continued from my examiner column http://www.examiner.com/interfaith-spirituality-in-columbus/spirituality-and-what-is-yaum-al-arafah-islamic-day-of-atonement-101Professor and author Stephen Prothero writes, ‘The Quran begins almost every sura with the reminder that Allah is merciful and compassionate, and repeatedly we are told that He is ‘All-forgiving to him who repents and believes, and does righteousness, and at last is guided” (20:82) But at least at often we are told of the horrors to come for ‘the inhabitants of the Blaze” (35:6) Repeatedly I read that Allah is watching me, that I should fear him, since he is both ‘terrible (40:3) and ‘swift’ in retribution (6:165), and that He will bring down fire on the unrepentant, the unbeliever, the unrighteous, and the boastful.’
The professor continues, ‘In short, the Quaran reads like a fire-and-brimstone sermon from start to finish. The Arabic term for torment/punishment/chastisement appears hundreds of times. In fact, it is one of the Quran’s most frequently used words.’ Prothero points out how the Hebrew Bible prophets use a similar strategy to urge hearers to repentance and correct behavior. The Hebrew and Christian bible carries plenty of texts of terror and commands ‘the annihilation of entire peoples (Dtr 20:16-18)’ from p 47 God is Not One, the Eight Rival Religions that Run the World and Why Their Differences Matter. This is why educated readers will realize the need for textual interpretation and the importance to considering the cultural and historic context of the time.
One example the author cites is verses telling ‘Muslims to forgo non-Muslim friends.’ (5:51) According to Prothero, in a historical context this applied to tribal alliances where Jewish or Christian groups allied with those opposed to Muhammad created a treasonous situation; this same dynamic doesn’t apply in modern times. Clearly in the hands of fanatical or un-educated interpreters, one might have unfortunate results for/by any of the 'peoples of the book'.
One of the important ways 'people of the book' or Abrahamic faiths differ is in the importance of ‘law’. Christianity has stressed the importance of both, but ultimately predominance of grace. Readers of the Hebrew bible will recall the importance of ‘judges’ who were arbiters and rulers. Religious law is very important in Judaism and covers everything from kosher foods to ritual behavior. In Islam, ‘Shariah’ or ‘right path’ refers to law. As Prothero describes it, ‘Historically, Muslims have not separated the sacred and the secular, so Shariah extends into all aspects of life-family, society, economics, and politics. It covers ritual and ethics, as well as criminal law, taxation, and public policy. This robust concept tilts toward the afterlife too, instructing Muslims not only how to live on Earth but also how to get to Paradise. . . interpretation of Shariah, is based on both the Quran and the Hadith, a secondary body of scripture . . . gathered in the eight and ninth centuries into six respected Sunni collections. Not all Hadith are equally authoritative, however.’ p 49 God is Not One.
Sunni and Shiite Muslims differ here and there are differing legal schools. Authority is more likely to rest with an Imam in the Shia community- as say, with the Pope in Catholicism, whereas Sunni’s would place authority in the community. A fatwa is a legal opinion or force of law only to those who recognize it. Eighty-five percent of the Muslim world is Sunni; 15% Shia. Its important to understand this rapidly growing religious-cultural group within Central Ohio, North America, Europe and beyond our shores for a peaceful tomorrow and the future of the planet, species & peoples.
[The Baitul Futuh Mosque in London photo by Paki, 2007 Wikimedia Commons]
One example the author cites is verses telling ‘Muslims to forgo non-Muslim friends.’ (5:51) According to Prothero, in a historical context this applied to tribal alliances where Jewish or Christian groups allied with those opposed to Muhammad created a treasonous situation; this same dynamic doesn’t apply in modern times. Clearly in the hands of fanatical or un-educated interpreters, one might have unfortunate results for/by any of the 'peoples of the book'.
One of the important ways 'people of the book' or Abrahamic faiths differ is in the importance of ‘law’. Christianity has stressed the importance of both, but ultimately predominance of grace. Readers of the Hebrew bible will recall the importance of ‘judges’ who were arbiters and rulers. Religious law is very important in Judaism and covers everything from kosher foods to ritual behavior. In Islam, ‘Shariah’ or ‘right path’ refers to law. As Prothero describes it, ‘Historically, Muslims have not separated the sacred and the secular, so Shariah extends into all aspects of life-family, society, economics, and politics. It covers ritual and ethics, as well as criminal law, taxation, and public policy. This robust concept tilts toward the afterlife too, instructing Muslims not only how to live on Earth but also how to get to Paradise. . . interpretation of Shariah, is based on both the Quran and the Hadith, a secondary body of scripture . . . gathered in the eight and ninth centuries into six respected Sunni collections. Not all Hadith are equally authoritative, however.’ p 49 God is Not One.
Sunni and Shiite Muslims differ here and there are differing legal schools. Authority is more likely to rest with an Imam in the Shia community- as say, with the Pope in Catholicism, whereas Sunni’s would place authority in the community. A fatwa is a legal opinion or force of law only to those who recognize it. Eighty-five percent of the Muslim world is Sunni; 15% Shia. Its important to understand this rapidly growing religious-cultural group within Central Ohio, North America, Europe and beyond our shores for a peaceful tomorrow and the future of the planet, species & peoples.
[The Baitul Futuh Mosque in London photo by Paki, 2007 Wikimedia Commons]
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