ISLAM, part 1

We made a Covenant of old with the children of Israel. And you have nothing of guidance until you observe the Torah and the Gospel. surah5:70

My Lord, increase me in knowledge. s20:114

(IMO,oc – except direct quotes.)

A microscopic history of Islam by a non-Muslim trying to grok it

The Qu’ran, the Islamic Scripture, was channeled/dictated to Muhammad by God (Arabic, ‘Allah’) beginning in 612 AD, over 20+ years, often while Muhammad meditated, but at times, during daily activities. While most Saudi Arabs then were 'pagans,’ Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism were all well established in the communities and trade routes of his environs, and Muhammad was aware of their tenets and interacted with many of their adherents.

Allah relates many times in the Qu’ran that His previous works, the Torah and the New Testament (often referred to collectively as 'the Book’) are historical, sacred and revelatory, and should be studied and revered as Holy by all Muslims, since the self-same God (Allah) had given them to the appropriate peoples at the appropriate times; and that, therefore, this Qu’ran was to be the new Scripture for the Arabs, aimed at bringing monotheism to them at that (appropriate) time and place.

Confirming the first surah above, we have ‘Before this, was the Book of Moses, as a guide and a mercy; and this book (the Qu’ran) confirms it in the Arabic tongue.’ s46:12

(‘Surahs’ being like chapters, ‘ayat’ like verses.)

The five pillars of Islam should also resonate with 'people of the Book:’

1. Confession of faith in God (Allah). The ‘Shahada,’ recited innumerable times, says ‘there is no God but God,’ and is nearly identical to the Hebrew ‘Shema,’ (here O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.)

2. Prayer, facing Mecca, five times a day. Keeping God in your thoughts many times a day is good for the soul. And it subordinates the ego.

3. Charity. Almsgiving. Giving of your wealth, time and energy to those less fortunate than you. A Universal sign of good stewardship.

4. Fasting, from dawn to dusk, during the entire holy month of Ramadan.

This teaches self-discipline, and is an opportunity to reduce human desires, allowing greater focus on God.

5. The Hajj. Every able-bodied Muslim is directed to travel to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. This is the great equalizer, as prince and pauper are garbed the same in giving tribute to God. It also transcends nationality and ethos, as all travelers share a world-wide bond.

Then, there are hundreds of uplifting ayat that show that Muslims should surrender to God, follow His commandments and guidelines, seek knowledge and live a righteous life that will assure them of a place in Heaven, which is mapped out as a pretty luscious place to spend eternity.

As noted earlier, (in the ‘comparative’ section of the monotheistic religions,) God also gets angry with the unfaithful and evildoers, and describes, in graphic terms, sins of the unrepentant that will land one in Hell, where the horrors are equally unending.

Dilemmas arise when Allah seemingly countermands idyllic passages of living peacefully among people of all persuasions, with ayat that allow/encourage/command Muslims to kill infidels, including 'people of the Book.’ Challenging, shall we say? (once again, we need a word about 847 times stronger.)

I want to offer a tiny overview (showing, for the moment, only 'inclusive,’ positive proclamations) of the Qu’ran, from various surahs:

"....we have revealed to you as we revealed to Noah and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon and David, and we sent after them in their footsteps Jesus, son of Mary, verifying what was before him of The Torah and we gave him the Gospel in which was guidance and light…we made with them a strong covenant.’ S5:44

Quick synopsis: The readers or hearers who want to become good Muslims should believe in God and everything revealed in the Old and New Testaments and confirmed in the Qu’ran. If so, God promises a strong covenant like He has made with the Jews and believers of ‘the Book.’

(Let me also state that virtually ALL the people, save Muhammad, mentioned by God in the Qu’ran, are Jewish. The Jews (and, by extension, Christians) are quite literally Muslims’ true heritage. And, because of their daily submission to God, would have been the only inhabitants in Heaven when the first Muslim believers got there.)

Whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve. S18:29

If it had been the Lord’s will, they all would have believed – all who are on earth! Wilt thou then compel mankind, against their will, to believe? S10:99

In other words, we are free to believe if, and as, we please.

And those who take as their protector others besides Him, Allah doth watch over them; thou are not the disposer of their affairs. S42:6

‘How shall Allah guide those who reject faith after they accepted it? Of such, the reward is that on them rests the curse of Allah…except for those that repent even after that and make amends; for verily Allah is oft-forgiving, most merciful.’ S3:86-9

In summary: ‘the Book’ and the Qu’ran offer guidelines to people to be compassionate and to keep the faith. We must not, however, judge our fellow beings. That is for God alone. There may be rewards or punishments at His discretion, but (especially allowing for repentance) God, and God alone, in His infinite wisdom, will make the final judgments on each of us.

(This, of course, falls on deaf ears for so many fundie Christians and Muslims.)

Muhammad’s life

Many books are available on Muhammad’s life, from his difficult childhood, orphaned and raised by a grandfather and an uncle, to his marriages, to the struggles of preaching Islam to largely intransigent clans men, to his prominence as statesman and general; (his armies conquered lands from Spain to parts of China.) I will say nothing further, except to recommend ‘No God but God,’ by Reza Aslan, as a biography. (I also strongly recommend reading the Qu’ran itself.)

After Muhammad’s death, there were squabbles, putting it mildly, over how succession of power should take place. The result is the major schism that produced Sunnis and Shi’ites, and which, sadly, is still with us today.

The Golden years

Historians tell us that when the territorial expansion of Islam ended in the 10th c, the 'greater jihad’ (defined shortly) came to the forefront, and the emergence of intellectual, philosophical, scientific, artistic Islam took form as a powerful force that equaled or surpassed that of Europe. Long before being hijacked by tribal customs, misguided lawmakers and militant dictators, early Islam was a pluralist religion; one which respected individual thinking and reason, education for all, and continual sharing and learning from other cultures, all within the scope of the teachings of the Qu’ran.

A few hundred years condensed to three short paragraphs!

The Islam that presents itself to us today

We are aware of the full spectrum of Islam today, from North American and European Muslims in our midst, to continuous news of Muslim nations around the world. We see peace-loving millions, and at the other end of the spectrum, ISIS and Al-Quaida and their ilk - the true blasphemers of Islam. We also hear from brave protesters and reformers who often risk their lives to bring their truths to the world. (more later.)

One of the contributing factors, concerning Islam, that upsets people who engage their hearts and minds is: how do we know which nations in the Islamic world are our friends? And which, if any, listen to the evolving needs of their people?

There are some serious issues at play here. On the one hand, most Arab/Muslim nations have liberty, pluralism and even democracy written into their mission statements and constitutions, (though obviously no Muslim nation currently lives up to those lofty ideals.)

And there are Muslims all over the globe who insist that Islam is a peace-loving and compassionate religion. And we believe them when they say it. After all, there are hundreds of passages in the Qu’ran that speak of love and compassion, of religious freedom, of treating elders, the poor, the homeless and disenfranchised with dignity, etc; echoes of the golden rule and enlightened moral and religious tenets from around the world. Who knows…if you could somehow ask every Muslim in the world, there might well be well be over a billion who would agree with all of this and more.

On the other side of the ledger, you have full-fledged islamist terrorists, whom we consider, at their worst, inhumane and repulsive. Basically ‘troglodytes-in-camo-with-missiles.’ ticwms.

I will now refer to islamists as ticwms, and it’s OK if it comes out like tick-worms, because even though worms are important in the bio chain, when we refer to someone as a worm, we’re clearly talkin’ lowlife.)

Let’s be clear. We’re not talking here about conservative Muslims, worried that their deep beliefs in the Qu’ran will be tainted by rubbing elbows with modernism and secular governments. That group is no different from conservative Christians; both have every right to their beliefs as long as they don’t try to force them down our throats. I believe in a truly pluralistic society as a real possibility. (I can imagine it not only in Muslim countries, but even here in the US!)

However, there are factions of both religions that pretend their Scripture is perfect and inerrant; perfect for running a country, while sadly turning a blind eye to the glaring flaws (remember slavery?) that make them unfit, not for worship or reverence, but as the basis for sound and judicious government.

No, what is obviously disturbing is the inhuman individuals and organizations that are hell-bent (IMO, quite literally) on forcing a thoroughly corrupted Islam on the world. The ones who use high-tech devices and weaponry, from cell phones to missiles, for which they contributed little, but who live and base most of their culture on pre-Islamic clan society, treating women like chattel, allowing men multiple wives and mistresses, the buying and selling of young girls, condoning rape and murder and honor killing, the destruction of temples, churches and shrines, and more.

They support the surahs that talk war and fear but ignore the hundreds that talk love and tolerance, and they sanction suicide bombings, beheadings and Madrasa schools, which teach little boys to hate almost everyone. Troglodytes. Add (sic) nauseum.

It should be noted that not every Muslim nation officially condones or sanctions the above-mentioned evils, (though as will be seen in the next chapter, as the Qu’ran has been implemented, IMO all Muslim countries currently have laws and/or policies that seriously devalue women, many allowing the nauseating practices listed above.

And, BTW, all these countries have ‘lobbyists,’ American PR types who receive tens of thousands of $$$ a month to divert our attention from those crimes and put some kind of positive spin on their country, so they can continue to receive big bux from the US. IMO, such a system is repugnant, and no such lobbying should be allowed to exist; only a progressive merit system that rewards a country for humane treatment of all its citizens should be considered worthy of American $$$.

So, getting back to my original concern…did any major elements of the Islamic world stand as one in the ‘90s, saying, 'Saddam Hussein is a monster. We declare he is not a Muslim. He is a repulsive scourge on humanity and so are his sons and his power-hungry henchmen, plundering, raping and murdering at will. All are enemies of Islam. We will gladly join the US in eradicating him'.

Not to my knowledge. Didn't happen.

Ditto for Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, the Taliban et al.

Remember that the Qu’ran states, plainly, and to the point, “for you, your religion, for me, my religion”.

Obviously, modern day ticwms will have none of that. Not only would they trample people of other religions, but people of no religion, Muslims of other sects and even moderates of their own sect! When we in the free world really understand this, we recognize how fearful most moderate Muslims, already living amidst 'immoderate’ Islam, must be of the tiny, but paralyzing, fraction of Muslims that ticwms represents.

Imagine what it must be like for Muslim artists, journalists, musicians and writers, and especially women, who might be prompted to parody or protest their country’s laws or the frightening reach of the ticwms, wishing to pursue a very different lifestyle, while still resonating within Islam. All are fearful of jail or death if they follow their hearts and minds.

What about a woman who would like the simple pleasure of leaving her house in jeans and a tee shirt and going to a café to meet a friend?!?

Nothin' easy here, my friends.

PEACE