A few years back, long before 9/11, one of our Religious Studies majors told me that she had taken my course to learn why she should hate Islam. As a normal young American growing up on Long Island, she had no doubt that she should hate Islam, but she still wanted to know what was so bad about it.
There are many historical, political, and cultural reasons for the negative stereotypes of Islam that permeate American society. One of the more obvious is that people confuse religion and ideology.
Scholars often distinguish between "Islam," meaning the religion as taught and practiced over the centuries, and "Islamism," meaning the various ideologies that have appeared over the past century claiming to speak on its behalf. As one of these scholars put it, "An ideology is a clear blueprint that requires only mechanical implementation. ... It offers easy answers to the most difficult and fundamental questions. ... [It] renders redundant the human processes of constantly thinking, evaluating, facing hard choices, and balancing" (Farhang Rajaee, Islamism and Modernism, p. 4).
For those open to the idea that "Islamism" in no way represents the mainstream teachings and practices of the Islamic tradition, it is worth reviewing what the word islām, "submission" or "surrender," means in the Quran.
As noted in my previous post, one of the Quranic meanings of this word is the universal obedience of all things to the natural laws that govern the universe. These laws make free choice impossible. Everything fits into its own niche and does exactly what God wants it to do. All things are "submitted" by definition. Human beings, however, are also free by definition. In effect, part of their compulsory submission, their "predestination" if you prefer, is that they must face up to their own freedom.
The Quran and other scriptures assume that people are free enough to make a difference in their lives. In the Quranic view, God sent prophets to every people in order to tell them how to take advantage of their freedom so as to ensure a congenial posthumous becoming. This is the second Quranic meaning of islām: voluntary submission to God's guidance as given to the prophets (e.g., Abraham, Moses, Jesus). This, I would argue, is by far the most common meaning of the word in the Quran itself.
The third Quranic meaning of islām is the practices designated by the Quran as a means to follow prophetic guidance. This is islām in the narrowest sense of the term, generally defined as observance of God's commandments. These are summarized as "the Five Pillars": public acknowledgment of God's unity and Muhammad's prophecy, praying the daily prayers, fasting during the month of Ramadan, paying the alms tax, and making the pilgrimage to Mecca. Each pillar is a specific ritual act, similar to ritual acts found in other religions, but unique in detail.
None of these three meanings of the word islām corresponds to what the Quran sometimes calls "the religion," meaning the specific guidance provided by itself and Muhammad. One can argue that the Quran does not in fact use the word islām as the proper name of the religion, though this usage certainly became established over the centuries.
"The religion" as described by the Quran addresses three universal concerns: practice, understanding, and virtue. Or: doing the right thing, seeing things in perspective, and participating in God's beauty and goodness. Or: conforming to the Ultimate Reality in body, mind, and heart. Or: law, understanding, and love. Or: ritual, wisdom, and compassion.
Islamic texts typically list these three concerns in this order -- from the most external to the most internal -- because that is the way people develop. First the body appears, then awareness and understanding, and finally, God willing, human goodness.
A child can be taught what to do, but it takes a while before the child understands why it is the right thing to do. The stance of the parent -- "because I said so" -- may be enough to begin with, but part of growing up is to learn how to make your own choices. Both understanding and spiritual maturity are individual tasks. No one can understand for you, and no one can love for you.
Religion based on authority -- the pronouncements of parents, priests, rabbis, and mullas -- may seem to be the rule, but most people sense that it is not enough. Blind obedience is religion for Sunday school, not life.
As children develop, they learn that they are not the center of the universe. Education has always been as much about enculturation as anything else. There used to be a common notion that the ultimate aim of education is to help people achieve the status of a true human being. If you can act correctly and really understand the way things are, you may be able to develop love for God and sympathy and compassion for others.
These three dimensions of universal concern -- activity, understanding, and love -- are the topics of the Quran. It is true that Islam is commonly represented as a religion of law, but this is based on a superficial reading. Any broad historical perspective will show that law itself, the shariah, has always played a subsidiary role in the Muslim understanding of the text. The rules, after all, are kindergarten stuff. The general position has been that people should learn enough law to perform the rituals, but they should leave the details to the lawyers. Doing the right things is important, but it is far more important to grow up in mind and heart and to develop wisdom and compassion. "How easy to become a mulla," as the Persian proverb has it, "but how difficult to become human!"
During the first three centuries after Muhammad, the three dimensions of the religion coalesced into distinct fields of scholarly endeavor, one of which was law. Lawyers did come to play a prominent role in Muslim society, not least because any society is built on law, but lawyers had nothing to say about the wisdom and love that underlie both the worldview and the ethos of Islam. These were explained and elaborated upon by thinkers, sages, saints, and poets.
Islamic society generally recognized that lawyers tended to be a conniving bunch, always ready to compromise with the powers that be in order to enhance their prestige and influence. Criticism of their worldliness has been a common theme throughout Islamic history. When the religion of Islam in its full breadth and depth is reduced to law and put into the service of ideology, and when the law is then enforced by technological means undreamed of by the despots of old, the shariah becomes a powerful tool for social and political manipulation.
The current prominence of law and politics in public discussion of Islam should not blind us to the fact that the shariah remains the most external and rudimentary dimension of the religion. If it is employed as an ideological tool, "a clear blueprint that requires only mechanical implementation," it quickly turns into coercion. If it is combined with understanding, love, and compassion, it can and still does provide a stable ritual and social environment for spiritual growth.
For a description of the Islamic tradition in terms of its three dimensions, see Murata and Chittick, The Vision of Islam.
Sherman A. Jackson: The Problem of Suffering: Muslim Theological Reflections
Good. I can see all the others are revolting against Islam and the followers.
Avoid any Tabligui propaganda stuff; it does not work.
Why should it reveal my true inner self? It reveals that Islam is a political movement, masquerading as a religion. That is now exposed.
And I am lovingly concerned about your inner state and invite you to dive into the inner teachings of your tradition and seek out love, respect for others, lack of ignorance, selflessness, humility, peace, etc.
Islam does not need anyone to "expose" itself. It's all there in the Qur`an and has been there for over 1400 odd years. Volumes upon volumes have been written about the Qur`an.
So there is nothing that needs to be "exposed". It's already been exposed.
You see the bad actions of a few and say: "This is Islam!".
I am asking you to move your head in another direction and see other manifestations of Islam in the living examples of the pious Muslims.
Take care,
Thanks,
Pranav's behavior might be telling us that he or she doesn't see the "Reply" button. Your analysis is more likely accurate, Tolerant, but you never know.
http://thewrongmonkey.blogspot.com
I do not find any demostrable effect of Sufism anywhere in the world. Wahabi Islam roars and reverberates.
"Not true!"
Read the relevent article in site of Ali Sina or read "Truth About Mohammed" by Robert Spencer.
Because the Wahhabi Islam makes noise and noise is heard. Quiet and honorable living where people are engaged in self-purification joyfully is not noisy and does not make the news.
As for your reference of Robert Spencer, please spare us all! Why would anyone wish to understand Islam and Muhammad from someone who is full of ignorance and hatred!?
If one wants to know about the Muhammadi Way sincerely, one would read the likes of Ibn Arabi and Rumi and Ali ibn Talib and many other gnots and men and women of God.
Are you convinced?
I will do in my way; you do not like it , forget it. Anyway I find your fake and pseudo philosophical comments irritating. What is that "Take care". Like Imam Rauf telling you allow the GZM or face violence. A typical muslim response. Try to be civil and courteous. Do not grandstand. It pays in the long run and earns respect.
You seem to be suffering from hurt, and as a human being I am concerned about it.
Why original Islam has gone into hiding? It is as credible as that Pakistani FM asserting that the country never exported terrorism and terror attacks are done by non state actors. Big, bold lie and arrrogantly said. Adolf Hitler, in his Mein Kampf defined the Big Lie as so “colossal” that no one would believe that someone “could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously”.
Please, be reasonable! It's NOT in hiding! There are many, many Sufi Orders in the world today!
Not sure why you brought up Pakistan. Please elaborate.
Take care,
Thanks,
I am creating this thread as I wish to have a civil discussion with you on your misunderstandings of Islam.
Please reply to this thread if you are interested in a civil and respectful discussion.
Take care,
Thanks,
That is in Mecca; the tune changes once you are in Medina.
Pranav1941: you come here and throw some insults and lies and then disappear. Are you man enough to stick around and discuss?
Please see my earlier comments.
They will never admit that separation of church and state is wrong; they will never admit that Islam is the cause for religious strife since its inception; they will never admit jihad is an integral part of the religion; they will never admit that every muslim is religiously ordained to spread the faith by all means including violence; they will never admit that religion exhorts them to treat the minorities brutally, because they refuse to convert; they will never admit they treat the women as children producing machines and keep them in perpetual slavery; they will never admit that once they reach the critical mass in population, they will demand shariaa; they will never admit that their aim is world domination of Islam and universal imposition of shariaa. Till then they will sidestep, circumvent, prevaricate, scapegoat others, play victimhood and generally evade responsibility for their own actions. You can wait for ever.
"On religious discrimination, India next only to Iraq: US thinktank"
Ask Parsis and Jews how we treat them. They are the most successful and productive minorities in India. Parsis have created the biggest industrial empire in India and in terms of integrity, they are no.1.
This is the last time I am even reading this high sounding garbage.
"xcept for the Religious Wars of Europe, the slaughter in the Balkans in the 1990s, the Crusades, the Inquisition, attempts at Aboriginal Extermination around the world by missionaries . . ."
What is the total: 10 million. Islam has caused 270 million deaths; two civilisations destroyed; millions enslaved and sold in slavery; millions of churches and temples destroyed. Compare the quantum, Islam will win hands down. Christian wars have an end; jihad is timeless and eternal.
"They remain either as willling collaborators or prefer to remain silent spectators." "Not true"
How do you explain the disappearance of minorities in all the muslim countries.
"My point remains this: Give religious people the means to rule, and they will end up imposing true perversion and the abrogation of basic human rights upon "the other:
My point is in the case of others it is reversible; with Islam it is irreversible.
Thank you, the truth hurts, doesn't it?
"How do you explain the disappearance of minorities in all the muslim countries."
Lack of understanding and application of the original Islam as I have described it often.
Change will only come from within. Christianity has had it's reformation and is still changing.
I am hopeful that the young people who live in the West will adopt a more secular view of governing.
Rubbish. I am glad that I got rid of the garbage. I am bitter that it did not not go in entirety.
"Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome ." Churchill
Hindus can not become citizens of UAE and how they can construct temples in UAE.
"Hinduism is a form of Islam, which refers to the Adamic primordial religion of humankind."
Do not insult Hinduism.
Sufism no longer exists, except as a diversion to avoid any reference toWahaabi Islam. The latter is real and posing the greatest civilisational danger to the world. Bangladesh is the latest to be corrupted by Wahabi Islam.
Read Martin Lings, Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Fadhlalla Haeri, Kabir Helminski, William Chittick, Frithjof Schuon, René Guénon, Ibn Arabi and Rumi, who is the #1 poet in America.