FELIX OF NOLA AND Q9 VERSE 40

1: From my research, I couldn’t find any specific mentions of Saint Felix of Nola in Islamic history or literature. No book of Islamic Tarikh mention his name. Felix of Nola is primarily known as a Christian saint and martyr, and there isn’t any connection between his life or teachings and Islamic history or theology.

2: Saint Felix of Nola was born in Nola, which is near Naples in Italy. While some sources mention his father being of Syrian origin, there is no indication that Felix of Nola himself ever visited any Arab countries. His story and legacy is primarily centered in Italy and within the Christian tradition.

3: Saint Felix of Nola was born in the early 3rd century AD in Italy, specifically in Nola, near Naples. The exact date of his birth is not recorded. He lived to a ripe old age and died on January 14, but the exact year of his death is uncertain in Tarikh. It’s believed that he died around the year 250 AD or 260 AD, during the persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Decius. So, his life spanned a significant portion of the 3rd century, during a time when Christianity was still a relatively new and sometimes persecuted religion in the Roman Empire.

4: Using the AD calender, Prophet Muhammad was born in 570 AD, approximately 320 years after the death of Saint Felix of Nola. Obviously the Prophet was born in Mecca, and he lived until 632 AD, which means that his life and teachings came much later than those of Felix of Nola, and during a very different time period in terms of politics, culture, and religion. Of course they never met.

5: This makes it clear that no single historical evidence has it that it was Prophet Muhammad and Felix of Nola that was in the cave. And I haven’t heard anyone ever say such. Not even the Shiites nor the Orientalists!
Okay wait and read point 6….

6: What I’ve read/heard of being said and which was repeated few days ago was that “it was Felix of Nola and his companion that was in the cave – as regard Q9 Verse 40.” Was there a cave incidence in the entire story of Felix of Nola? Yes there was. Read point 7 carefully….

7: There is indeed a story in the life of Saint Felix of Nola that involves a cave. According to Christian tradition, when Felix of Nola was arrested and imprisoned for his faith, his elderly mentor, Maximus, was hiding in a cave. An angel appeared to Felix and helped him escape from prison, and then guided him to the cave to attend to the ailing Maximus. This story emphasizes Felix’s faith and devotion. But where was this cave located? Was it anywhere round the Arab peninsula?

8: According to Christian tradition, the cave Maximus was hiding is near Nola, Italy. Nola is a small town in the Campania region of Italy, about 30 kilometers east of Naples. The exact location of the cave is not specified in the historical accounts, but it is believed to have been in the vicinity of Nola, close enough for Saint Felix of Nola to be able to reach it after his escape from prison.(Don’t forget Saint Felix never visited the Arab countries). It’s possible that the cave was part of a larger network of catacombs or underground burial sites that were common in the early Christian communities in Italy.

9: What if the Q9 Verse 40 was about Felix and Maximus as claimed, No it wasn’t; for 2 major reasons:

A: The one in the cave told his companion: إن الله معنا (Certainly Allah is with us), so it wouldn’t have been but a Muslim to utter such, as there’s no belief in Allah in Nola during the time of Felix and Maximum.
There’s another issue here, read in point 10.

B: The issue stated in point 10 might have makes sense if not that the beginning of the verse 40 and preceeding verses of Q9 explicitly makes it clear that it was talking about Islam (and not about Christianity or other religion). As it was directed to the believing Muslims يا أيها الذين آمنوا…. And the word إلا تنصروه…(If you do not aid him..) shows it was Islam Allah was preaching support towards as the Qur’an never push a support towards Christianity or other religions.

10: Maximus, the elderly mentor of Saint Felix of Nola, was a Christian. During the early centuries of Christianity (maseehiyyah), the term “Allahu” was not commonly used in the Christian tradition, as it is more commonly associated with the Muslims. However, Christians of that time would have believed in the same God that we Muslims worship, as the then Christianity and Islam are both monotheistic religions that trace their roots back to Abraham (Ibraheem). So, while Maximus may not have used the term “Allahu,” he would have been a believer in the same God worshipped by Muslims, but from a Christian perspective.

So this point 10 is what cause the confusion of belief that it was Felix and Maximus the verse was referring to. But point 9B has given a better explanation.

11: Also, the cave incident involving Saint Felix of Nola and Maximus occurred during the early 3rd century AD, around the year 250 or 260 AD. This was during the time of the Roman Empire when Christians were being persecuted for their faith. Saint Felix of Nola was eventually arrested and martyred for his beliefs, which would place the cave incident shortly before his death. It’s important to note that this incident is part of Christian history, and it occurred several centuries before the birth of Prophet Muhammad and the events described in Qur’an 9 verse 40.

Let us discuss issues with knowledge instead of attacking personalities, that would be a great benefit to Islam and the Ummah instead. May Allah bless us with the understanding of His verses…

© Ibn Taofeeq Abdul Azeez