Why Is “Salb” in Quran (7:124) Translated as “Crucify”?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

Why does [Quran, 7:124] use “crucify” in English translations when the punishment didn’t exist in ancient Egypt? The Arabic word “salb” (صلب) can mean “to stiffen” or “to impale,” so why is “crucify” commonly used?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

The English word (crucifixion) is an accurate translation of “salb” (صلب) when understood in its originally intended meaning, namely, to bind someone to a wooden pole or to impale someone thereupon.

Imam Qurtubi mentions in the commentary of this verse that Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) said,

“The Pharaoh was the first person to crucify (صلب) and cut off the limbs from opposite sides.” [Qurtubi, al-Jami‘ li Ahkam al-Quran]

Arguments that this practice was only innovated by the Romans years after the time of the Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him) are unproven and have no evidence.

The burden of proof is upon those who claim that Ancient Egypt did not have crucifixion (i.e., impaling) as a punishment.  

Hope this helps
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies at Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen.

There, he completed the memorization of the Quran and his study of Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study, he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, Shaykh ‘Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others.

Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.