Brief Summary
This video explores the use of the word "Mmed" in 7th and 8th-century Arabic texts, aiming to differentiate it from the name "Muhammad" and its association with the Islamic prophet. The presenter examines historical documents, including a catalog of Arab-Byzantine coins and a bilingual papyrus from 705-715 AD, to analyse the context and meaning of "Mmed" in early Islamic inscriptions. The findings suggest that "Mmed" was used as a title, possibly related to the Messiah, distinct from the later interpretation of Muhammad as the apostle of God.
- Analysis of historical texts to understand the usage of "Mmed."
- Examination of a bilingual papyrus from 705-715 AD featuring the word "Mahamemed."
- Differentiation between the original meaning of "Mmed" and its later interpretation as "apostle of God."
Introduction
The presenter introduces the topic of the video, which aims to find clear examples of the word "Mmed" or "Mmad" being used in the 7th or 8th century by Arabs. The goal is to challenge the assumption that these terms directly refer to the prophet Muhammad, thereby separating the term from its later association with the central figure of Islam. The presenter references a book, "Catalog of the Arab Byzantine and Post-Reform Umaid Coins" by John Walker, available on archive.org, as a source of information.
Historical Background and Papyri
The presenter discusses the historical context, noting that ancient and modern writers often present a confused picture. The focus is on papyri exported from Egypt to Byzantium, which included protocols or official headings in both Greek and Arabic. These headings contained phrases proclaiming Islamic beliefs, such as "there is no god except Allah" and what was later interpreted as "Muhammad was Allah's apostle." The presenter highlights that the Greek equivalent of the Arabic term in question is "mach," and acknowledges that during this period, the Greek equivalent for "apostle" was "apostolos."
Bilingual Papyrus Analysis
The presenter references a bilingual papyrus found in the Egyptian National Library, dating from 705 to 715 AD during the reign of Kaiff Wed. The papyrus includes both Arabic and Greek inscriptions. The Arabic text contains the phrase "Mahamemed," followed by Greek words that translate to "God." The presenter notes that the papyrus also includes the name "Abdullah," meaning "servant of God," and other phrases that are difficult to decipher. The translation of the papyrus includes phrases like "the compassionate and merciful," corresponding to the Arabic words "Rahman" and "Rahim."
Interpretation of "Mahamemed"
The presenter highlights the key term "Mahamemed" in the papyrus, which is translated as "the apostle of God." The presenter expresses a personal view that the original meaning of "Mahamemed" might have been closer to "angel of God," aligning with Abdul Malik's Christology on his coins. However, by the time of Walid, it appears to have been interpreted as "apostle of God." Despite this shift in interpretation, the presenter emphasises that the use of "Mahamemed" is significant, suggesting it was a title related to the Messiah, distinct from the standard Islamic narrative of Muhammad.
