Transcript islam and the koran

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A (very brief) summary
Five myths debunked
Prophet Mohammed (depicted faceless) at the Kaaba, Mecca.
Ottoman miniature . The Kaaba is a mysterious edifice that existed
before Islam. Muslims must make a pilgrimage to Mecca (in
Saudi Arabia, once in
their lifetime, and pray five times a day facing Mecca.
570 CE (or AD)
Birth of Mohammed, died 632
The Archangel Gabriel
delivered the Quran (Koran) to Mohammad -over a period of 22-years (A.D. 610-632).
This revelation is the literal “Word of God;”
a copy of the same book is believed to be in Heaven.
Above is a photo of a present day pilgrimage at
the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Devotees are
dressed in white.
Quran or Koran Means "Recitation"
The word "Quran" means
"that which is recited; or that which is dictated in
memory form."
Only One Version - Arabic
Literally, the word Muslim means "one who submits (to God)".
A Surah is a chapter of the Koran, traditionally arranged roughly
in order of decreasing length.
FOR EXAMPLE, HERE IS THE LAST SURAH IN THE KORAN,
CALLED ‘THE PEOPLE’
The People
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
[114.1] Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of men,
[114.2] The King of men,
[114.3] The God of men,
[114.4] From the evil of the whisperings of the slinking (Shaitan),
[114.5] Who whispers into the hearts of men,
[114.6] From among the jinn and the men.
Mohammed is descended, according to the
Islamic faith, from the patriarch-prophets:
Adam, Noah, Abraham, (Ishmael, his son)
Moses, Jesus.
Specifically, Abraham begat Isaac and Ishmael.
Mohammed is descended from Ishmael.
The Jewish, Christian and Islamic religions were
born in the Middle East and are often called
THE ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS.
BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENCES…
IN INTERPRETATIONS BETWEEN THE
KORAN (THE WORD OF GOD AS CONVEYED TO MOHAMMED)
AND THE OLD TESTAMENT.
In the Jewish world, it is assumed that Abraham’s
first born was Isaac
whom God later demanded as a sacrifice. To prove his
faith,
Abraham led his son Isaac to a mountain top,
bound him to an altar,
and prepared to plunge a knife into his breast.
At the last moment, God provided a ram
as a substitute sacrifice
and the youth was spared.
In the Islamic world, it is assumed Abraham's firstborn,
was Ishmael and he wasn’t cast out nor did his father want
to sacrifice him.
DESPITE DIFFERENCES IN
INTERPRETATIONS, AND BECAUSE OF
SHARED HERITAGE,
JEWS AND MUSLIMS LIVED IN PEACE SIDE
BY SIDE FOR CENTURIES, UP UNTIL
THE 19TH CENTURY AND THE MOVEMENT
TO CREATE A JEWISH NATION ON ARAB
LAND…
ANTI JEWISH MASSACRES HAPPENED
IN EUROPE, NOT IN THE MIDDLE EAST
(THE INQUISITION,
PROGROMS, NAZISM ETC.)
THE DIASPORA
ACCORDING TO ANCIENT TEXTS, THE BABYLONIANS EXILED
JEWS FROM THE REGION KNOWN AS ISRAEL
IN 607 BCE. ROMANS EXILED JEWS FROM
JUDAE IN 70 CE.
RECENT RESEARCH BY ISRAELI HISTORIANS
THEORIZES THAT TODAY’S EASTERN EUROPEAN JEWS ARE DESCENDED
FROM THE KHAZARS IN EASTERN EUROPE.
FIVE POPULAR MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT ISLAM
Source: Andersen, R, Seibert, R and Wagner, J, Politics and Change
In the Middle East, Sources of Conflict and Accommodation,
Ninth Edition, Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2009
POPULAR MISCONCEPTION NO 1:
“ISLAM IS AN EXOTIC, UNUSUAL RELIGION.”
ISLAMIC POPULATIONS ACCOUNT FOR 2 BILLION OUT OF A SIX BILLION
WORLDWIDE POPULATION
THE LARGEST ISLAMIC POPULATION IS NOT IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IT IS
IN INDONESIA
ISLAM SHARES SAME VALUES AS THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN RELIGION:
THE SAME GOD (ALLAH IN ISLAM), THE SAME EARLY PATRIARCHS AND MOST
OF THE SAME PROPHETS, SAME NOTIONS OF DIVINE WILL AND
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY…
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF CULTURAL HISTORY, THE THREE RELIGIONS
(JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM) ARE CLOSELY RELATED.
POPULAR MISCONCEPTION NO 2
“ISLAM IS A PRIMITIVE, MILITANT AND INTOLERANT RELIGION”
ISLAM IS AN URBAN, COSMOPOLITAN RELIGION THAT IN ITS DAY
UNDERMINED THE PAGAN TRIBAL SYSTEM AND REPLACED IT WITH A
MODERN, RATIONALIZED UNIVERSAL SET OF BELIEFS.
THE KORAN PROVIDES STRICT RULES FOR ECONOMIC RELATIONS
AMONG TRADERS, MERCHANTS .
IT EXPLICITELY FORBIDS INTEREST AND DEBT (TODAY’S ISLAMIC
BANKS HAVN’T CRASHED AS A RESULT!)
JIHAD MEANS A HOLY STRUGGLE AGAINST THE UNBELIEVER, WHICH
CAN BE INTERPRETED AS THE DUTY OF SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT
UNIVERSAL GOD OR BY EXTREMISTS AS CONVERSION BY THE SWORD.
THE KORAN EXPLICITELY SAYS THAT JEWS , CHRISTIANS
AND MUSLIMS CAN LIVE
SIDE BY SIDE. JEWS AND CHRISTIANS ENJOYED THE STATUS OF
PROTECTED COMMUNITIES AS DEFINED IN THE KORAN.
USURY IS FORBIDDEN IN ISLAM.
CHRISTIANITY SINCE THE 17TH CENTURY HAS PROVED
MORE FLEXIBLE. USURY IS ALLOWED BY MOST CHRISTIAN
DENOMINATIONS TODAY.
CAPITALISM NEEDED USURY TO FLOURISH.
IT NEEDS LOANS AND DEBTS
(ALSO FORBIDDEN OR FROWNED UPON
BY ISLAMIC RELIGIONS).
DEBT AND INTEREST ON DEBT PROVIDE INVESTMENT
FOR CAPITAL VENTURES.
IN JOINT STOCK COMPANIES, INVESTORS ARE NOT LIABLE
FOR THE DEBT IF THE COMPANY FAILS.
THIS COULD EXPLAIN WHY CAPITALISM FLOURISHED FIRST
IN
CHRISTIAN COUNTRIES.
Calligraphy in Bold Farsi (THE LANGUAGE OF IRAN)
The verse refers to Islam's prophet, Mohammed:
His perfection procured exaltation,
His beauty dispelled the darkness,
All his attributes were good ones,
Pray for him, and for his family.
POPULAR MISCONCEPTION NO 3
“ISLAM AS AN ULTRACONSERVATIVE RELIGION”
LIKE CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM IS THE SUM OF NUMEROUS SECTS AND
INTERPRETATIONS OF ISLAM
THERE ARE TWO MAIN SECTS; THE SUNNI AND THE SHIA. THIS WAS
THE RESULT OF A SPLIT OVER WHO SHOULD SUCCEED MOHAMMED
AFTER HE DIED IN 632 CE (or AD).
THE SUNNI ARE MORE SECULAR; THE SHIA ARE
CONSERVATIVE. THE SHIA IS IN THE MINORITY IN THE ISLAMIC
WORLD. IRAN IS MAINLY SHIA. THERE ARE SECTS OF SUNNI THAT
ARE VERY
CONSERVATIVE, FOR EXAMPLE THE WAHHABIS WHO GOVERN
SAUDI ARABIA.
Sufism is another Islamic tendency.
It focuses on the combination of body and soul,
mind and heart, as well as the practice of Islam (prayers, fasting,
charity, etc.)
and the inner development
of the human being to reach his/her utmost potential,
Some Sufi orders use dance, music and poetry to express Islam.
ISLAM TODAY SUPPORTS A WIDE VARIETY OF SOCIAL AGENDAS,
FROM WESTERN TYPE DEMOCRACY, TO PROGRESSIVE PROGRAMS
OF SOCIAL REFORM, TO THE RESTORATION OF A CONSERVATIVE
BUT IDEALIZED PAST AS A BACKLASH AGAINST WESTERN
INFLUENCE.
THE SOCIAL IDEAS PRESENTED IN THE KORAN – PARTICULARLY
ITS EMPHASIS ON SHARING WEALTH AND CHARITY – MUST BE
SEEN AS REFORMIST AND INNOVATIVE IDEAS IN THE CONTEXT
OF THE 7TH CENTURY.
AND EVEN TODAY.
POPULAR MISCONCEPTION NO 4
“ISLAM IS A MORE SEXIST RELIGION THAN EITHER JUDAISM OR
CHRISTIANITY”
THE OLD TESTAMENT (JUDAISM) FORBIDS WOMEN TO DIVORCE BUT
A MAN CAN CAST HIS WIFE ASIDE AND RETAIN CUSTODY OF CHILDREN.
THE KORAN ALLOWS WOMEN TO DIVORCE AND RETAIN CUSTODY
OF CHILDREN.
THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE KORAN BOTH ALLOW A MAN TO
TAKE MULTIPLE WIVES. THE KORAN RESTRICTS A MAN TO
FOUR WIVES, THE OLD TESTAMENT ALLOWS UNLIMITED NUMBER OF
WIVES AND SLAVES.
THE NEW TESTAMENT (CHRISTIANITY) DOESN’T COMMENT ON
THE SOCIAL PRACTICE OF POLYGAMY and EXPLICITELY FORBIDS
DIVORCE .
THE KORAN EXPLICITELY FORBIDS FEMALE
INFANTICIDE
POPULAR MISCONCEPTION ABOUT ISLAM NO 5
“THE KORAN RULES THAT WOMEN SHOULD BE FULLY
VEILED FROM HEAD TO FOOT”
“AND….THE KORAN RULES THAT ALL GIRLS SHOULD BE
CIRCUMCIZED”
It does neither.
NOWHERE DOES THE KORAN OR THE HADITHS (SAYINGS OF
RELIGIOUS LEADERS AND AUTHORS AFTER MOHAMMED) COMMENT
ON FEMALE CIRCUMCISION. MALE CIRCUMCISION IS PROMOTED
INSTEAD.
The Koran has no requirement that women cover their faces with a veil,
or cover their bodies with the full-body burka or chador,
as in Iran and Afghanistan. Only one verse refers to the veiling of women,
stating that the Prophet's wives should be behind a hijab (covering the
head and chest) when
his male guests converse with them.
The veiling of women originally was not an Islamic innovation but a
Persian and Byzantine-Christian custom.
For most of Islam’s history, the veil in its various forms was seen
as a sign of distinction and protection for upper-class women.
Since the 19th century, the veil has come to represent a more assertive,
self-consciously Islamic expression, sometimes in
reaction to Western currents--colonialism, modernism.
FROM THE KORAN.
And if they have resolved on a divorce, then Allah is surely
Hearing, Knowing.[2.228]
And the divorced women should keep themselves in waiting for
three courses;
and it is not lawful for them that they
should conceal what Allah has created in their wombs, if they believe
in Allah and the last day; and their husbands have a
better right to take them back in the meanwhile if they wish for
reconciliation; and they have rights similar to those against them
in a just manner, and the men are a degree above them,
and Allah is Mighty, Wise.[2.229] Divorce may be (pronounced) twice,
then keep (them) in good fellowship or let (them)
go with kindness; and it is not lawful for you to take any part of what
you have given them, unless both fear that
cannot keep within the limits of Allah; then if you fear that they cannot
keep within the limits of Allah, there is no blame on
them for what she gives up to become free thereby. These
are the limits of Allah, so do not exceed them and
whoever exceeds the limits of Allah these it is that are the unjust.
THE KORAN ADVOCATES CERTAIN ECONOMIC RELATIONS.
IT IS A SOCIAL
RELIGION.
FORBIDS USURY (DEBT ON INTEREST)
EMPHASIZES CHARITY and CONDEMNS WEALTH HOARDING
STIPULATES WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
FROM THE KORAN
GOD permits commerce, and prohibits usury
Attend to your prayers, render the alms levy,
and kneel down with those who kneel down.
Would you enjoin righteousness on others and forget it yourselves?
Let those who hoard the wealth that God has given
them never think that they will
benefit from it. It will bring them nothing but evil.
The riches that they have hoarded will be their
chains on Judgement Day
THE CATHOLIC RELIGION OPPOSED GREED AND USURY. THIS
CHANGED IN THE 17TH CENTURY WHEN THE PROTESTANT
REFORMATION AND SOME CATHOLIC SECTS ALLOWED BOTH.
THE REMOVAL OF GUILT FOR HOARDING AND
CHARGING INTEREST,
HELPED FUEL THE RISE OF CAPITALISM IN THE EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES.
VARIATIONS OF WOMEN’S DRESS IN ISLAM
Women’s dress is often a
cultural marker. In the US,
women earn 70 cents to the man’s
dollar. Only 15% of Congressional
representatives are women.
In the US,
one women is
subject to a violent
or sexual crime every
second (Dept of
Justice.)
THE STORY OF ADAM AND EVE APPEARS
IN BOTH THE KORAN AND THE BIBLE.
YOU CAN LISTEN TO AN EXCERPT OF THE STORY OF ADAM AND EVE
IN THE KORAN.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY5qYvLYxio
MOST RELIGIONS EMPHASIZE THE GOLDEN RULE
Brahmanism: This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which
would cause you pain if done to you.: Mahabharata 5:1517
Christianity: All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,
do ye even so to them.: Matthew 7:12
Islam: No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother
what which he desires for himself. Sunnah
Buddhism: Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find
hurtful.: Udana Varga 5:18
Judaism: What is hateful to you, do not to your fellowmen.
That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary.: Talmud, Shabbat 31:a
Confucianism: Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness:
Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you.:
Analects 15:23
Taoism: Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain,
and your neighbor's loss as your own loss.: T'ai Shag Kan Ying P'ien
Zoroastrianism: That nature alone is good which refrains
from doing unto another whatsoever is not good: for itself. :
Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5