{"id":25108,"date":"2015-01-11T13:34:24","date_gmt":"2015-01-11T11:34:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/site\/?p=25108"},"modified":"2016-10-17T12:37:31","modified_gmt":"2016-10-17T10:37:31","slug":"%d9%85%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%86%d8%a8%d8%a7-%d8%a5%d8%b1%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%a7-%d9%85%d8%b5%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a990-%d9%87%d9%84-%d9%8a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/%d9%85%d9%82%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d9%86%d8%a8%d8%a7-%d8%a5%d8%b1%d9%85%d9%8a%d8%a7-%d9%85%d8%b5%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a990-%d9%87%d9%84-%d9%8a\/","title":{"rendered":"Beautiful Egypt 90 \u2013 \u00abWill He Rule Us?\u00bb January 11, 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0In the previous article, we tackled the geographical traits of the Arab Peninsula from two perspectives. We also spoke about the inhabitants\u2019 knowledge of reading and writing. Then, we moved to religion, and dealt with the multiplicity of creeds therein, such as polytheism, monotheism (Hanif), Judaism, and Christianity. We started by tackling polytheism, Totemism and Zoroastrianism. Meanwhile, we shall resume tackling the religious conditions in the Arab Peninsula.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Mandaeism<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0It is the worship of planets: whereby people believe that stars influence the universe. Many people in Yemen and the Levant were Mandaic. Yet, this creed was enfeebled after the spread of Judaism and Christianity.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Zandaqa<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Some Arabs were zindiqs. The creed reached them via al-Hirah. Also, some members of Quraysh were zindiqs due to their mixing with Persians through trade.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Other Creeds<\/span><\/h2>\n

Hanif<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Hanifs were called \u201cmonotheists\u201d. They refused idolatry, and believed in the Oneness of God, as well as doomsday. This creed spread in Tihamah, al-Yamamah, Mecca, and al-Ta\u2019if.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Judaism<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Judaism spread in the Arab Peninsula, especially in Yemen, Khaybar, Yathripa where Banu Qurayza, Banu Nadir, and Banu Qaynuqa lived. Jews migrated to the Arab Peninsula in two waves.<\/span><\/h2>\n

First:\u00a0<\/span>This was after the Babylonian Captivity and destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. This took place in two stages. The first one was in 606 B.C. when Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon marched to Jerusalem, besieged it and pillaged the Temple. He imprisoned some of the nobility and renowned people of Judea, amongst whom was prophet Daniel and his companions. The second one took place in 597 B.C. whereby Jerusalem was also besieged until Nebuchadnezzar came, captured king Jeconiah, his mother, slaves, chiefs, eunuchs, as well as ten thousand people, and all the artisans. He left none but the poor, which made some migrate to Hejaz.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Second:<\/span>\u00a0Historians based this stage on the presence of Jewish tribes in Hejaz. In 70 A.D., the Romans sent an army led by Titus to Jerusalem. This army destroyed the Temple. Subsequently, many Jews fled to Hejaz. They settled down in Yathripa, Khaybar, and Tayma\u2019. Thus, Judaism spread amongst Arabs through those migrants. The Jews had a political, economic and strategic importance.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Christianity<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Christianity spread in Najran, Sana\u2019a, and al-Yamamah. It was also spread in al-Hirah and Kufa by the Romans. Yet, some historians ascribe the spreading of Christianity to Ethiopians when they occupied Yemen in 340 A.D. Himjars, then, embraced Christianity after some evangelist had reached it. It is said that Imru\u2019 al-Qays bin Amr (aka. the king of all Arabs) was Christian. Churches were built in Najran, al-Yamamah and Sana\u2019a. Robert G. Hoyland maintains that Christians constituted about 80% of the Arab tribes at that time, while 20% remained pagans. Likewise, inhabitants of Petra (in Jordan) and Tadmur (south western Syria) became Christians. As the Eastern Roman Empire converted to Christianity, Syria became Christian after its people had been idolatrous.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Some historians maintain that Marcus Julius Philippus (aka. Philip the Arab) the Roman Emperor (244-249 A.D.) was the first Christian Emperor, and that spreading Christianity was one of his bequests. They also claim that he was from Arabia Petraea. He joined the Roman army. He constructed Amman and Hauran. Other historians claim that he allowed freedom of worship during his tenure, though he was not Christian. They believe that, thus, he paved the way for Emperor Constantine to become Christian and make Christianity the Empire\u2019s official religion.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Thus, there was a variety of religions in the Arab Peninsula.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0As we mentioned earlier, trade connected the provinces of the Arab Peninsula, and connected them to Egypt, too. Yet, some historians recounted stories about Amr bin al-\u2018As\u2019 visits to Alexandria when it was a Roman province. One of these stories tells us incidents which some people believe to be exaggerated, while others accept it. Yet, we shall present it along with some comments.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0During one of his commercial trips, most probably one of the summer trips heading toward Jerusalem with Quraysh, Amr met a Roman deacon who came to pray therein, then to seclude himself in the desert for a while. The deacon passed by Amr during one of his shepherding shifts. He was quite thirsty then, and asked Amr for some water, so Amr gave him some water from his own pot. Then, the deacon fell asleep. At that time, a serpent was about to attack him, but Amr saw it and killed it. When the deacon woke up, he saw the dead serpent. So, he realized he had been in danger, and that God saved him, thanks to Amr who told him he had killed it.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0According to the story, the deacon is said to have kissed Amr\u2019s head and said, \u201cGod saved my life through you twice: first, when I was dying of thirst, and second, when that serpent was about to bite me.\u201d Then the deacon asked Amr about the reason for his presence in Jerusalem, so Amr told him it was trade, and that he wanted to earn money in order to buy camels. Then the deacon asked him about a man\u2019s blood money. Amr answered that it was one hundred camels. So, the deacon asked him how much a hundred camels were worth. Amr answered, \u201cOne thousand dinars.\u201d Then the deacon asked Amr to go with him to his country in order to pay him two men\u2019s blood money: for he saved him from death twice. Here is the dialogue that took place between them:<\/span><\/h2>\n

Amr: Where do you come from?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Deacon: Egypt; from a city called Alexandria<\/span><\/h2>\n

Amr: I do not know it; neither have I been there.<\/span><\/h2>\n

Deacon: If you visit it, you will know there is not one like it at all!<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Amr agreed and accompanied the man to Alexandria, after promising him to do what he had pledged. Amr asked his friends\u2019 leave, then headed with the deacon and one of them to Alexandria. When Amr reached Alexandria, saw its splendor, prosperity and people, he said, \u201cNever have I seen such a rich country like Egypt!\u201d His arrival coincided with a great celebration held by the city\u2019s elites. They were playing with a golden ball. Whoever snatched the ball with his sleeves would become king.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Amr sat with the deacon, wearing a cloak which the deacon gave him during the celebration. It came to pass that while playing, the ball fell into Amr\u2019s sleeve. They were amazed, as they knew that whoever received the ball would become king and rule the country. They said, \u201cThis ball never lied to us, except this time. Will this nomad rule us? No way!\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0The deacon paid his debt to Amr, after which the latter returned with his friend to Jerusalem. Thus, Amr got to know Egypt\u2019s entrance and exit. He saw its splendor and wealth.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0One historian commented on this story, saying, \u201cThe story does not contradict our information. Quraysh used to conduct commercial trips to the Levant during summer. Amr was one of its members. The summer trip used to take place at its beginning, which coincided with the Jewish Passover and the Christian Easter. As for the deacon\u2019s presence in Jerusalem, it goes in accord with Christians\u2019 visiting Jerusalem and praying there.\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0On the other hand, Al-Akkad commented on the story, saying, \u201cIt is a false story. However, the reader can easily identify the contexts of falsehood in it. A modern reader can tell that the story of the ball is not true. He can also tell that the story of the dinars is exaggerated.\u201d He continues, \u201cThe only correct point in that story is that it shows how Amr entered Egypt: it is by looking into its conditions, and contemplating its people, government, and architecture. This took place as he was accompanied by a deacon who would have shown him what he would have otherwise not seen in another man\u2019s company. In fact, deacons were the most attentive people to the conflict between the government and the Church, as well as the conflicts amongst the congregation.\u201d Here, al-Akkad alludes to the country\u2019s political condition, as well as the crises that the government threw the Church into, for the country was a Roman province. Likewise, his words are indicative of the oppression and torture which Copts went through by the Melchites and which we tackled beforehand.<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0Al-Akkad continues his commentary as follows, \u201cHad Amr got to know Egypt that well from his visit, he would have easily conquered it and with a few sentries and weapons. Yet, this story is not our sole reference for Amr\u2019s visiting Egypt; for al-Kindi recounted how he used to conduct trade with Egypt in like manner he did with Jerusalem and the Levant.\u201d What a story! Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.<\/span><\/h2>\n

General Bishop<\/span><\/h2>\n

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center<\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In the previous article, we tackled the geographical traits of the Arab Peninsula from two perspectives. We also spoke about the inhabitants\u2019 knowledge of reading and writing. Then, we moved to religion, and dealt with the multiplicity of creeds therein, such as polytheism, monotheism (Hanif), Judaism, and Christianity. We started by tackling polytheism, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1982,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[6389,6683,240,685,684,682,683],"class_list":["post-25108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-beautiful-egypt","tag-will-he-rule-us","tag---2","tag-685","tag-684","tag-682","tag-683"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25108"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25108"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39795,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25108\/revisions\/39795"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1982"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/copticocc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}