Daniel Globig PHI210 Dr. Brewer 5.1.

09 Islam: Critical Engagement My impressions of Islam before I read the book titled Islam, written by Nasr, were quite short and sketchy to say the least. I did not understand much about Islam but after reading this book and parts of the Quran I learned where the defining lines were between Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Since media and many people have addressed Islam very negatively after 9-11 my fight to understand Islam was an uphill battle against all negativity. This journey of learning has been very shocking for me. What shocked me most about Islam beliefs were the many similarities between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. It is interesting to think of how Muslims believe Christians and Jews both mistook an understanding of early scripture. Apparently Islam considers itself the last major world religion in the current history of humanity and believes that there will be no other pleanary revelation after it until the end of human history and the coming of the eschatological events described so eloquently in the final chapters of the Quran, which is the verbatim word of God in Islam. (3) In contrast to Christianity the prophet, Muhammad, is not the God incarnate, as with all prophets and also in contrast; Christ is not a God-man here on Earth according to Islam.

Islams proclamation to be the last revelation from God is described in part by Nasr; The Quran is the central theophany of Islam, the verbatim Word of God revealed to the Prophet by the archangel Gabriel. (37) So basically there were in all 124,000 prophets, [sent] to every nation and people, and God has never left a people without revelation (62-3) According t o Nasr, revelations have been made to both Christians and Jews by a designated prophet. Christians prophet was Jesus but the Jews rejected Jesus as their prophet. This is a critique made by Muslims to Jews according to their rejection of Christ, their revealing prophet. The contrast between Islam, Christianity, and Jews is one founded upon the principle of last revelation. Islam believes itself to be the fullest and correct revelation made to those who believe. This cycle of revelation is very important in Islam; it began with Adam and was brought to a close with the Quranic revelation. (62) The Quran is also named The Mother Book for obvious reasons. Also, similar between the three religions listed above is the primary God deity. God in Islam is the same God of Abraham. In fact the name Allah is the Arabic word for God used by Christian Arabs and Arabized Jews as well as Muslims (59) This shocked me to see how even the same Abrahamic God is sought after by Christianity and Islam. As I read through Nasrs Islam I could not help but be surprised also at the way women are looked in respect to men. Women are somewhat equal to men in a sense depending on whether one considers the metacosmic, cosmic, or the terrestrially human aspects (70) They could be superior to each other which thus a sense of equality. I was expecting some sort of lowly understanding of women.

I already knew women were called to dress modestly according to Islam since I have seen Muslim women with veils over their face and hair. This modesty is similar in some practices of traditional Christians (Mennonites) so I was not viewing this Islamic modesty as necessarily negative. In fact, I think Christian women might learn a few lessons at a different degree from these modest Muslims. This modesty is an expression of the beliefs of Muslims. According to Islam, at death there is hell, paradise (which will reflect a lot of the Earthly beauties or qualities), and purgatories. The end of human history will be marked by the coming of a person named the Mahdi, who will destroy oppression, defeat the enemies of religion, and re-establish peace and justice on earth. (73) After reading this I asked the question if the Anti-Christ might one day be mistaken as Mahdi. Of this I am unsure but I certainly disagree with Islam in that Christ plays a central role in Islamic eschatology, not as the Christian Christ who is a part of the Trinity, but as a major figure in the chain of Abrahamic prophets asserting the Oneness of God. (74) Although I disagree with Islam the process to become a Muslim is actually quite easy without many obstacles. All one has to do To become a Muslim [one needs to] bear testimony before two Muslim witnesses that There is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. (3) To actually be a practicing Muslim, however, takes much more eff ort than just becoming one (just as in any other religion). Muslims pray 5 times a day (at least), they fast, they go on Pilgrimages, and give Alms. I would find it hard for me to follow the customs and practices of Muslims since Islam seems to focus more on right living. Faith and proper

understanding is obviously the center of Islam but one must carry out all of the tireless practices of right living and rituals. Perhaps I should learn from Muslims dedication. Nasr seems to describe lightly what Muslims believe to be jihad or holy war. He claims Western media has slanted the term to insinuate violence but it should rather be taken as a wider term meaning a struggle to protect Islam and its borders. This, however, seems to create too wide of a lens when understanding what some Muslims are actually doing as jihad. Many are seemingly violent in nature. Also, when reading the Quran I noticed a section of their treatment of a woman who is caught in adultery. Not only are some Muslims violent toward others, they are very violent in punishment to their own. Today, this harsh punishment is not practiced by all but there are those who do practice nonetheless. I do not believe Islam is centrally any more violent than most other religions. Christianity had many violent histories. The U.S.A. is also not justified to force American Liberal Democracy on Iraq against their own will unless it is saving numerous lives by the cause. Depending on whether more help would be done than hindrance, the decision must be made. In light of the fact that Muslims like to organize themselves in a certain theocracy there might be more harm done by U.S. intervention politically.

Source(s): Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. Islam: Religion, History, and Civilization. Copyright 1986.