Question
Can you please help me in finding out when the first mention of Misr in regards to Egypt was recorded in Hadith literature. Are there any texts which refer to Egypt as Misr at the time of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) or was it named Misr after our Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) passed away?
Answer
You seem to want to ascertain when was Egypt referred to as Misr. Egypt is referred to as Misr approximately five times in the Holy Quran:
1) Surah 2, verse: 61
2) Surah 10, verse: 87
3) Surah 12, verse: 21
4) Surah 12, verse: 99
5) Surah 43, verse: 51
Egypt is also referred to as Misr in the Sirah of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
(See Al Bidayah Wan Nihayah, vol. 3, pg. 371)
‘Allamah Yaqut Al Hamawi (rahimahullah) mentions that Misr is named after the third descendant of Nuh (‘alayhis salam).
(Mu’jamul Buldan, vol. 5, pg. 160)
This shows that the area was called Misr in ancient times. However, the geographical boundaries of Misr are bound to have changed over time.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar
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التخريج من المصادر العربية
القرآن الكريم: [البقرة: ٦١]
{قَالَ أَتَسْتَبْدِلُونَ الَّذِي هُوَ أَدْنَى بِالَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ اهْبِطُوا مِصْرًا}.
القرآن الكريم: [يونس: ٨٧]
{وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى وَأَخِيهِ أَنْ تَبَوَّآ لِقَوْمِكُمَا بِمِصْرَ بُيُوتًا وَاجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ}.
القرآن الكريم: [يوسف: ٢١]
{وَقَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِنْ مِصْرَ لِامْرَأَتِهِ أَكْرِمِي}.
القرآن الكريم: [يوسف: ٩٩]
{فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَى يُوسُفَ آوَى إِلَيْهِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَقَالَ ادْخُلُوا مِصْرَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ}
القرآن الكريم: [الزخرف: ٥١]
{وَنَادَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنُ فِي قَوۡمِهِۦ قَالَ يَٰقَوۡمِ أَلَيۡسَ لِي مُلۡكُ مِصۡرَ وَهَٰذِهِ ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِيٓۚ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَ}
معجم البلدان: (٥/ ١٦٠)
مِصْرُ: سمّيت مصر بمصر بن مصرايم بن حام بن نوح، عليه السّلام، وهي من فتوح عمرو بن العاص في أيام عمر بن الخطاب، رضي الله عنه.