The Standing Miracle
• Qur’an translates to “recitation” – 114 surahs (chapters), read literally
• “Standing Miracle” = recitation of the Qur’an from God to Muhammad, only miracle Muhammad claim
• Qur’an come to Muhammad over 23 years in small segments through Gabriel
• Qur’an continues God’s earlier revelations of the Old and New Testaments – these unreliable because of partially corrupted transmission and only tell portions of Truth
• Qur’an directly doctrinal and indirectly historical, language barrier, form of Divine Speech
Basic Theological Concepts
• God
– Immaterial and therefore invisible, omnipotent to instill fear
– Muslims see monotheism as Islam’s contribution to religion
– Can lift heart and soul to gracious presence to receive strength and guidance for life’s troubled course
• Creation
– Created by a deliberate act of Allah’s will: real and important, material world good (because created by Allah)
• Human Self
– Gave us life with 2 obligations: must be grateful for life received, surrender oneself completely to Allah
– Coming to Islam – must be done ourselves, individuality of human soul everlasting
• Day of Judgment
– Depending on judgment, soul transcends to heaven or hell
– Heaven: fountains, gardens, sumptuous food and drink, gold goblets
– Hell: burning garments, molten drinks, maces of iron, and fire
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
ISLAM - Huston Smith Part I
Islam Background
• Allah – al meaning “the” and Ilah meaning “God.”
• Religion did not start with Muhammad, but from the beginning of time, by God
• Same origins as Christianity, however begin to differ when Abraham banish Hagar and Ishmael – Muslims say to Mecca where Ishmael’s descendents became the Muslims, descendents of Isaac became Jews
The Seal of the Prophets
• Muhammad = “Seal of the Prophets” because while he was preceded by other prophets, he served as their culmination; name translates to “highly praised”
• Born into ignorant world – no obligation to anyone outside tribe, scarcity of material goods, orgies and gambling, religion based on evils and exalted no sentiments or moral restraint
• Whole family die young, live with Uncle and family – bereavements make him sensitive to human suffering
• Grow up and enter service to widow Khadija, fall in love and marry
• Begin to visit cave to contemplate, settles on the idea of Allah, the God
• Night of Power, angel visit Gabriel and tell him to proclaim his love for Allah
• Muhammad religion controversial for 3 reasons:
1. Uncompromising monotheism threatened polytheistic beliefs and revenues from pilgrimages to Mecca
2. Moral teachings demanded an end to philandering at the time
3. Challenged injust social order – all men equal in the eyes of the Lord
• Muhammad and followers persecuted
The Migration that Led to Victory
• Meccan nobility threatened – city of Yathrib (now Medina) ask Muhammad to become leader and promise to follow teachings and beliefs of Islam, devout Muslims follow Muhammad (journey called the Hijra)
• Muhammad rule blend of justice and mercy – bring five different tribes together
• Meccans attack, Medina win spectacular victory
• Muhammad unite all of Arabia (even Mecca) = miracle
• Allah – al meaning “the” and Ilah meaning “God.”
• Religion did not start with Muhammad, but from the beginning of time, by God
• Same origins as Christianity, however begin to differ when Abraham banish Hagar and Ishmael – Muslims say to Mecca where Ishmael’s descendents became the Muslims, descendents of Isaac became Jews
The Seal of the Prophets
• Muhammad = “Seal of the Prophets” because while he was preceded by other prophets, he served as their culmination; name translates to “highly praised”
• Born into ignorant world – no obligation to anyone outside tribe, scarcity of material goods, orgies and gambling, religion based on evils and exalted no sentiments or moral restraint
• Whole family die young, live with Uncle and family – bereavements make him sensitive to human suffering
• Grow up and enter service to widow Khadija, fall in love and marry
• Begin to visit cave to contemplate, settles on the idea of Allah, the God
• Night of Power, angel visit Gabriel and tell him to proclaim his love for Allah
• Muhammad religion controversial for 3 reasons:
1. Uncompromising monotheism threatened polytheistic beliefs and revenues from pilgrimages to Mecca
2. Moral teachings demanded an end to philandering at the time
3. Challenged injust social order – all men equal in the eyes of the Lord
• Muhammad and followers persecuted
The Migration that Led to Victory
• Meccan nobility threatened – city of Yathrib (now Medina) ask Muhammad to become leader and promise to follow teachings and beliefs of Islam, devout Muslims follow Muhammad (journey called the Hijra)
• Muhammad rule blend of justice and mercy – bring five different tribes together
• Meccans attack, Medina win spectacular victory
• Muhammad unite all of Arabia (even Mecca) = miracle
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