among modern apologists is that Dhul-Qarnayn was Cyrus the Great of Persia. This theory has been advanced by  Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi,<ref name="Maududi">{{cite web|url= http://www.islamicstudies.info/result.php?sura=18&verse=83|title= Tafsir Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an|publisher= |series= Surah 18 Ayah 83|author= Maududi|date= 1972|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.islamicstudies.info%2Fresult.php%3Fsura%3D18%26verse%3D83&date=2013-11-22|deadurl=no}}</ref> Maulana Abul Kalam Azad,<ref name="Azad"> Baljon , Johannes Marinus Simon. [http://books.google.com/books?id=IOEUAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA33 "Modern Muslim Koran Interpretation: (1880 - 1960)"]. pp. 32-33. 1961.  Relates a typical defense by Azad of the Cyrus theory by explaining first why Alexander should be rejected based on the historical Alexander and not the legendary one.</ref> Allameh Tabatabaei,<ref>Allameh Tabatabae. Tafsir al-Mizan Vol 26 </ref> and Naser Makarem Shirazi.<ref>Naser Makarem Shirazi. Bargozideh Tafseer-i Nemuneh, Vol 3, p. 69</ref>


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