Post 9

post nine: give a general overview of Muhammad and Islam: bio. of Muhammad, main philosophical teachings and main practices, etc. What did you find most interesting about this reading?
The word Islam comes from the world salam which has a first meaning of peace and a secondary meaning of surrender. This peace in which salam means comes from surrendering one’s life to God or Allah. Allah translates literally as “the God” because there is only one god. In the Koran (which is considered their “Bible) Allah created the world, then human beings. The first man was Adam and the first woman was Eve (just like Christianity). The story in the Koran and in the Bible is the same up until the point where Abraham banish Ishmael and Hagar from the tribe. Then the Koran becomes different within its story. Ishmael goes to a place where Mecca was to rise and his descendants, his descendants live in Arabia and became Muslims. In the later half of the 6th century A.D Muhammad who is a prophet helped Islam reach its definitive form. They also believe that there had been authentic prophets of God before him however, he was their culmination and called The Seal of the Prophets. Muhammad (which means highly praised) was born approximately 570 A.D. into the leading tribe of Mecca called the Koreish. His uncle adopted him because both of his parents died while he was young. Muhammad was pure-hearted and beloved in his circle, he was also said to be of a sweet and gentle disposition. When was became mature he entered the caravan business and at the age of twenty-five entered the service of a wealthy widow named Khadija. His demeanor impressed her and eventually the two grew to love one another and were married. His ministry began after fifteen years. During these years Muhammad wanted solitude and began to visit a cave in the outskirts of Mecca. Through vigils Muhammad became convinced that Allah was greater than others had perceived him to be. This was expressed in the greatest phrase of the Arabic language, “La ilaha Illa ‘llah!” which means There is no god but God! Around 610 A.D. during a night referred to as the Night of Power, an angel in the form of a man came to Muhammad who’s words Muhammad felt as if the words the angel spoke were branded into his soul; “Proclaim in the name of your Lord who created man from blood coagulated! Proclaim: your Lord is wondrous kind, who teaches by the pen, Things men knew not, being blind.” (Koran 96:1-3) He became frightened and went home to tell Khadija he either became a prophet or a madman. After hearing his full story she became his first convert. Muhammad’s life was no longer his own and had became for God and for humanity. Preaching the words that God was to transmit for twenty-three years. Muhammad had insisted that Allah had not sent him to work wonders. Nature was the only miracle that Muhammad claimed was that of the Koran itself. Muhammad’s message created a violently hostile reaction for three reasons: its uncompromising monotheism threatened polytheistic beliefs and the considerable revenue that was coming to Mecca from pilgrimages to its 360 shrines (one for each day of the lunar year); its moral teachings demanded an end to the licentiousness that citizens club to; and its social content challenged an unjust order. The Meccan leaders did not like any of this and began their attack with by ridiculing him, which proved ineffective. They then tried threats and persecution with did not work either. Muhammad continued to throw his heart and soul into preaching gaining listeners even though the odds were against him. By the end of the decade Muhammad had been acclaimed as Allah’s authentic spokesman. The Meccan nobility had become alarmed and wanted to get rid of Muhammad. In 622 A.D. Muhammad set out for Yathrib, this migration became known as the higra and was regarded as a turning point in world history. Yathrib then became known as Medinatal-Nabi, the City of the Prophet, and then as Medina, “the city”. Once Muhammad arrived in Medina he assumed a different role than that of a prophecy. He was pressed into administration. Even as a statesman he was brilliant, gentle and merciful, even to his enemies. The remaining ten years of his life he welded the five heterogeneous and conflicting tribes of the city into orderly confederation. People began to flock from every part of Arabia once his reputation had spread. They wanted to see the man who had wrought the miracle. However the Meccans attacked Medina changing victories from one hand to another for several years however ended permanently in Muhammad’s. Eight years after hijra Muhammad returned to Mecca as a conqueror and forgave his former oppressors and then returned to Medina. In 632 A.D., two years later, Muhammad had died.
Muhammad considered the Koran to be the only miracle God worked through him; he called it God’s “Standing miracle”. Muslims tend to read the Koran literally. Muhammad would receive the words of the Koran when he would enter trance-like states. At first the voice sounded like reverberating bells but over the course of twenty-three years became one single voice that identified itself as Gabriel’s. They would come through manageable segments that his followers would memorize and record on bones, bark, leaves, and scraps of parchment with God preserving their accuracy. The Koran is said to be a continuation of God’s revelations from the Jews and Christians. It passes judgment of the Old and New Testaments and states that it has two defects, which of course the Koran is free of. One being that the Hebrew and Christian Bibles only has a portion of the truth, which is why the Koran has similarities with these Bibles. Second the transmission of their Bibles is partially corrupted. The book however does present some obstacles. No other language seems able to play on human emotions the way Arabic can. The contents are also like no other religious text; Unlike the Upanishads it is not explicitly metaphysical. Unlike the Indian epics it has not grounded its theology in dramatic narratives. Unlike Hebrew Scriptures it is not based on historical ones. Also unlike the Gospels and the Bhagavad-Gita God is not revealed in human form. The Koran is directly doctrinal and indirectly historical. God presents himself in the first person within the Koran and describes himself and makes his laws known. The Koran is considered a manual of definitions, guarantees, a road map for the will, and a collection of maxims to meditate on in private in order to deepen one’s sense of the divine glory.
The Basic theological concepts of Islam are virtually identical with those of Judaism and Christianity; God, Creation, the Human Self, and the Day of Judgment. God is immaterial and therefore invisible and the religion is based around him. Muslims see monotheism as Islam’s contribution not simply to the Arabs but to religion in its entirety. Hinduism never arrived at the worship of the single God. Judaism was correctly instructed however confined to the people of Israel. Christians compromised their monotheism by deifying Christ. Jesus is recognized, as a prophet by the Koran as well as his virgin birth however, does not agree with the doctrine of the Incarnation and the Trinity. God is depicted as having Unlimited power which inspires fear so Muslims fear Allah for the magnitude of the consequences that people face for their sins. The fear for Allah is outweighed by his love for his creatures. Creation of course comes from God where Allah deliberately created the human self. The nature of the human self is unequivocally good. Here is where Islam comes close to the Christian doctrine of original sin where it is the concept of forgetting. Forgetting to acknowledge that life is a gift from its Creator and surrendering to that belief. In Islamic parlance that to be a slave to Allah is to be freed from other degrading forms of slavery, greed, anxiety, and ambition. The final part of the doctrine is the Day of Judgment where the soul will either go to the Heavens or the Hells. Allah is exempt from having direct involvement altogether with this choice because souls judge themselves. If the self is extracted from the realm of lies it can ascend to the Heavens. The Koran is a book that emphasizes deeds rather than ideas.
Islam teaches people to live by teaching them to walk the straight path. God’s revelation to humankind is expressed in four great stages in which God revealed the truth of monotheism to Abraham, the Ten Commandments to Moses, and the Golden Rule to Jesus. The first Pillar is known as shahadah, “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet.” The Muslim faith gets its authenticity from Muhammad and the validity within his revelation. It is said that in each male or females life they must recite the shahadah correctly, slowly, thoughtfully, aloud, with full understanding, and with heartfelt conviction for it is the ultimate answer to all questions. The Koran considers keeping human life in perspective the most difficult lesson because human beings are derivative. Muslims must pray five times a day. This number was arrived at through negotiations by Moses and Muhammad even though Moses still considered it too many. There is a specific five times of the day in which they pray; on arising, when the sun is overhead, in mid-afternoon, at sunset, and before retiring. Islam does not emphasis congregational worship however; Muslims are expected to pray in mosques when they can and encouraged to do so Friday noon. A Koranic Revelation then instructed them to pray in the direction of Mecca. The prayers begin by standing but reach their climax in the fetal position with the forehead touching the floor. Charity is the third pillar of Islam. The Koran is explicit; annually, 2.5 % of one’s holdings should be distributed to the poor. The observance of Ramadan takes the fourth pillar of Islam. It is considered a holy month in the Islamic calendar because the Koranic revelation commenced and Muhammad migrated from Mecca. To commemorate these great occasions able-bodied Muslims fast during Ramadan and are not sexually active. This makes one reflect, teaches self-discipline and reminds one of their frailty and dependence. It also teaches compassion for those who are hungry. The fifth pillar is pilgrimage is my favorite part of this reading. Every Muslim who is physically and economically able to is expected to journey to Mecca with the purpose of heightening the pilgrim’s commitment to God and his revealed will. It is a reminder of human equality (which is why its my favorite) because pilgrims exchange their clothes for two simple sheet-like garments. The gathering also promotes international understanding by bringing together people from multiple countries. The things Muslims do (the Five Pillars of Islam) are to support the house of Islam. There also should not gamble, steal, lie, eat pork, drink intoxicants, and be sexually promiscuous.
There was virtually no restraint on violence before Muhammad. Women were regarded more as possessions than human beings, drunkenness and gambling were alive in the city. However within a half century a remarkable change in the moral climate occurred. Because the Koran joins faith, politics, religion and society inseparably it is not only a spiritual guide but a legal compendium.

Now discuss what you got out of the two films assigned.
Nearly 1 out of every 4 people are Muslim. The angel Gabriel communicated through Muhammad God’s message. He was born in Mecca which today is known as Sadi Arabia during a time of turmoil and despair. By the time he was eight be was being cared for by his uncle who was part of the primary tribe of Mecca who were the keepers of the holiest religious shrine the Kaba. During this time not only was Allah worshiped at the shrine but many other gods and goddesses were as well. Muhammad was a caravan merchant who was known for being a caring and fair man who was concerned with social issues. Those having to do with the rich ignoring the poor. Muhammad was hired by Kadeja to drive a caravan for her. Later on in their relationship Kadeja purposed marriage to Muhammad. They had five daughters and Muhammad was an adoring father. Each year during Ramadan Muhammad would go to the mountains surrounding Mecca in order to refresh him by fasting and praying. During one of the ventures an angel had come to him and told him to “Proclaim!” However Muhammad replied back stating he had nothing to proclaim. The angel grabbed him almost squeezing the breath out of him and said “Proclaim in the name of the Lord thy created man from a clot of blood. Proclaim and thy Lord is most bountiful.” Muhammad full of fear fled the mountain and once he had made it over the mountain was approached by the angel yet again, “Oh Muhammad thou art the messenger of God and I am Gabrial.” Still fearful he ran to Kadeja who consoled him and convinced him they were not delusions. The revelations continued which confused Muhammad because he did not fully understand the message he was to carry to his people. The revelations had stopped and Muhammad thought he had done something wrong and God had abandoned him until another revelation had happened. Afterwards he understood the message he was to tell, that there is no other god that the God Allah. Revelations continued and the words were etched in Muhammad’s memory which he would tell the people of Mecca. The people of Mecca then copied the words which then became the Koran. At first the Koran was only accepted by Kadeja and a view close friends but as Muhammad continued to speak they became accepted by more people. More so as poetry then as religious literature however did revive an old religious faith as time passed. The Muhammad passed the message that all worshiping of the other gods and idols that were around the Kaba would have to stop. Because of this it started to turn fathers against sons and families against families. The political figure heads began to turn on Muhammad and to physically assault Muslims. The agony of this period grew when Kadeja died in 619. The prophet then had another revelation where Gabriel presented him with a winged like horse that flew him threw the night sky where he was greeted by Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all the other prophets. After this he understood that he could no longer remain in Mecca. They migrated to Yathrib where they people of Yathrib agreed to submit to Allah if Muhammad would become their leader. The political figure heads of Mecca did not want this and decided that one man from each clan would plunge their swords into Muhammad at the same time. However they were not successful because Muhammad had been warned and made his escape. The migration to Yathrib is known as Hidrah. Yathrib then became known as Medina which means “the city”. Muhammad over the years had married 11 different women from different tribes and clans. Within the Koran it was believed that the messages of Moses and Jesus had become distorted historically. As a political figure Muhammad made a much needed choice of going to combat with Mecca in order to defend their beliefs. The Mecca army out numbered the Medina army 3 to 1 however Muhammad’s tactics for battle proved great and it was the Mecca army that fled in fear. Mecca continued to try to win a battle against Mecca for three years and won a couple. But the Muslim community continued to grow and eventually won against the Mecca army. Muhammad had spoke of another message from Allah, that no man was permitted to have more than 4 wives and he should treat them as equals. Within the Koran woman were given certain rights including the right to an education. Muhammad then set forth to Mecca where he did not want any blood shed but to unite all under one God Allah. The people of Mecca did not dispute and Muhammad went into the Kaba where he destroyed all other figure heads.