The Quran claims to be a perfect book from God, with no mistakes. But when we look at history, some parts don’t add up. These errors suggest the Quran might mix up old stories or timelines. Today, we’ll look at three big ones: coins in the time of Prophet Yusuf, chain mail for Prophet Dawood, and Maryam being called the sister of Haroon. Muslims, have you ever asked why a book from God would have these mix-ups? Does it make you wonder if humans wrote it instead? Let’s check the facts with Quran verses and explanations from scholars.
Error 1: Coins and Dirhams in the Story of Yusuf – But Coins Weren’t Invented Yet
History tells us the first coins were made around 650-600 BC in Lydia (now Turkey). But Islamic sources place Prophet Yusuf around 1700-1600 BC – that’s over 1,000 years earlier! Yet the Quran says his brothers sold him for “a few dirhams,” which were a type of coin or currency. Even if some say “dirham” just means silver pieces, real coins or stamped money didn’t exist back then. Trade was by barter or weighed metal, not counted coins. Why would God use a word for something not invented yet? Muslims, doesn’t this feel like a mistake from someone in the 7th century AD, not all-knowing God?
The main verse is from Quran 12:20 (Surah Yusuf, Ayah 20).
Arabic: وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الزَّاهِدِينَ
English Translation (Sahih International): And they sold him for a reduced price – a few dirhams – and they were, concerning him, of those content with little.
Scholars explain this in tafsirs, making the error clearer by saying it was exactly 20 dirhams – still impossible without coins.
From Tafsir Ibn Kathir for Quran 12:20: “They sold him for a reduced price, a few Dirhams, twenty Dirhams, according to Abdullah bin Masud. Similar was said by Ibn Abbas, Nawf Al-Bikali, As-Suddi, Qatadah and Atiyah Al-`Awfi, who added that they divided the Dirhams among themselves, each getting two Dirhams.”
Another tafsir agrees on the number. From Tafsir Jalalayn for Quran 12:20: “Then they sold him — they the caravan purchased him from them — for a very low price, a handful of dirhams, 20 or 22; for they, that is, his brothers, set small store by him.”
Even more, Tafsir Maududi for Quran 12:20: “Later they sold him for a paltry sum – just a few dirhams; they did not care to obtain a higher price.”
All these say dirhams or silver coins, but history shows no such thing existed in Yusuf’s time. If it was barter, why say “counted dirhams”? This challenges the Quran’s accuracy – how can a divine book get history wrong?
Error 2: Chain Mail Armor Given to Dawood – Centuries Before It Was Invented
Chain mail – armor made of linked metal rings – was first used around the 4th or 3rd century BC by Celtic people in Europe. But Prophet Dawood lived in the 10th century BC (around 1043-973 BC). The Quran says God made iron soft for Dawood and told him to make “coats of mail” with balanced rings. Scholars say this means chain mail, and Dawood was the first to make it. But that’s impossible – it came hundreds of years later. Muslims, if the Quran is timeless, why does it give Dawood something from the future? Doesn’t this sound like a story mixed up over time?
The verses are Quran 34:10 (Surah Saba, Ayah 10) and Quran 34:11 (Surah Saba, Ayah 11).
Arabic (34:10): وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ مِنَّا فَضْلًا ۖ يَا جِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُ وَالطَّيْرَ ۖ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ الْحَدِيدَ
English Translation (Sahih International): And We certainly gave David from Us bounty. [We said], “O mountains, repeat [Our] praises with him, and the birds [as well].” And We made pliable for him iron,
Arabic (34:11): أَنِ اعْمَلْ سَابِغَاتٍ وَقَدِّرْ فِي السَّرْدِ ۖ وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا ۖ إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
English Translation (Sahih International): [Commanding him], “Make full coats of mail and calculate [precisely] the links, and work [all of you] righteousness. Indeed I, of what you do, am Seeing.”
Tafsirs confirm it’s chain mail.
From Tafsir Ibn Kathir for Quran 34:10-11: “Saying: Make you perfect coats of mail…, which means chain mail. Qatadah said, He was the first person ever to make chain mail; before that, they used to wear plated armor.”
Another one: From Tafsir Tanwir al-Miqbas for Quran 34:11: “Saying: Make thou long coats of mail and measure the links (thereof)) the measure of a nail such that it is neither bigger nor smaller than it.”
And Tafsir Al-Jalalayn for Quran 34:11: “And We said ‘Fashion from it long coats of mail — complete suits of armour which the person wearing it drags behind him along the ground — and measure well the links’ that is in the weaving of the coats the maker of these is called sarrād.”
If chain mail wasn’t around until later, how could Dawood invent it? This error questions if the Quran knows real history.
Error 3: Maryam Called Sister of Haroon – Mixing Up Two Different Women?
Haroon (Aaron) was the brother of Musa (Moses), living around 1400-1300 BC. But Maryam (Mary), mother of Isa (Jesus), lived around 20 BC – that’s 1,300 years later! The Quran calls her “sister of Haroon,” which confuses her with Miriam, the actual sister of Moses and Aaron in the Bible. Some scholars say it’s because she’s a descendant, but there’s no proof Mary was from Moses’ line. Others say it’s metaphorical, like calling someone “brother” in faith. But why use “sister” if it’s not literal? A hadith tries to explain it, but it still feels like a fix for a mistake. Muslims, if the Quran is clear, why need excuses? Doesn’t this show confusion between Bible stories?
The verse is Quran 19:28 (Surah Maryam, Ayah 28).
Arabic: يَا أُخْتَ هَارُونَ مَا كَانَ أَبُوكِ امْرَأَ سَوْءٍ وَمَا كَانَتْ أُمُّكِ بَغِيًّا
English Translation (Sahih International): O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste.
Tafsirs try to explain.
From Tafsir Ibn Kathir for Quran 19:28: “(O sister of Harun!) referring to the brother of Musa, because she was of his descendants. Alli ibn Abu Talha and As-Suddi said: It was said to her: O sister of Aaron (19:28), meaning the brother of Moses because she was from among his descendants.”
Another: From Tafsir Jalalayn for Quran 19:28: “O sister of Aaron — he was a righteous man, in other words [what is meant is], O you who are like him in [terms of] chastity — your father was not a wicked man, that is, a fornicator nor was your mother unchaste’, that is, a fornicatress so how is it that you have this child?”
And Tafsir Maududi for Quran 19:28: ““Sister of Aaron” may either mean that Mary had a brother of the name of Aaron, or it may mean that she belonged to the family of Prophet Aaron.”
To explain, there’s a hadith where Muhammad addresses the confusion.
From Sahih Muslim 2135 (graded Sahih): Mughira b. Shu’ba reported: When I came to Najran, they (the Christians of Najran) asked me: You read “O sister of Harun” in the Qur’an, whereas Moses was born much before Jesus. When I came back to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) I asked him about that, whereupon he said: “The (people of the old age) used to give names (to their persons) after the names of Apostles and pious persons who had gone before them.”
This hadith admits the confusion but says it’s just a naming custom. But if Mary wasn’t a direct sister or descendant, why say it? History shows Mary was from the tribe of Judah, not Levi like Aaron. This looks like the Quran blending two Marys from different eras.
These errors aren’t small – they question the Quran’s claim to be error-free. Muslims, how do you explain them without changing meanings? If history doesn’t match, is the Quran really from God? Think about it.