I. Introductory Notes on Islam

A.     All quotations and citations are by Sura and verse from The Meaning of the Glorius Qur’an by M. M. Pickthall

II.                  origins of Islam

A.     Allah is simply the Arabic word for God

B.     Muhammad is the founder of Islam and the last prophet of Allah

1.       Each year he would spend month in meditation

2.       In 610,  when he 40 years old and was asleep or in a trance, he heard the command to read.

a)      But he was illiterate and said he could not read

b)      Heard a voice whose message is recorded in the  Qur’an

(1)    Read:  In the name of your Lord who creates

(2)    Creates man from a clot

(3)    Read: And your Lord is the most bounteous

(4)    Who teacheth by the pen,

(5)    Teacheth man that which he knew not.

(6)     Nay, but verily man is rebellious (Sura 96, verses 1-6

c)      When Muhammad awoke he recalled these words, went outside the cave and heard “O Muhammad, You are Allah’s messenger and I am Gabriel”

d)      Qur’an literal means the reading or the lecture. It is Allah’s words as given to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel

3.       Muhammad began preaching in Mecca, originally to family and friends, then after three years to a larger group

4.       Muhammad and his group were persecuted

5.       Muhammad and his followers fled to Medina in 622. This is called the Hijra

a)      He began to establish own community

b)      Suras in this time period give greater emphasis to community than to individual

6.       Muhammad returned and conquered Mecca in 630

III.               Basic tenets of Islam

A.     The five pillars of Islam, which means submission.

1.       The belief (Iman) in one God and that Muhammad is His messenger,

2.       Prayer (Salat) which is prescribed five times a day,

3.       Fasting (Siyam) which is required in the month of Ramadan

a)      The month of Ramadan when Koran was revealed

O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil);

(Fast) a certain number of days; and (for) him who is sick among you, or on a journey, (the same) number of other days; and for those who can afford it there is a ransom: the feeding of a man in need - but whoso doeth good of his own accord, it is better for him: and that ye fast is better for you if ye did but know –

The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the Criterion (of right and wrong). And whosoever of you is present, let him fast the month, and whosoever of you is sick or on a journey, (let him fast the same) number of other days. Allah desireth for you ease; He desireth not hardship for you; and (He desireth) that ye should complete the period, and that ye should magnify Allah for having guided you, and that peradventure ye may be thankful. (2:183-185)

b)      Also see  2:194-196

(1)    Sex is allowed at night 2: 186

4.       Charity (Zakat) 2:271-275

a)      This best if done in secret. 2:271

b)      Usury is prohibited. 2:275-282

5.       Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca is required once in one’s lifetime if one can afford it physically and financially.

B.     All the pillars should be of equal height and strength in a building in order to give the building its due shape and proportions. It is not possible that one would do hajj without observing fasting or without practicing regular prayers. Now think of a building which has pillars only. It would not be called a building. In order to make it a building, it has to have a roof, it has to have walls, it has to have doors and windows.

C.     In addition to the five pillars, Muslims are required to live up to a strict moral code. these These things in Islam are the moral codes of Islam such as honesty, truthfulness, steadfastness and many other human moral qualities. Thus in order to be a Muslim, one should not only be practicing the pillars of Islam but should also have the highest possible attribute for being a good human being. Only then the building is completed and looks beautiful.

IV.              Themes

A.     Islam is not the name of some unique faith presented for the first time by Muhammad

1.       For the Quran makes it abundantly clear that Islam, the complete submission of man before God, is the one and only faith consistently revealed by God to mankind from the very beginning. Noah, Abraham, Moses and Christ - Prophets who appeared at different times and places all propagated the same faith. They were not founders of faiths to be named after them. They were each reiterating the faith of his predecessor.

“And they say: Be Jews or Christians, then ye will be rightly guided. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Nay, but (we follow) the religion of Abraham, the upright, and he was not of the idolaters.” (2:135),

B.     Similarities to both Judaism and Christianity are many. overview 2: 177

1.       Monotheism

a)      God’s power 2:28-29

How disbelieve ye in Allah when ye were dead and He gave life to you! Then He will give you death, then life again, and then unto Him ye will return.
 

He it is Who created for you all that is in the earth. Then turned He to the heaven, and fashioned it as seven heavens. And He is knower of all things. 2:28-29

b)      Renounce idol-worship and embrace god

Allah! There is no deity save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous.  2:255

c)      Islam is very strict in rejection of divinity of Jesus, which seems to be a compromise with monotheism.

(1)    Jesus is a prophet
 

Of those messengers, some of whom We have caused to excel others, and of whom there are some unto whom Allah spake, while some of them He exalted (above others) in degree; and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty) and We supported him with the holy Spirit. And if Allah had so wiled it, those who followed after them would not have fought one with another after the clear proofs had come unto them. But they differed, some of them believing and some disbelieving. And if Allah had so willed it, they would not have fought one with another; but Allah doeth what He will. 2:253

(2)    But Jesus is not divine
 

O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender. 4:171

2.       God is good

3.       Grace, Mercy

 Neither those who disbelieve among the people of the Scripture nor the idolaters love that there should be sent down unto you any good thing from your Lord. But Allah chooseth for His mercy whom He will, and Allah is of Infinite Bounty 2: 105

 Our Lord! And make us submissive unto Thee and of our seed a nation submissive unto Thee, and show us our ways of worship, and relent toward us. Lo! Thou, only Thou, art the Relenting, the Merciful.2:128

Your Allah is One Allah; there is no Allah save Him, the Beneficent, the Merciful. 2:163

4.       Allah seeks Repentance

Lo! Those who hide the proofs and the guidance which We revealed, after We had made it clear to mankind in the Scripture: such are accursed of Allah and accursed of those who have the power to curse.

Except those who repent and amend and make manifest (the truth). These it is toward whom I relent. I am the Relenting, the Merciful. 2:159-160

5.       Belief in reward and punishment in an the afterlife, as well as in resurrection

And they say: The Fire (of punishment) will not touch us save for a certain number of days. Say: Have ye received a covenant from Allah - truly Allah will not break His covenant - or tell ye concerning Allah that which ye know not?

Nay, but whosoever hath done evil and his sin surroundeth him; such are rightful owners of the Fire; they will abide therein.

And those who believe and do good works: such are rightful owners of the Garden. They will abide therein 2:80-82

 Beautified is the life of the world for those who disbelieve; they make a jest of the believers. But those who keep their duty to Allah will be above them on the Day of Resurrection. Allah giveth without stint to whom He will. 2:212

Or (bethink thee of) the like of him who, passing by a township which had fallen into utter ruin, exclaimed: How shall Allah give this township life after its death? And Allah made him die a hundred years, then brought him back to life. He said: How long hast thou tarried? (The man) said: I have tarried a day or part of a day. (He) said: Nay, but thou hast tarried for a hundred years. Just look at thy food and drink which have not rotted! Look at thine ass! And, that We may make thee a token unto mankind, look at the bones, how We adjust them and then cover them with flesh! And when (the matter) became clear unto him, he said: I know now that Allah is Able to do all things.

  And when Abraham said (unto his Lord): My Lord! Show me how Thou givest life to the dead, He said: Dost thou not believe? Abraham said: Yea, but (I ask) in order that my heart may be at ease. (His Lord) said: Take four of the birds and cause them to incline unto thee, then place a part of them on each hill, then call them, they will come to thee in haste, and know that Allah is Mighty, Wise. 2:259-260

6.       God wants us to be peaceful

a)      Allah condemns  aggression.

  Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo! Allah loveth not aggressors.  2:190

b)       But we may retaliate against evil:

O ye who believe! Retaliation is prescribed for you in the matter of the murdered; the freeman for the freeman, and the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. And for him who is forgiven somewhat by his (injured) brother, prosecution according to usage and payment unto him in kindness. This is an alleviation and a mercy from your Lord. He who transgresseth after this will have a painful doom.2:178

7.       God tests man

a)      And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops; but give glad tidings to the steadfast,

b)      Who say, when a misfortune striketh them: Lo! we are Allah's and lo! unto Him we are returning.

c)      Such are they on whom are blessings from their Lord, and mercy. Such are the rightly guided. 2:155-156

C.     What distinguishes Mohammad from other Prophets?

1.       He was the last Prophet of God;

2.       God revived through him the same genuine faith which had been conveyed by all the Prophets;

3.       This original message was corrupted, and split into various religions by peoples in different ages. They indulged in interpolations and admixture. These alien elements were eliminated by God and Islam, in its pure and original form, was transmitted to mankind through Mohammad

4.       Since there was to be no messenger after Muhammad the Qur’an revealed to him was preserved word for word so that it should be a source of guidance for all times.

5.       The life of Mohammad, and the manner in which he conducted himself, was also recorded in a unique manner by his companions. And this was supplemented by later compilers of the Tradition. A more complete and authentic account of the life, sayings and actions of any Prophet or historical personage, has never been compiled;

6.       1. In this way, the Quran and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet together became a reliable source of knowing Is lam.

D.     Divergences from Christianity

1.       Faith important but Islamic doctrine is less complicated.

a)      No intercession, sacrifice from Jesus (or Muhammad)

(1)    God speaks directly through Muhammad

(2)    No elaborate notions with regard to mission role of Muhammad

b)      Conduct and belief are of equal importance

(1)    Moral laws are of primary importance. Following them depends upon belief in Allah

 And those who believe and do good works: such are rightful owners of the Garden. They will abide therein. do good works 2:82

(2)     But specific belief in the doctrines of Islam is not necessary to do good works or to gain rewards form Allah

And they (e.g. Jews and Christians): None entereth paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian. These are their own desires. Say: Bring your proof (of what ye state) if ye are truthful

Nay, but whosoever surrendereth his purpose to Allah while doing good, his reward is with his Lord; and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve. 2:111-112

c)      Thus salvation is open to all who believe in God / Allah and follow his moral teachings. One does not have to be a Muslim to be rewarded by  God

(1)    Other revelations have been given to other people

(2)    And, even though those other revelations are incomplete or insufficient, they can still lead people to do Allah’s will

(3)    Islam criticizes other Biblical religions precisely for being schismatic, that is, for dividing the followers of God (see 2:137 below)

Lo! Those who believe (in that which is revealed unto thee, Muhammad), and those who are Jews, and Christians, and Sabaeans - whoever believeth in Allah and the Last Day and doeth right - surely their reward is with their Lord, and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve. 2:62

And (remember, O Children of Israel) when We made a covenant with you and caused the mount to tower above you, (saying): Hold fast that which We have given you, and remember that which is therein, that ye may ward off (evil). 2:63

(i)      Covenant with Israel is still in effect

And they say: Be Jews or Christians, then ye will be rightly guided. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Nay, but (we follow) the religion of Abraham, the upright, and he was not of the idolaters.

Say (O Muslims): We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered.

And if they believe in the like of that which ye believe, then are they rightly guided. But if they turn away, then are they in schism, and Allah will suffice thee (for defence) against them. He is the Hearer, the Knower.

(ii)    Religion should not lead to schism or division

(We take our) colour from Allah, and who is better than Allah at colouring. We are His worshippers.

Say (unto the People of the Scripture): Dispute ye with us concerning Allah when He is our Lord and your Lord? Ours are our works and yours your works. We look to Him alone.

(iii)   We are judged primarily by our works

Or say ye that Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do ye know best, or doth Allah? And who is more unjust than he who hideth a testimony which he hath received from Allah? Allah is not unaware of what ye do. 2:135-140

(iv)  Most wicked are those who do not acknowledge Allah’s teaching

(v)    That is, those who deny the teachings of other religions deny some of Allah’s wordsome of

And they say: None entereth paradise unless he be a Jew or a Christian. These are their own desires. Say: Bring your proof (of what ye state) if ye are truthful.

Nay, but whosoever surrendereth his purpose to Allah while doing good, his reward is with his Lord; and there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.

And the Jews say the Christians follow nothing (true), and the Christians say the Jews follow nothing (true); yet both are readers of the Scripture. Even thus speak those who know not. Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that wherein they differ. 2:111-113

(vi)  Allah will teach us all the truths on the Day of Resurrection; Thus we need not worry about convincing everyone who disagrees with our own religious beliefs

2.       Certain rituals are important for Muslims

a)      Fasting during Ramadan (see above)

b)      Pilgrimage

c)      Dietary laws

He hath forbidden you only carrion, and blood, and swineflesh, and that which hath been immolated to (the name of) any other than Allah. But he who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. 2:173

3.       Rejection of Jesus as the Messiah (see above)

4.       Balance this world and the next

a)      More concern with this worldly well being the goods of this world

(1)    God rewards us in this world and the next

(2)    Muslims practice self-denial, especially during Ramadan but Islam does not require extreme self-denial

(a)    For example, sex is permitted in the evening during Ramadan

5.       law

a)      Christianity does not focus on detailed laws that provide the guidance for everyday life

(1)    Christianity developed during the time of Roman rule. Jesus taught his followers to accept and act under that law (e.g. Render unto Caesar…)

(a)    The notion of the separation of church and state has its distant origin in the Christian notion that there are two spheres in which men and women must be obedient, the this-worldly sphere in which we must obey Kings and others government and the other-worldly sphere in which we must obey God.

(i)      Of course, God takes precedence when his commandments conflict with those of our rulers.

(2)    Early Christianity expects the imminent end of this era

b)      Jews have own political community and God is their legislator. Thus Jewish law includes civil and criminal as well as moral law.

c)      Similarly, Islam was in its earliest time—and often, at present—both a religious and a political community

(1)    So there is an extensive Islamic law, called the Sharia, that guides every aspect of our lives.

E.      Divergences form Judaism

1.       Ritual is less demanding, not as all encompassing as Orthodox or Rabbinical Judaism

a)      Does not seek to separate Muslim people from others

2.       Balance this world and the next

a)      More other worldly, focused on heaven and hell, judgment than the religion of the Israelites and many contemporary forms of Judaism

b)      Similar to Rabbinic Judaism in the balance between this world and the next world.

V.                 Qur’an: An overview

A.     Self-consciously comes after the other Biblical revelations

1.       It corrects mistakes

a)      E.g. Jesus prophet not son of god

2.       Is tolerant of different Biblical religions

a)      All people of the book can reach salvation

b)      Discourages schism and conflict

3.       Tries to find a way between concerns of Judaism and Christianity

a)      Law and ritual are very important as in Judaism. Islam is a political religion like Judaism

(1)    But the ritual is somewhat pared down

b)      Faith is very important, particularly to the central doctrines important

(1)    But Islamic doctrines are not as complicated and difficult as those of Christianity