My Posts

Post #10 - General overview of Muhammad and Islam

1). Provide a General overview of Muhammad and Islam: (bio. of Muhammad, main philosophical teachings and main practices, etc.)
2). What I found most interesting about this reading?

Answer:

Islam comes from the word “salam” which translated means “peace” but with a sense of “surrender,” and this surrender is of one’s life to God. Those who follow Islam as a religion are referred to as “Muslims.” To a Muslim, although the practice of Islam itself started with Muhammad in sixth century Arabia, it actually began with God. In Islam, God is “the God”, there is no one like him, and he is the only. In the Koran the word “Allah” is used for God. Muslims believe in portions of the Jewish and Christian Bibles up to a certain point. The heritage of the people started with Ishmael who was the first son of Abraham (After God had promised a son to Abraham, Sarah his wife believing that she was barren, gave Abraham her servant Hagar to bear his son.) As told in the Bible, later Sarah did have a son and eventually Sarah persuaded Abraham that Ishmael and Hagar should be sent away. After this the accounts deviate. According to the Koran, Ishmael went to a place where Mecca was to arise.

In the last half of the six century A.D. Muhammad was born into the leading tribe of Mecca. Both parents had died while he was quite young, so he was adopted by his uncle. Muhammad was said to be pure-hearted and gentle as well as being ready to help anyone around him. His character traits made him well loved by those around him. However, Muhammad turned inward in his thoughts as his was very disillusioned by the immorality and cynicism of others his age.

After reaching maturity he went into the caravan business. At the age of 25 he began to service a wealthy widow named Khadija. There relationship grew and eventually they became married. After the 15 year of marriage, Muhammad began a continual visit to a solitary cave on a mountain near Mecca. Within the cave his meditated thoughts began to dwell on good and evil, and to reach out for God. Through long nights of concentrated thought on Allah (one of the more impressive god’s of Arabic thought) he became convinced that Allah was far greater than most had thought.

Later around the year 610 A.D. Muhammad received his call from God. During one of his meditated trances, an angel (said to be Gabriel) came to him in the form of a man and told him to “Proclaim.” Over time this voice returned to him again and again with the same command. Muhammad then decided to give his life to the service of God, preaching the words God was to give to him. The reaction to his message was at first responded to negative and hostile manner. What Muhammad was to proclaim went against the practices of the day, which made the people lots of money. At first they started to just jeer at him, however later it turned to threats and persecution. Muhammad continued to pour his life into his preaching.

Over time people of high influence believed in his claims and acknowledged him as Allah’s prophet. In 622 A.D. Muhammad eventually found himself being called on by leading residents of the city of Yathrib (280 miles from Mecca) who had heard of his teaching. These residents promised that they would too worship only Allah if he would come to their town and lead them. Muhammad agreed to go, however the Meccan leaders found out and attempted to prevent him from leaving. Muhammad eventually circumvented their attempts and made his way there (a migration know as the “hijra”, a turning point for Muslims.) The city of Yathrib eventually became known as “Medinatal-Nabri” or the City of the Prophet and then as just the “Medina” the city.) Once there is was compelled into leadership. His life style matched his preaching. Although a leader his personal home was just an ordinary home in the city. During his leadership, he was able to bring five different contrasted and feuding tribes together in a spirit of cooperation and partnership. His reputation began to flourish and many came to see him. The Meccan’s then repeatedly attacked Medina for several years. Eventually the Meccan’s lost and Muhammad returned to Mecca as a victor. True to his character Muhammad forgave those who persecuted him. He made his way to the cubical temple named “Ka’ba” (which was said to have been built by Abraham) and re-dedicated it to Allah. He then accepted the city’s mass conversion to Islam. Afterwards Muhammad returned to Medina and died two years later in 632 A.D.

Muhammad is best remembered for his contribution of the Koran. The Arabic word “qur’an” (Koran) means recitation. Muhammad considered it to be the only miracle God worked through him. As such Muslims read the Koran literally considering it as important as a Christian would consider Jesus to be the human incarnation of God. The words that made up the Koran came to Muhammad over 23 years. It was the words that Muhammad would say loudly while in his trance like state of meditation that was written down by his followers. According to Muslims the Koran is a continuing revelation of God and presents itself as the crowning touch to Jewish and Christian writings. It however evaluates Old and New Testaments as having defects and claims that they only have portions of the truth and had been corrupted in their recording which explains what they feel are discrepancies between their accounts and the Koran’s version. The Koran’s main goal is to proclaim the unity, omnipotence, omniscience and mercy of God, along with the relationship of follower and leader. In the Koran God is portrayed as speaking in the first person in which he describes himself and makes his laws known. The Koran is extremely important for the Islamic life as it serves as guide for making decision and interpreting events in ones life. The words written are often meditated on in private for greater understanding.

The main philosophical teachings and practices of Islam are: God, Creation, human soul, and the Day of Judgment. Most basic theological concepts are closely related to that of Judaism and Christianity. Everything is hinged on God (the one and only God.) Its notion is to rid the spot of anything that would be Allah’s rival. The Koran honor’s Jesus as a prophet and accepts his virgin birth, however does not accept the notion that Jesus is God incarnate, nor does the Koran recognize the Holy Spirit and the concept of the Trinity. The Koran tells of God’s unlimited power and as such to fear God. This fear however is not based on God being a hard fisted ruler, but that more on the consequences that follow from being on the wrong side of God. The Koran tells them that good and evil matter, and the choices made along with them have their own consequences. The second meaning to the word Islam is “peace.”

Regarding the concept of creation, the Koran states that God created it and that is not some result of evolution. Regarding Human’s, the Koran states that they are most important to God and that human’s are naturally good, it has not been tainted by some devastating fall. Life is a gift from the creator and as such one should be grateful and ready to surrender oneself back to the service of God. The Koran also speaks about a “Day of Judgment”, where life is brief and offers one a chance for choice. Depending on how one chose to handle life one’s soul will either reach Heaven or be sent a Hell as each person will be held accountable for their actions and how they kept God’s commands while on Earth. The judgment will not be from God but from the soul itself. Death will bring the soul away from the natural self-serving tendencies allowing one to see fully how one has responded in life. It will be one’s own actions that will accuse or confirm one. Overall the Koran emphasizes deeds more than thoughts.

Islam instructs people to walk in a straight path (a straightforward, direct and implicit path.) God has reveled his will to us in four different stages. First in Abraham God revealed the truth of that there is only one God, secondly to Moses he provided the 10 commandments, to Jesus the Golden Rule, then how to put the Golden Rules into practice which is where the forth revelation comes in. In Islam the guidelines are the “five pillars” which are the principles of how one should regulate one’s life. First of these is a confession of faith (Islamic creed), which says “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet.” The first part emphases the only one God theory and the second part affirms Muhammad’s legitimacy as Gods spokesperson. This phase must be spoken at least once very clearly and correctly. It is also used periodically when they feel threatened to provide comfort or when overcome by rage to curb emotions. The second pillar is a canonical prayer that gives gratitude for life and to keep it in perspective and remove selfish motives. In this prayer they acknowledge their place before God and take the first step into submission to his will. The prayer is said 5 times throughout the day (on arising, when the sun is overhead, in mid-afternoon, at sunset and before going to sleep.) Muslims are encouraged to pray together in mosques on Friday afternoon. They begin their prayer by facing the direction of Mecca. Ablutions precede the canonical prayers, which being while standing and end in a foetal position with ones forehead touching the ground. The third pillar is charity. Each person should share 2 ½ % of ones holdings to the poor. The fourth pillar is the observance of Ramadan which is the holy month for Muslims. In this month the Koran’s revelations started and it also marked the migration of Muhammad from Mecca. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk in order to reflect and teach self-discipline. The fifth pillar is a journey to the City of Mecca, to heighten ones commitment to God and his revealed will. It also reminds one of equality with others and brings people from various countries together which breaks down ethnic barriers. In addition to the five pillars, Muslims stay away from gambling, stealing, lying, drinking, drugs, and sexual promiscuity.

The Islam religion also teaches four important social aspects (economics, status of women, racial equality, and the use of force.) In terms of economics, wealth is seen as a life-giving source that should be effectively circulated. Islam does not object to a profit motive, economic competition, or entrepreneurship, however it insists that it be done in a fair manner. Compassion keeps the wealth flowing. Inheritance is to be shared by all heirs equally (including daughters.) Regarding the status of women, the Koran leaves the possibility for woman to have equal status of that of a man. The Koran forbids infanticide as it requires daughters be included in inheritances. It allows for a woman to provide her free consent to the marriage. At time of a marriage, husbands are required to provide the wife with a sum of money agreed on by both. If a divorce was to occur, the woman is allowed to keep the amount. The Koran however permits a husband to have up to four wives, however it recommends only one. Regarding racial equality Islam stresses its importance along with interracial marriage. Most interestingly is Islam’s belief in the use of force. Muslims have been associated as being a militant religion. Muslims feel this is only because many have seen them as an enemy. The Koran teaches forgiveness and returning good for evil when the situation calls for it. The Koran allows for the punishment of those who deserve it in equivalence to that which had been dulled out. Based on this comes the principle of a just or holy war. The Koran’s definition of holy war must be in defense or to right a terrible injustice that had been done.

What I find most interesting about Smith’s chapter on Islam is how the Muslims have this insatiable feeling of the Koran’s legitimacy and precedence over other writings, claiming that the Old and New Testaments have defects. However, they believe in Jesus still. It is unclear to me how they could read and rely on the Old and New Testaments but still not believe everything Jesus taught. Perhaps they justify it based on claims that they only have portions of the truth and have been corrupted in their recordings.