Understanding Islam – Part 14 (The Quran Codex)

The Quran was not one document as it exits today from the beginning.  There was more than one.  As with the Bible uniformity of its contents was desired and needed.  The Bible written by many authors, inspired by God, was assembled into what it is today in the 4th Century.  The books, its contents, were written, and included as essentially determined by a panel to be the inspired works.  The early Christian church had much of the contents, but not in one place.  They had the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the letters of Paul, and other documents – the Old Testament also) and choose those that reflected the consistencies of the early Christian communities faith.  Even when there were differences they were included as they represented the views from more than one source having experienced Jesus and the reality of the Incarnation.  The early Christian communities did not have the benefit of the acceptance of the authority in power and often suffered periods of persecution.  Not until Constantine came to power in Rome, almost 300 years after Christ, was there a decree allowing for Christians to freely worship as they choose.  The faith in Christ before that grew on its own excitement and acceptance of what God revealed through Christ.  Constantine, more secular than religious at the time, saw the need for some uniformity of the expressions of the espoused Christian faith and the books used in study and worship.  He assembled many bishops, from the East and the West, to come to grips with the books to be used and to prepare a succinct statement of the faith.  It was to reflect what the Christians already knew to be true.   This resulted in the Nicene Creed. (The Nicene Creed is produced at the end of this Blog for reference)

As with the Bible, so with the Quran the final book was chosen by men.  From Alister McGrath’s book, Heresy, I have taken the following excerpt:  “Following the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632, a political structure for ruling the new Muslim state emerged.  Known as ‘the caliphate,’ it grew both in power and territory during the centuries following Muhammad’s death, conquering the lands of the Fertile Crescent to the north.  Within the expanding territory, often referred to as the ummah, Islam was enforced as the official state religion.  During the period of the first two caliphs, Abuy Bakr (632-634) and Umar (634-644), the codification of the Qu’ran was carried out as the number of individuals who had committed it to memory (the ‘Companions of the Prophet’) began to diminish.  Yet the process of committing the Qu’ran to writing led to textural divergencies. Thus the codex of Abdullah ibn Mas’ud became the standard text for the Muslims at Kufa in Iraq, while the codex of Ubayy ibn Ka’b was widely used in Damascus in Syria.  Aware that this situation might lead to factionalization and disunity within the emergent Islamic state, Umar ordered the production of an offiial, authorized text of the Qu’ran.  All other texts, whether complete or fragmentary, were ordered to be destroyed.” (pg. 56)

I found this very interesting.  It implies the Qu’ran was written after Muhammad’s death.  Those that compiled the Qu’ran had recited its verses for years. It was only a short time after the death of the Prophet that the words were written, yet there was more than one document, and for a number of years the proclamations to the Muslims in different areas were not the same.  For the sake of uniformity one document was selected.  This was the right thing to do.  Yet it brings into question, for me anyway, and I certainly respect the subsequent historical dedication to maintaining the final Qu’ran in its original Arabic over these many years, the role of humans in preparing this document, a document viewed as the “revelation of Allah” by the words written themselves. 

Jesus, as seen by the Muslims as a Prophet, and an important one, did not give the words of the Bible to the Christians, they were inspired, yes, but not direct recitations from Jesus.  There are many quotations ascribed to Jesus, but the words as a whole came from sources ranging from Moses, to Isaiah, David, Jeremiah, Amos, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Paul and Peter, and more.  The Old Testament prophesied the coming of the New Testament, the new covenant, and God’s revelation in his Son, consubstantial with the Father, ‘truly God and truly human.’  Available to the early Christian church soon after Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, were letters of Paul, and then those of the gospel writers.  What they wrote was not a repeat of what they were told to recite, but a reflection of personal experiences, events involving the Risen Lord that actually occurred in their presence and in the world in which they lived and experienced life with others.

From Heresy:  ”the enforcement of ideas by force, the suppression of liberty, and the violation of rights….This theme (was) of major importance  in western Europe during the Middle Ages, and is of growing importance in the Islamic world today.” (pg. 13)  We must all be free to choose our religion and the means to our salvation.  If you believe there is a possibility of life after death then you must come to grips with the pathway to your future and follow.  If not, then a secular life, a life where death only results as an ending to a time on earth, serving no purpose, our existence only to then die, is offered; then too it is only the authority of government that regulates and the authority of a supreme being holds no sway.  But you need to choose, and be free to choose, and then to suffer according to your choice and relationship with the governing authority of your choice, be it God, Allah, or the President, Prime Minister, Tribal Leader, or Czar/Despot of your Country.

May the world find peace, love and understanding.  May the people of the world speak up and stand up so as to lead us to such a pleasant existence where all religions can co-exist, whether or not the supernatural is involved.  What happens after death will then be left to the judge of your choosing, or no judge at all. 

For reference:  The Nicene Creed  -  “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.”

Grace and peace and blessings to the people of the world.

Understanding Islam – Part 13 (Skepticism)

Having just finished the book, Children of Dust- A Memoir of Pakistan, by Ali Eteraz, published 2009, HarperOne, NY, NY., I felt I needed to give some thoughts from the insight I gained, with quotes from this author, in a continuation of my series Understanding Islam.  (Where quotes are used the book is referenced as COD and the page number indicated.)

 This book provides a perspective on Islam that is quite different for most of us in that it is from what I can safely refer to as an insider.  Calling Arabs as the self-labeled élite Muslim, representing but 20% of the Muslim world, the author is Pakistani, non-Arab, yet in many ways he is the Islāmic scholar he at one time sought to be professionally.  The heart of the Muslim world has been suggested is Mecca, located in Saudi Arabia, where the Ka’ba is located and where the pilgrimage of Muslims takes place, the Haij.  Yet my impression is that the heart of Islam lies in those that are objective devotees to the religion, understanding the Quran in modern terms as loving, peaceful and non-militant.  Indeed there are strong family ties to the religion as well as an outline of rules of the laws, from the Quran and teachings from leaders in madrassas (the qaris), and elsewhere, such as from other learned Islāmic faithful and scholars.  For Ali Eteraz, calling himself Amir at the day of 911, the acts of Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda have undermined any of the good works and positive influence Islam has had on the world and its followers and given Islam a bad name.

On 911 (2001) – on militant Muslims, “I had used to think that while their methods were disreputable, they were simply misguided people trying to rectify undeniable injustices around them. Now having seen their vision of justice, and recognizing how far it was from actual justice, I felt only anger.  What made their actions even more reprehensible was that they had carried out their murders in the name of Islam.  In a singular moment they had destroyed all the hard work – of education and awareness – that Muslims the world over had done over the years….This shows that while the attackers waved the flag of Islam, they care, really, for something else – something that had nothing at all to do with Islam.  They were power-hungry postmodernists.” (COD – pg. 270-271)

On what Ali believed as contrasted to Osama bin Laden who “referred to Muslims as a ‘nation’ that didn’t need to recognize nation-state borders and urged Muslims, all of them, to fight on behalf of God against the United States.” (COD – pg. 169), “I believed in an Islam that was permanent, unchanging, and solid.  Being Muslim wasn’t just a state of mind, as bin Laden argued, but a state of existence.  Islam was all-consuming.  A total condition.  A state of submission to the will of the Almighty.  It wasn’t a system or formula or prescription that one utilized for a little while, in order to gain revenge against one’s enemies.  Islam was way bigger than that; it was the primordial state of being.  Bombing and killing, marauding and murdering, taking up arms against America and Israel – these were a waste of time.  They were childish acts carried out by insecure Muslims, but precisely those Muslims who judged success in life according to worldly terms.” (COD – pg. 171) “What mattered was the afterlife. That was the most important part of living.  Bin Laden was not concerned with the afterlife.” (COD – pg. 171)

 The actions of Al Qaeda and others labeled terrorists have fueled the fire under extremists, fundamentalists, who within Islāmic circles have created differences and conflict, even to the extent of calling American Muslims apostates, as was the case for this author when seeking a bride in his homeland.  Adherence to the strictest interpretation of the Quran, even when viewed by the majority of Muslims as excessive, has been the cry of the fundamentalist, using their weapons, plain-clothed Quran police (as it were), fear tactics, and other oppressive methods to change the ideological thinking of all Muslims, attempting to set up the main stage of Islam to that of their view and interpretation.  The modern world, evolving cultures, has been forgotten in their approach to the religion of Allah and his messenger Muhammad.

The philosophy of postmodernism, referred to earlier, brings into view secularism and possibly the greatest threat to Islam.  “Postmodernism had a singular aim: it threw off the strictures of authority.  It taught you how to unshackle yourself from the discipline and punishment imposed upon you without your consent.  It exposed the myriad ways in which religious forces enchained humans, often without their knowledge.  It was the inverse of bondage….All relationships were power struggles and that duties weren’t inherent in our nature but were imposed by the most powerful….Everything was connected by conflict.”  (COD – pg. 236)  “…that while postmodernists appreciated religion for making advances in ethics and morality, they argued that people no longer needed to rely on religion to know the right way to behave.  Religion was considered nothing more than a ‘personal idiosyncrasy’” (COD – pg. 238) The author also noted: “postmodernism…(was) feared and reviled by Muslims nearly as much as Rushdie’s Satanic Verses.” (COD – pg.235)

As to Salman Rushdie’s, called “a siren of secularism”, The Satanic Verses: (COD – pg. 171) – “the real problem: the part about the Prophet Muhammad and the circumstances surrounding the revelations that became the Quran.  This part suggested that first Satan and then Muhammad’s Persian scribe Salam had both tampered with the Quran, changing words outright.  It was this part that made the book vile to Muslims, because it promoted doubt.  Skepticism opened the door for believers to think there was a chance that revelation wasn’t from God, that the Quran was written by men and thus wasn’t otherworldly.  Widespread skepticism would be the ultimate victory for secularism, which had previously subjected the Torah and the Bible to just the same attack.  What the secularists wanted – Rushdie among them – was to establish the supremacy of reason over and above revelation, something that all religious people had an obligation to resist, because if reason became dominant, the world would fail.” (COD – pg.172)

Eteraz also noted concern for reactions by Muslims to other recent events, most notably the Danish cartoon controversy  (2006 Danish cartoons by Kurt Westergaard): “trivial and badly drawn in an irrelevant newspaper in Denmark, Muslims rioted in multiple locations, killing innocent non-Muslims and making an intimidating show of force.” (COD – pg. 276).  “That such cosmic insecurity could be prompted by such comic absurdity was the final straw (for the author)…Enough!….Islam doesn’t belong to idiots.” (COD – pg. 278).  It, in part, led to his personal resistance to all of Islam.

Ali Eteraz attempted to establish an Association for reforming Islam thinking to becoming more moderate, accepting and understanding other world religions and cultures, bordering indeed on freedom in the post-modern sense.  As knowledgeable as he is on the history of Islam, its leader and his companions; as knowledgeable as he is on the Quran, his training established in the most intolerant learning centers of Islam; he has become disillusioned by the terrorist acts in the name of the religion he grew to revere and adhere to adamantly.  From his youth through his college years, even beyond, he subjected himself to guilt from considering any relationship, association, or action that was not condoned by his upbringing and education.  Even when he had doubts he relied on his foundation in the religion to maintain his purity and convictions.  Even when he observed others failing to keep the tenants of the religion, calling themselves Muslim but acting according to their personal desires when not otherwise in view of strident believers, he maintained the discipline of his culture and religion.  The actions of others, especially the fundamentalist, finally wore him down and he, today, no longer takes comfort in Islam.

He has not converted to another religion (as far as I can discern), nor would I say he was an atheist, and labeling him a non-believer could bring the fire of Allah on him (from those that make judgments and take the actions according to their view of the Quran), so I will simply call him a “questioning believer” of extremist beliefs that have impacted all of Islam.  His doubts were caused too by direct personal affronts on him; a Muslim who always conducted himself in a way that he felt would make any Muslim comfortable.  He now seems to wonder how to restore critical thinking, logical thinking, to the despots of Islam.  He is currently a non-practicing Muslim enjoying freedom and wanting to encourage others to understand what freedom enables them to be and to become.  He has been exposed to philosophical thinking (non-Muslim), Jewish thinking and Christian thinking and considers none of this an abomination, but a form of enlightenment.  He sees the need for a Martin Luther for Islam, a Martin Luther than can emerge from the Arab world and live to reform others within Islam. As to reformed thinking in Islam he wrote, “the symbol of Islam is now the Ka’ba, and as you’re well aware, it’s the Arabs who guard it.  So if there is going to be anything that will sway Muslims in the rest of the world, it’s going to have to be stamped by the Arabs….” (COD – pg. 283)  Any tolerance towards non-believers, from the view most today feel is the reality, or the distortion engendered by the militants, will need to come from the seat of Wahhabism – Saudi Arabia.

 Reform may require, in my mind, the current Quran being the Old Covenant of Islam and a New Covenant of Islam established for future generations.  Or it may require Muslims leaving their religion all-together.  It may require Muslims to learn more about “Isa” – a reference to Christ and his more liberal nature as the one who has forgiven the sins of mankind negating any further need to kiss the Black Stone (the Ka’ba in Mecca) for one’s sins to be absorbed. 

Christ has been misinterpreted by Muhammad and his companions.  He was crucified, it was not faked, he ascended into heaven, he took the punishment we all deserve for our sins, whether caused by secular society or not, the blame is all ours, the forgiveness all His.  It is not postmodernism that allows for freedom, it was Christ, as it was “for freedom that he set us free.”  Believers in the way of Christ are sinners, must deal with temptations and resist, they are human, but they have as their authority the Triune God, with the Holy Spirit as assurance of their eternal future and Christ as the example of a perfect life lived.  That perfect life is not attainable, nor are those that believe then required to be perfect or even measured as to their good deeds (adding blessings such as those gained from reciting letters of the Quran) out-weighing their bad (sins of the flesh, for example).  Relationships are important for men and women.  A husband’s love for his wife (his one wife) and gaining her respect is important.

What were once Laws (Old Testament Laws) are guidelines towards happiness.  For if not followed most often for the believer anguish, guilt, unhappiness follows on earth; without repentance punishment is meted in heaven.  The Laws provide the ethical and moral concepts to be observed in society that when conducted by individuals in a community enable harmony, love, and trust.  Yet there will be transgressions and the earthly judge is not a theocratic despot.  The judge will be God or government authorities, depending on the nature of the crime.  When the transgressions befall a member of society, be they secular, Judaic, Mormon, Muslim, Christian, Atheist, Agnostic, or whatever religion you wish to give as a label the one harmed, then the authority, the government (non-theocratic), decides the punishment.  However crimes committed against God, the authority of one, the believer knowing his sins, having repented or not, having been sincere or not, having obeyed or not, having submitted or not, having surrendered or not, remains to be judged by God on Judgment Day – when our physical bodies no longer function. 

You are free to live a life on earth as you choose – free will.  But you have knowledge, possibly wisdom, and by knowing God, know also that which will provide the pathway to the Celestial City.  You can determine the likelihood of an afterlife in God’s kingdom, but as we all know there are no guarantees, only faith, and that faith can only be in the Risen Lord.  He will not return to a mosque in Damascus and partner with Muhammad and tell Jews and Christians he is Muslim.  Christ is everyone’s savior if they heed his call to “Come, follow me.”  Even the Quran provides assurances that the Bible is true. 

Follow your heart.  Be confident in your intellect and the consciousness God provided that enabled all humans to develop, to learn, to grow in knowledge and wisdom and to at one point make their own choices, without threat of coercion, but with the embodiment of freedom.  Do not allow the threats of others dispel your beliefs or desire to leave one religion for another.  If you do, do so objectively, be a modern progressive thinker.  Be open to opinions of others, but be discerning and find your path.  If you believe in an afterlife, then the path you must find should be towards refuge with the one true God.  Take the hand of the Father that wants a relationship with you and as a parent is patient, a teacher, a disciplinarian, yet desires obedience and love.  His love for you will always be there, even if you leave him for another – at least until Judgment Day. 

 We are all Children of Dust.  Thanks be to God.

Grace and Peace.

Understanding Islam – Part 12 (Images)

Many have heard of the images of Muhammad portrayed by a Danish cartoonist.  It caused untold riots by Muslims in many areas of the world, attacking Danish government buildings and demanding the images be stricken from view.  The pictures can be found at http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=12146.  There are also comments provided at that site, one from a Dane is worthy of reproduction (posted in July, 2007):

“Hm, weird that the effect of offending so peaceful a religion is that our flag and embassies are torched…they reason why the newspaper in question printed the cartoons was that they wanted to challenge the viewpoint that cartoonists were afraid of offending Muslims.

The irony here is that the reactions clearly demonstrate that Muslim people are very readily offended.

Another incredibly ironic twist is that it wasn’t until Danish imams toured the Arab world with the drawings approx. two months after the publication that the strong reactions started – most of the imams in question had ties to Hizb-ut Tahrir, which is banned in most northern European countries because they’re considered extreme, but which is allowed in Denmark because of our general tolerance.

Then there are a couple of things to note about the flyers which the imams handed out on their tour. I’ve read a translation, and the following makes me question the purity of their motives:

-it says that mosques aren’t allowed in Denmark and that we persecute Muslims.

Not true – we have a couple in the larger cities as well as graveyards exclusively for Muslims. When the cartoon controversy was at its peak, Muslim organizations had the freedom to hold demonstrations as they wished – the only larger one I can recall was held in front of our parliament, mostly attended by members of Hizb-ut Tahrir.

-there was an image of a man with a pig snout. By far the most offensive image in the flyer, but it was actually taken from a French newspaper and was a photograph from a squealing contest.

There have been demands that the Danish government take action towards Jyllands-Posten, but that can’t happen. Jyllands-Posten is privately owned and protected under the freedom of speech.

Religious people from other countries don’t control what our newspapers print, and they never will.”

Yale University Press was to publish a book on the subject of the controversial cartoons, the book The Cartoons That Shook The World, the author Jytte Klausen.  However a decision was made to exclude reprints of the cartoons for concerns as to attacks by Muslims for doing so.

From the Associated Press in January:   “January 2, 2010 -  A Somali man was charged Saturday with two counts of attempted murder for an attack on a Danish artist whose 2005 cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad ignited riots and outrage across the Muslim world, authorities said. The 28-year-old Somali – who had ties to al-Qaida - broke into Kurt Westergaard’s home in Aarhus on Friday night armed with an ax and a knife, said Jakob Scharf, head of Denmark’s PET intelligence agency. The 75-year-old artist, who has been the target of several death threats since depicting the Prophet Muhammad with a bomb-shaped turban, pressed an alarm and fled with his 5-year-old granddaughter to a specially made safe room.”

Some Imam’s agreed to curtail further admonishment and attacks arising from the cartoons published in 2005 if the Danish Government agreed to freedom and protection of their Islamic faith in that Country and that an apology be issued by the publisher stating the cartoons were not meant or intended to mock the Islamic religion.  Thus by demanding ‘respect’ they will back off.  

The Question – Images of Muhammad

First as to a question often raised, and about which much controversy has arisen: are images of Muhammad forbidden?  Visit the website for a more extensive review.    http://www.answering-islam.org/Muhammad/pictures.html

Quoting from the noted website: “Numerous passages in the Qur’an prohibit idolatry, and worshipping statues or pictures, but there is not even single verse in the Qur’an that explicitly or implicitly says not to have any pictures of Muhammad. This bears repeating: There is not a single verse in the Qur’an that prohibits making or having pictures of Muhammad or people or animals or trees. In fact, there are some verses in the Qur’an which mention images in a positive context and which therefore presuppose that some statues or images were approved by God, see the article Muhammad and Images.  – http://www.answering-islam.org/Muhammad/Inconsistent/images.html

However, the vast majority of Muslims are Sunni Muslims, who regard six authorized collections of hadiths as the highest written authority in Islam after the Qur’an. The hadiths are records, often very detailed, of what Muhammad taught and did. There are apparently multiple quotations to show that these teachings are not confined to just one writer/collector, but are spread throughout the different hadith collections.

Where multiple trustworthy hadiths agree, Sunni Muslims will take this as binding. In other words, people today are kicked out of Islam, or even killed based on the hadiths.

Pictures of Muhammad are “not exactly” forbidden in the hadiths either. The hadiths do not single out Muhammad’s picture. Rather, in the hadith we find the prohibition of all pictures of people or animals, which would include pictures from a camera.”

You must decide for yourself.  Certainly mocking another’s religion is not very nice, certainly not politically correct, yet in the desire for freedom of speech and/or religion, those so mocked may express the fact they are offended, yet the reactions and the demands put forth by many Muslims to the cartoons went much to far and demonstrate in my mind not only a lack of tolerance, but a rigidity and total disregard for anything but a religion that many question.  It is a form of coercion reflective of the nature of the control of those within the body of their idolatry.  An example as recent as noted in today’s news (Jan 26, 2010) of a father and daughter in Egypt that converted voluntarily to Christianity fearing for their lives.  They have been on the run from fanatics wanting their death, as they want from any apostate.  That is intolerance to an extreme and no one in this world should tolerate such behavior.  Mocking such actions would be justified, in picture or word.  Muslims that suggest, tolerate, condone, excuse, enforce, or compel the death of an apostate, and do so in the name of Allah are showing the world that this religion of Islam is flawed.   It is not humane.

We pray for all who believe, and all who also believe in freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the freedom to honor the God of their choosing, doing so without the shackles of authority precluding their people from seeing the light as they see it, not as seen through the eyes of controlling ayatollahs, or imams, or caliphs, or in fact any dictatorial leader. 

Let the images be printed and seen and understood.  Let the opinions and reflection of others be heard.  Possibly some will agree, others will not, but we can all agree on the freedom of the press.  What is in print should be expressed clearly as an opinion, or be accurate and fully researched before published.  As to opinion we have the right to agree or disagree, but not to kill or to destroy property or even threaten to kill or destroy.

Understanding Islam – Part 11 (The Evil of Our Time)

The question raised often, given the growth of Islam in various parts of the world, and the impact of the Muslim population when percentages reach certain levels, is as noted in the title to this Blog – “Is Islam the Evil of Our Time?  For one view on this subject may I refer you to YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjBqyv-qf1M

This less than 10 minute video is quite revealing.

We must pray for all who believe in freedom and their right to explore other religions and to in turn choose a religion that fits their personal desires.  Islam is considered not a religion or a faith, but an ideology, a system of life.  The religion of Islam is a guide and the book of this religion is the foundation for society and the laws that govern (Sharia).  It is an all-in-one ideology.  There is no separation of church and state.  And there is no freedom except for those that believe in Allah – and that too is questionable if compared to others within the religion you are considered a moderate.   As an example, in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, predominately moderates, extremists (now less than 2% of the total) are using force (bombings, personal attacks) to convert villages into “model Islamic villages” (USA Today, Jan 18, Monday, 2010, The Muslim country…, by Lewis M Simons, pg. 9A) and gaining power.  They want a more fundamentalist Islamic country ruled by Sharia. Woman who before were able to walk the streets in Western garb, are now often subject to arrest if they do not cover their hair.    Should all people lack objectivity and be coerced, indeed surrender, submit, obey, be sincere and have peace, but only as believers in Allah and saying the Shahada – There is no god but Allah.  Muhammad is the messenger of Allah?  Is this evil?  What is the goal of Islam?  Is it clearly stated in the Qur’an (sura 2.193), “And fight them until there is no persecution, and religion is only for Allah….”

 We must pray that even in secular states, countries, the governments can respect and defend the freedom of all, even those living under a religion of surrender, and not surrender to the demands of a few made in the name of an ideology not befitting that of the nation in which free people live. 

God Bless all that defend freedom and remain free, free to believe as they choose.

Understanding Islam – Part 10 – (A Story)

A Story

Besides blogging I write stories, have written books, and often use resources from the past, events from the bible, the lives of others, articles from the news, historical happenings, to include that of Jesus and Muhammad, and I may deviate from the facts to tell my story, and suggest not that what I say is true, but a story. At other times, especially where my opinion is expressed or my faith is supported I make every effort to explore the facts, to not distort the facts, and to reflect on the truth; the truth is what one arrives at through careful consideration of all data available, having access to all information available. I also write a diary. In it the truth is what I say about the events of the day and what transpired in my life. But this is not the truth for man to live by, just facts as to what transpired with me. It may at time contain expressions of concern, joy, even anguish, but it is my story – a personal reflection.

There is freedom in truth. “Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.‘” (John 8:31-32) It is for freedom for everyone that I dialog about issues I question as to the truth. In the Qur’an I see what may be a true story of Muhammad, but is this God’s truth? From my reading I would argue it is not, as it is a reflection of the life of a mortal man, his struggles and his anger. The Sunnah and Hadith used by Muslims is Muhammad’s diary; it is his story and expression of his life, and suggestions for others. He had followers, yes, but they were attracted to this man and his personal cause. Should this then be manifested as a cause for mankind? This is where my doubts reach the highest level and cannot be erased. (see: Erasure Rule in my book, Wake Up! Wake Up! The Testimony of a Layman, Tate Publishers, Mustang, OK, 2009)

Is the Qur’an a story? A story covering a period of the last 22 years of a man’s life, to be accompanied by a diary of the same man’s life, compiled by close associates that enjoyed his life, accomplishments and goals. It is the story of one man’s view of war made against his profession of monotheism, received from the angel Gabriel during a dream, the words of Allah, in a cavern. What he dreamt was to be recited to his people – at the time a pagan population consisting of many tribes. He could not write down his recollection as he was illiterate, depending then on his recall and the repetition of his words by companions. As his followers grew, even though small in numbers, and resistance also grew (in Mecca) forcing him to flee (what he then considered an act of war) to Medina, the battle against all ‘non-believers’ began. Is it a story requiring the Truth of the Christian heritage be altered (yet claiming this alteration as the truth) and denying the divinity of Christ. This was to enable the followers to comfortably join forces (or uncomfortably by force – jihad) to repeat and compel others to accept the Muhammad recitations and belief in Allah? He grew his following, at times raiding trade caravans and adding to his coffers the spoils of victory (all in the name of Allah) until he had enough men to, under the guise of a pilgrimage to Mecca to visit the Ka’aba (then a pagan memorial), take revenge against those that befriended him in Mecca (his claim: response to an act of war). He united the tribes to be monotheistic, by fear and force, cleared the Ka’aba of all gods leaving only a black meteorite rock as a symbol of one religion, the religion of Muhammad as a messenger of Allah. It has certainly had an impact and indeed Islam has over 1 billion followers. Do they all understand the difference between their religion and others? Do they understand they are still fighting Muhammad’s personal war?

Have Muslims been exposed to other religions; or the question may be are they precluded from such exposure? I say yes. If so, then why? Could it be the fear of another religion that claims to be the Truth? Could it be the story of Muhammad becomes a questionable story as to its veracity and doubts arise? After reading and re-reading the stories, I have many doubts about Islam. Might the doubters then depart Islam for another religion? But should that occur, then what – (sura 47.22), “…if you turn away (from Islam), you are sure to make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship.” You family (your Muslim family) will turn against you, as your kin no longer loving you since you may no longer love Allah. Deafness and blindness can follow (sura 47.23); even death (sura 47.27), “…how will it be when the angels cause them to die….”, then (sura 47.28), “That is because they follow that which displeases Allah and are averse to his pleasure….” Apostasy can result in death. That is severe. Believe what you want to believe, if once Muslim and as a result no longer, you can be cut off from your family, possibly blinded, or killed. Is there no “free will” in Islam? Is there no allowance for the ‘lost son”, the “prodigal son”, that returns to his roots? Is there no forgiveness in Islam? The forgiveness of Allah seems to fall on a disregard for sin, and the provision of scales, where the sinner can weigh his sin as evil and offset it with good. It is a balancing act. “Allah forgives sins altogether.” (sura39.53). No repentence is necessary if the sins are out-weighed by good.  Misfortune falls on those for a reason, that reason their own doing, as stated, “And whatever misfortune befalls you, it is on account of what your hands have wrought.” (sura 42.35), and forget about turning the other cheek, “And those who, when great wrong afflicts them, defend themselves.” (sura 47.39). “And the recompense of evil is punishment like it.” (sura 42.40) Indeed, if a Muslim, revenge is encouraged. Sure, if a Muslim thinks forgiveness might help, they can consider it, but if not, then revenge. “

“At this moment, for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ, men and women are being bullwhipped into submission, tortured, imprisoned, beaten, battered, and broken. Homes are being burned, families are executed, and other lives lost through hateful revenge. If you believe that torture and murder because of belief in Jesus Christ is a thing of the past, then you are tragically mistaken. Across our globe, the blood of Christians runs down cobblestone streets, dirt paths, paved alleys, and concrete prison floors.” (This from Unveiling Islam, by Ergun and Emir Caner, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI, 2009, pg.15-16).  All this is taking place because of a religion based on a story.  It may be real, but it is personal.  Do we need to continue to fight another man’s battle?

There are multiple examples of the attacks against Christians in predominately Muslim areas. World Magazine reported in their Nov. 7, 2009 issue (pg. 9) of the Burmese army shooting Karen Villagers in Nya Mu Ki, including a pastor named Baw Pae, and then on to other villages, burning houses sending thousands, predominately Christians, into hiding. Food sources (rice paddies) destroyed.

In Baghdad, Iraq, St. George’s Anglican Church has endured repeated bombings and attacks – in 2008, according to World Magazine, 93 members of the church were killed, including 11 of 13 converts baptized by pastor Canon Andrew White.

Coptic Christians in Egypt have been persecuted so often over 70,000 have moved to Australia since 1971. Six Coptic Orthodox Christians were killed in a drive-by shooting in Egypt in December 2009 at the time of Christmas – following a midnight Mass outside their church. The climate of fear is so strong that many Christians refuse to publicly reveal their names and faith for fear of repercussions. (from the website: www.thereligionofpeace.com).

In September 2005 Muslim Palestinian Arabs plundered a town of Christian Palestinian Arabs in southern Samaria, it was a Sunday and houses and automobiles were set ablaze; this occurred in an apparent ‘revenge” attack after a Christian man dared date a Muslim woman. Christian families fled to a nearby village as the violence raged into the night. The woman was allegedly killed by her family for becoming involved in the relationship, forced to drink poison. So called “honor killings” are barbaric.

“Two Christians in Pakistan were recovering of their injuries Thursday January 14, 2010, saying they were shot at a wedding party for refusing to convert to Islam – the latest is a series of attacks on weddings across the country (Pakistan)” They refused orders to recite the ‘Islamic profession of faith’ confirming conversion. (from website: www.worthynews.com)

“Reported on January 7, 2010 (www.worthynews.com) “an Iranian court forced a Christian convert with a Muslim background to sign a confession that she is “mentally unstable’ and placed her under three months of house arrest in the city of Mashhad, 850 kilometers (530 miles) east of the capital Tehran, trial observes said.”

The BBC reported in October 2008 at least 1,300 families have fled the Iraqi city of Mosul after an upsurge of violence against them by Muslim extremists. Dozens of Christians were murdered; Sunni militants were blamed. Over 800,000 Christians have fled from Iraq since the 2003 invasion. The situation for Christians only seems to get worse.

These are but a few examples – more stories of such oppression and attacks will be provided in later Blogs. Maybe there are more moderate Muslims that tolerate other faiths, in fact consider freedom of religion for the sanctity of peace in the world wise, and a denial of such freedoms a practice of the past for Islam. However the percentages of extremists is so large and the general impression of Muslim cultures one of intolerance against ‘non-believers’ and laws others than those born of the Qur’an (Sharia) so pervasive, it is difficult to be comfortable and accepting of Islam as a whole.

There are claims by Muslims worldwide that the invasion of Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, and actions of American armed forces in many areas where Muslims dominate is an act of aggression (war) against Islam. This aggression has been the cause and justification for ‘revenge’ attacks against America and Christians (Jews also). There is resentment also for bringing to the attention of the world acts of deceit (such as from the political party in Iran), ‘honor-killing’, questioning Sharia law, especially where the punishments inflected by Muslims seem inhumane, noting the autocratic nature of the leaders of Muslim nations, and thus engendering open discussions, debate and recognition of the nature of the Islamic religion and its followers, especially the fundamentalists and their desire that all Muslims be of a similar persuasion. 911 only opened the eyes of the world to what has been occurring for centuries in Muslim areas and the imperialistic nature of the leaders of the Islamic religion to fulfill the Qur’an’s statement “until…religion is only for Allah.” (sura 2.193) That implies also that the law of all nations, the world as a whole is ‘only Sharia.’ They are one in the same – the religion and the law – all Islam.

Everyone needs to understand Islam – as a religion or a story. We need to know the story, its background, the person – Muhammad, and the resultant religion.  We also need to understand other religions born of the intentions of one individual for his own purposes. Mormonism is an example. Judaism and Christianity needs to be equally understood and its long term history (4,000 to billions of years) respected. In this way through knowledge and wisdom, along with freedom of speech, thought and religion, people can believe as they choose. We must pray, petition God, for clarity to all humanity. The Islamic prayer is not one of petition, but of repetition, not thanking or asking for help, only reminding them of their constraint to a belief in only Allah and the shackles he places on all under the rule of thumb of those fighting Muhammad’s war of 622.

May the Grace and Love of God fill the reader with the importance of knowing Christ and the freedom he gave us all. May we continue to be strengthened by the waters of the Word that flow from the Bible and the knowledge that Christ gave his life for us. Who else has ever done so much for mankind and provided for the freedoms we enjoy, men and women, and the progress we make, and the future we have before us? Help us all make this world his kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Praise be to God, the Triune God.

Understanding Islam – Part 9 (The Trinity)

The Trinity

A perspective on the Trinity was provided by Abdel-Hakim Murad (from a lecture at Oxford in 1996) wherein he stated “What I will try to do, then, is to set out my own understanding, as a Muslim, of the Trinitarian doctrine. I would start by making the obvious point that I recognize that a lot is at stake here for historic Christian orthodoxy. The fundamental doctrine of Trinity makes no sense unless the doctrines of incarnation and atonement are also accepted. St Anselm, in his Cur Deus Homo, showed that the concept of atonement demanded that Christ had to be God, since only an infinite sacrifice could atone for the limitless evil of humanity, which was, in Augustine’s words, a massa damnata – a damned mass because of Adam’s original sin. Jesus of Nazareth was hence God incarnate walking on earth, distinct from God the Father dwelling in heaven and hearing our prayers. It thus became necessary to think of God as at least two in one, who were at least for a while existing in heaven and on earth, as distinct entities. In early Christianity, the Logos which was the Christ-spirit believed to be active as a divine presence in human life, in time became hypostatized as a third person, and so the Trinity was born. No doubt this process was shaped by the triadic beliefs which hovered in the Near Eastern air of the time, many of which included the belief in a divine atonement figure.”

More from Murad’s lecture: Three centuries after Nicaea, the Quran stated:  

‘The Messiah, son of Mary, was no other than a messenger, messengers the like of whom had passed away before him (sura 5.75) . . . O people of the Book – stress not in your religion other than the truth, and follow not the vain desires of a people who went astray before you.’ (Surat al-Ma’ida, 75)(sura 3:69-71)(sura 4.171)

 And again:

 ’O people of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion, nor utter anything concerning God save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of God, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers, and do not say ‘Three’. Desist; it will be better for you. God is only One God. . . . The Messiah would never have scorned to be a slave of God.’ (Surat al-Nisa, 171-2)(sura 4.171) “

 In the Qur’an (restating) “Jesus, son of Mary, is only a messenger of Allah (as is Muhammad) and His word…, so believe in Allah and His messengers.  And say not Three. Desist, it is better for you.”  (sura 4.171)  “The doctrine of the Trinity is clearly rejected here”, according to Maulana Muhammad Ali, translator of The Qur’an (pg. 242)(publisher: Almadiyya Anjuman Isha’at Islam Lahore Inc., Dublin, Ohio, 2002)

 Multiple Names for God

The Trinity is problematic for Muslims as how can Allah be but Allah.  The Qur’an speaks of unity – “your God is one God; there is no God but He!  He is the Beneficent, the Merciful.” (sura 2.163).  They also call Him Master (sura 1.3), and, indeed, Lord. (sura 1.1)   He had no Son (sura 6.101)(sura 17.111).  The idea of multiple persons in God is claimed a problem.  Yet the Muslims do indeed call Allah other names (99 attributes), in addition to those already noted there are names such as the Loving-kind (sura 11.90), the Living (sura 40.65), the Truth (Al-Haqq)(sura 31.30), the Forgiving (sura 39.53), the Merciful (sura 39.53 and others), and Almighty (the term ‘Mighty’)(sura 2.228), the Beautiful Names of Allah (as god)(sura 7.180, sura 20.8, sura 59.24), Wonderful Originator (sura 2.117, 6.101), and Knower (sura 2:1, sura 6.101), Creator (sura 6.102), and in sura 59.24 (and sura 2.129), He is the Mighty, the Wise, Seer (sura 2.110), Possessor (sura 2.106, 2.109), the Hearing (sura 2.137), Bountiful (sura 2.158), in sura 2.225 Allah is the Ever-living, the Self-subsisting, the Most High, and the Great; Friend (sura 2.257), and others.    Allah then is not one dimensional. 

And so also God, the Trinity, is not one dimensional.  Neither Christians nor Muslims worship but one god, yet they can describe that One as a composite of many, call them attributes if you wish, illustrative of His supernatural and divine power.  The Muslim profession of faith begins, “There is no god but The God.”  The profession of faith could well say, There is no god but The Beneficent; There is no god but The Master; There is no god but The Seer.  Each a candle lit to provide light on a religion, but shining as one candle.  Indeed it is a monotheistic belief with a picture of the One having many wonderful characteristics; such as those wonderful essential characteristics of the One Trinitarian God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, being God from on high, having experienced a direct association with mankind thus knowing man as no other, and indwelling within man, omnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent. The Father is God, the Holy Ghost is God, and the Son is God; they too are The Almighty.  They are as multiple candles gathered to produce one flame, a brighter light to the knowledge, understanding and wisdom of the Almighty.   Does this not “bear witness” that there is no god but God (the Trinity), the all seeing, all present, all powerful One.

 Muhammad apparently sees himself as the Counselor to which the Bible refers in John 14:15-16.  Divine words spoken and quoted in the Bible, from Jesus, suggest to his apostles, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever —“  Possibly that is what Muhammad heard, or all he wanted to hear, disregarding the Biblical passage that followed, in John 14:18, “the Spirit (being the Holy Spirit) of truth.  The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”  The Spirit is not Muhammad.  Later in John, John 14:20, the Trinity, 3 primary attributes, is discussed, in terms of the day all come to realize the implication of the Holy Spirit, “On that day (the resurrection) you will realize that I (Jesus Christ) am the Father (one-in-the-same), and you are in me, and I am in you (the Spirit).”   

 Biblical History – Distorted

In the Qur’an (sura 17.111) Muhammad recites, if indeed the words are as he spoke them (translated from the Arabic), that Allah “Who has not taken Himself a son, and Who has not a partner in the kingdom, and Who has not a helper because of weakness…”   This statement can be read as a direct counter to the Trinity, suggesting that the Christian God needed help, a partner, and the Holy Spirit is a sign of weakness.   It may simply be Muhammad’s act of denial.  Much in the Qur’an reflects on Biblical history, but modified to suit Muhammad. 

 In sura 3.67 it makes the claim that “Abraham was not a Jew nor a Christian, but he was (an) upright (man), a Muslim….”  There were no Muslims at the time of Abraham.  Clearly we can all agree Abraham was a man of faith, he believed in God.

 Bible as Truth Revealed in Qur’an

In reading the Qur’an as early as Chapter 3 it affirms Allah as all knowing, the best at knowing even, and upon whom all Muslim’s depend.  Then it states, “He”, referring to Allah, “has revealed to thee the Book,” referring to the Bible, “with truth, verifying that which is before it,” reaffirming the truth in Biblical history, “and He revealed the Torah and the Gospel.”  That says much about the Bible. So why then, after this, does the Qur’an go on to suggest Allah speaking through the Messenger (Muhammad) makes alterations to the Bible, especially with reference to Christ and Ishmael, suggesting the Qur’an is the corrected copy, the final word? 

 Earlier, in sura 2:75, the Qur’an suggests the men writing Bible knowingly altered the words of Allah “after they understood it”, and confirms that the hands of men did this.  “Woe, then to those who write the Book (the Bible) with their hands then say, this is from Allah….” (sura 2.79)  Now this may be a condemnation of humans, and indeed the Messenger (use of the capital “M” denoted the Prophet Muhammad in the Qur’an) was human, thus can one argue that Muhammad, who as all mankind a sinner, imparted personal desires in his recitations?  His deviation from the Bible marks him as knowing the Bible, but possibly either repeating Biblical stories as best he could recall (as being illiterate he could not read) and flavoring his recitations with the life he would want for himself and other Arabs associated with him.  I will give him his preference for a monotheistic religion, its unifying benefits, but caution all who read the Qur’an of the fearful defense he suggests against those that might object to his message.  Is Islam and the Qur’an Muhammad’s own religion and book of retaliation? And as to unification, certainly destruction of those of other faiths is not unifying. 

 As to Muhammad’s humanity – “The best-known of all devotional poems about the Blessed Prophet Muhammad: the famous Mantle Ode of al-Busairi, defines the frontier of acceptable veneration (source – Abdel-Hakim Murad):  

‘Renounce what the Christians claim concerning their prophet (Jesus), Then praise him (Muhammad) as you will, and with all your heart. For although he was of human nature, He was the best of humanity without exception.’ “

 Telling his people plainly he was a man, Muhammad is quoted, (sura 6.50), “Say: I say not to you, I have with me the treasures of Allah, nor do I know the unseen, nor do I say to you that I am an angel; I follow only that which is revealed to me…”  In another, sura 17.93, “Say: Glory to my Lord! Am I aught but a mortal messenger.”  And again in sura 18:110, “Say: I am only a mortal (human) like you.” Thus as a human, Muhammad is subject to human frailties.  In this condition he claims to recite what Allah has said and that must then be the condition of the land, the basis in fact for law (Sharia), and for Christians that “disbelieved and held My messages and My messengers in mockery,” (sura 18.106)  their reward is “hell.”  Muhammad’s claim, with some degree of arrogance and control, referring to Christians, (sura 18.102) “Surely We have prepared hell as an entertainment for the disbelievers.”  And when it comes to any discussion of any topic as presented in the Qur’an, the Muslim is instructed, “So obey not the disbelievers (do not even listen to them), and strive against them a mighty striving with it.” (sura 25.52)  This is Jihad.  The translator for the Qur’anic verses used herein is Maulana Muhammad Ali (The Holy Qur’an)(Islam Lahore, Inc., Dublin, Ohio, 2002) who provided a footnote to the last verse stating (pg. 725), “This verse affords clear proof of the significance of the word jihad, as used in the Holy Qur’an.  Every exertion to spread the Truth is…a jihad; nay it is called jihad kabir (“mighty striving”) or the great jihad.  Fighting in defense of religion received the name jihad, because under the circumstances it became necessary for the Truth to live and prosper; if fighting had not been permitted Truth would have surely been uprooted….”   One note is that the emphasis by moderate Muslims is on the term “striving,” and not what many have come to understand is in effect “war”,  or the intentional destruction of anything not Islam.  This has come from evidence of the eradication of Jews and Christians and their places of worship in many Muslim nations, and from my current viewpoint is a more justified use of the word jihad, “war” than “striving”.

 Could Muhammad live a life similar to Jesus.  He claims to “not err, nor…deviate.” (sura 53.2), yet he is human.  Yes Muhammad was human (as noted prior) and no matter how great one may claim to be pure, we are all, including this man, sinners.  Even a lie, to be devious, to prey on another such as the neighbor one should love, whether a believer or not, is a sin.  No matter how small a sin, inconsequential, it is a crime against God.  He claims to not “speak out of desire.” (sura 53.3), yet he for his own needs took on more than four wives (the limit in the Qur’an) giving himself, I would say, special dispensation to conduct his own way of life.  Is this not the human showing through?  When anyone works, a professional, a musician, an artist, do they not attain to perfection (a reference to sura 53.6) and then in all humility admit that perfection is not attainable.

  But then – what about Christ.? He led a perfect life, and why, because he was Divine, he was God. He was not human.  The Qur’an recognizes Jesus as the Messiah (sura 3:45), “O Mary, surely Allah gives thee good news with a word from Him (of one) whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary…”, and the virgin birth, (sura 3:47), “She (Mary) said, My Lord, how can I have a son and man has not yet touched me?  He said, even so; Allah creates what He pleases.  When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, Be, and it is.”  The Qur’an notes that Allah would teach Jesus (sura 3:48).  Also, “We gave Jesus, son of Mary, clear arguments and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit.” (sura 2:87)   Yet the Prophet Muhammad noted that Allah controls who dies, “Say: who then could control anything as against Allah when He wished to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, and his mother and all those on earth…” suggesting Jesus Christ is also mortal, even though born of a virgin. 

 As to the Resurrection it is for Allah and Muhammad an expression of “exalting and honoring” the prophet Jesus, whose death was that of a mortal, not Christ rising from the dead.  His death on the cross is also disregarded.  (see sura 3.55)  Was this another form of denial, or a way of explaining away the death on the cross and Resurrection of Christ that changed the world and provided grace and salvation for all who accept Christ?   Uncertainty as to Christ dying on the cross is introduced in sura 5.157, “And for their saying, We have killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah, and they killed him not, nor did they cause his death on the cross, but he was made to appear to them as such….” Muhammad’s claim is Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was faked. It was an act of legerdemain.  He may have been nailed to the cross, but the claim is he did not die on the cross. This may again be Muhammad not wanting to consider the divinity of Jesus and its potential impact on his plan, his program for a monotheistic world within the framework he presented through a document he suggests as provided to him by Allah to recite and proclaim as the Last Prophet. 

 Returning to the Trinity

Thus we have the case where in Islam their god, Allah, is multi-dimensional, has many ‘attributes’, and is represented in more than one way, but still remains the One.  And so it is with Christians, their god, God, described as the Trinity, affirming the primary attributes of God, is also multi-dimensional, but still remains One.  A controversial difference is in the prophet.  Muhammad.  As a prophet he is human and subject to all the weaknesses of humans, or how else could he be human, including that of jealousy and a vivid imagination.  He recalls biblical stories about Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Moses, David, Gog and Magog, John the Baptist, Jonah, Joseph, Job, Lot, Ezra, and others, some by indirect reference.  Seldom do these stories comport with that written in the Word – the Bible.

 Jesus as a prophet is not human, but an incarnation of himself – God, spending time with humans so they may know him and what it takes to live a perfect life.  Stories in the Old Testament prophesied the arrival of Jesus and reflect flawlessly on the outcome of his time on earth and the sacrifice he made for mankind. He loved as no other, beyond comprehension, in width, depth, height and length, beyond infinity, and as noted in Ephesians (4:9) he descended to the lower, earthy regions to walk among man and then ascended higher than all the heavens to fill the whole universe.  Jesus presence on earth, his death of the cross and his Resurrection was witnessed by multitudes.  Muhammad was aware, taught Biblical history and may not have fully understood (or wanted to understand), thus making his own interpretation for his own purposes.  It was Christ that sought “unity” among all people, and that through faith and not war.  Christ’s outline for living for a Christian is difficult.

  Is this indeed the basis for denial of the Trinity?  Is Muhammad the jealous type that will not allow those that do not believe as he suggests to be punished, denying Jesus as divine for what it would mean for the religion he established.

Praise be to those with an open mind, with an objective attitude.  May they be guided by the strength of their minds and ability to read, understand, decifer and decide for themselves the path they take, be it secular, Judaic, Christian, Mormon, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu or any other religion.  Preserve our freedoms to freely think and embrace a religion, should we so choose or be chosen, that we believe, without coercion, to be true.  Accept only a free environment in which to learn and to live.  Praise be to God and blessings to all, free or not, and may the doors to the Almighty be open to you to enter on your own.

Understanding Islam – Part 8 (Sharia Law-2)

We all know what Law is; it is something we obey.  Wherever we live there are laws that govern.  If we abide by what is legislated and enacted we can live without any concern for police, the court system, or jail time.  We would be good citizens.  Now God has laws, the Ten Commandments, and Christians have learned that to obey them is to be viewed well in the eyes of the Lord.  Some are also laws of our Government.  Thou shalt not kill. Indeed that is a crime punishable by most legal systems if enacted in civil society.  War may be an exception.  The punishment can be quite severe too.  Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother.  That is a law of God.  Punishment in civil society for not Honoring They Father and Thy Mother is not on the legislative agenda as something the police need to enforce.  Have No Other Gods Before Me. Here again is a Commandment from God, but not a law applied to everyone through a legal/justice system, by applied personally.  Worship money, your car, your home, the sun, moon, or other objects, and unless you are harming others, civil society allows it, except in a Muslim Country under Sharia Law, then only Allah is to be honored.

For Christians it is recommended we pray.  Prayer should be a daily occurrence and is our form of having a conversation with the Lord.  It can take the form of thanks for our salvation and God’s grace, a petition for the needs of mankind or personal transgressions requiring understanding and forgiveness, praise of the Lord, the Trinity, for the sacrifice made on behalf of mankind, especially those who believe and the eternal life with God made possible, and simply humble acceptance of the Lord and how insignificant we may be yet made much more significant by the width, breadth, height and depth of the love of the Lord our God.  All of the knowledge on earth pales in comparison with the totality of knowledge and wisdom of the Lord.  I love the term A.C.T.S. as used for prayer – a reminder – (from: montney.com/inspire/prayer.htm)

Adoration: praise Jesus for one or several of His attributes (e.g., sovereign, gracious, holy, perfect, merciful, all knowing, loving, just, powerful, ever present, creative) both generally or as it applies to your circumstances. “Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” – Psalm 36:5

Confession: tell Jesus what you have done wrong and why, apologize to Him, seek forgiveness, and thank Him for it. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

Thanksgiving: express your gratitude to Jesus for His love, mercy, grace, leading, sustenance, discipline, and blessing. “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men” – Psalm 107:15

Supplication: ask Jesus to guide, heal, protect, comfort, sustain, or provide for you, or intercede for someone else. “…Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” – 1 Chronicles 4:10.

Yet there is no Law requiring we pray.  It is recommended; it is recommended strongly that we do so.  It is beneficial.  It is conversational.  It is a Christian’s opportunity to have a conversation with God and to develop a relationship with God.  The Holy Spirit as an inner part of a faithful committed Christian is our mental reminder to pray.  The Spirit is our guarantor, the seal of our faith in the Trinity, insurance for the life everlasting as provided all sinners that accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the sins we commit (past, present and future) and truly repent.  Forgiveness is there.  Reborn and a new life, a life lived using Christ as our example, yet impossible to achieve as to the level of perfection, yet an admirable goal and a worthy goal to live one’s life for the honor and glory of the one who died in our stead, bearing the punishment for our crimes, and freeing us all for a life eternal with God.  That is something worth kneeling and praying and being thankful for. 

Under Sharia Law prayer is required.  Five times each day facing Mecca and the Ka’aba, a structure containing a black meteoric rock, a symbol, assuming a prone position (prostrate) and reciting verses, it is required to pray.  (Note:  the term ‘mosque’ means ‘a place of prostration.’) Prayer is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.  “Prayer is the ultimate worship of the Muslim.” (Unveiling Islam, pg. 123)  Purification prior to prayer is required.  “It (prayer) is not, however, a personal conversation between a human and God; rather it is an external practice saturated with formal procedures and required customs.” (Unveiling Islam, pg. 124).  The concern appears to be if the prayers are not repeated five times daily then Allah could be forgotten, thus repeated daily are the words, “God is great, God is great, etc.”  It is a systematic rote requisite reminder.

Consider Temporal Law and Spiritual Law.  Temporal Law is that of our government, the authorities, part of secular governance, and reflective of proper ethical and moral standards.  It is for all those living under the arm of their particular government.  Spiritual Law on the other hand is that from the Bible, from one’s Lord, from one’s God, Spiritual leader, from Allah.  The Spiritual may have an influence on the Temporal, yet they remain, in America clearly, separate.  Biblically they were separate as well.  Jesus even noted that what was Caesar’s was Caesar’s, and what was God’s was God’s.  A topic for lively debate is the relationship that should exist between the Temporal and the Spiritual, and the extent to which government’s laws should embody both, or be influenced more by one than the other.  Are they to be separate; is Temporal to reign over Spiritual; is Spiritual to reign over Temporal? 

Under Sharia Law the Spiritual is to reign over the Temporal.  The dictates of Sharia Law come directly from the Qur’an and the Sunnah and Hadith (an instructional guide prepared by Muhammad for Muslims – it depicts the events  of the life of the Prophet, and offers examples for ethics and living, compiled together).  According to Ergun and Emir Caner (Unveiling Islam, pg. 94), “The Sunnah is the basis for the legal code of Islamic jurisprudence (sharia, ‘the path’), and is authoritative in rulings among Islamic states.”  It is not as much interpretation or influence, it is the direct commands of Allah and the prophet Muhammad as expressed in his dictates – the Hadith and the Sunnah.  It is not for the people to decide; it had been proclaimed and decided for them.  Praise be to Allah is the judicial command.

There is much to be concerned about with regard to Sharia Law.  The website, www.ntpi.org/html/whyoppose/html states with much candor concern for this form of law providing a most informative commentary entitled, Why Sharia Law Must Be Opposed.  It is a valuable read.  To quote one paragraph, “Islamic apologists often claim that many so-called violations of human rights are based on a misreading of the Holy Qur’an and will quote this or that sura in its defense.  But the arguments against Political Islam are not against the holy texts but against Sharia as it is practiced today in Islamic states.  We are told that Islam is a religion of peace and that the struggle, jihad, to impose by conquest is not to be taken literally.  But for Political Islam it is.  Ask the suicide bombers.  The only possible response to the charge of misunderstanding or misreading Islam is to look at the reality of what is happening in those countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and northern Nigeria where the Sharia now holds sway.”  The writer suggests, as I have in discussions regarding Women and Islam, that it is time for Muslims to understand and agree they need to grow out of the “primitive tribal society of 7^th century Arabia that gave birth to Islam.”

Another reference, from a source favorable towards Islam, provides a location where more detailed definitional details of Sharia can be found.  www.ediscoverislam.com/Sharia.asp.  This site introduces Sharia noting its significance to the most religious in a timeless fashion, of which many today disagree, “Allah has willed to make the Sharia Law of Islam (its canonical code of doctrine and law) the final Sharia for Creation, just as He has willed to make it the most complete and perfect Sharia.  It exists in a form that guarantees its continued existence and vitality, one that is relevant to mankind in every age and in every locality.  It fulfills all the needs of humanity in all circumstances.” 

May the grace of the Lord be with you always.  Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.  Test everything.  Hold on to the good.  Avoid every kind of evil.  May the Lord’s blessing fall upon you.  Wake Up to the Triune God, the sacrifice and grace he provides all who believe in him.

Understanding Islam – Part 7 (Sharia Law-1)

Some Basics.

Sharia Law – “The origin of all Islamic legislation is the Qur’an.  It sets forth the fundamentals of Sharia, clarifying its principles teachings. It clarifies beliefs in great detail and discusses forms of worship and legal matters in broad terms.  It fulfills the role in Islamic Law that a constitution fulfills for the man-made laws of nations.” (Source: www.ediscoverislam.com/Sharia.asp)

From the note above the Spiritual influence of the divine (divine revelation) for the Muslim, from Allah and the Prophet, Muhammad, as annotated in the Qur’an and in the recordings of the life of Muhammad (the Sunnah and Hadith), provide the make-up for Sharia Law.  There is no secular, or temporal, influence on the Law.  The relationship between the Individual and the Creator is regulated through Sharia.  Separation of church and state is rejected by the Sharia. 

The Sunnah refers to statements, actions, and tacit approvals of the Prophet Muhammad during his lifetime.  The Sunnah and Hadith are presented as a compilation document, never departing (as noted by Islamic scholars) from the Qur’an, but providing explanation, clarification, and application of the Qur’an.  In the court system a jurist looks first to the Qur’an then to the Sunnah to find the injunction applicable.

Muhammad lived 570-632 A.D., born in Mecca.   Over a 22 year period the Qur’an and the Hadith was provided to Companions, people who traveled with and were close to Muhammad, people who recited the revelations Muhammad claimed he receive from the Angel Gabriel during stays in a cave near Mecca and a period in Medina, repeating words Muhammad gave to them.  Those recollections were then recorded by a secretary of Muhammad, Zaid, and eventually documented after his death into what today is the Qur’an and the compilation of the Sunnah and Hadith.  The foundations of Islam remain in the times of Muhammad, his experiences, and the document prepared from his recall of dreams and his expressions and experiences during the latter half of his lifetime.  His first revelation came at the age 40.  He was publicly proclaiming “God is the One”, referring to Allah, to the tribes in Mecca three years after the first revelation.  He was persecuted early on by the locals as his actions were counter to their existing polytheistic ways – which may have been the justification for a claim of war first applied to the religion of Islam and against the Prophet.  In 622 Muhammad and a few followers migrated to Medina to the north to escape any abuse.  Ten (10) years later, having formed an army that attacked non-believers, pagans, and built a war chest on the spoils of war under the banner of Allah, Muhammad returned deliberately initiating armed conflict between the Muslims (his army of 10,000 from Medina) and Mecca to successfully conquer Mecca.   His purpose was to unite the tribes under one god – Allah.

For the purpose of understanding the Bible was compiled over a period of more than 4,000 years with input from a number of prophets, apostles, and using directly spoken words of Christ, the divine Lord God himself.  The Qur’an was compiled over the last 22 years of Muhammad’s life and a number of years after as various copies were reviewed (some documents believed lost in battle) by Caliphs and the final canon accepted.  Except for the final all other documents were then destroyed leaving only the one book – the Qur’an.  All words were revelation, divine guidance, to the self-proclaimed messenger of Allah.  One book comprised of recalled revelations, dreams, recited by an illiterate individual, and eventually written down from continued recitations from this prophet or repeats from Companions to other scribes. 

The System of Sharia Law – a few points

• Claims need be substantiated by two male witnesses, or one male and two female (2 women = 1 male) witnesses
• Serious crimes require 4 male witnesses
• A ruling by one judge is not binding on another (i.e. not reference to ‘precedent’)
• Attorneys not required
• Judge decides, an official government representative enforces
• Two main sections: Acts of Worship (Five Pillars), and Human interaction (inheritance, divorce, child care, penal punishments, judicial matters involving witnesses and evidence, food and drink, warfare and peace)
• Marriage – Muslim man to marry a Muslim woman.
• Wives – limited to 4, but only if treated equally
• Women to marry needs consent of guardian.  Husband becomes her new guardian
• Husbands – limited to one (1)
• Dowry – on obligation of the man to provide the Muslim wife.
• Divorce:  women needs consent of husband and keeps dowry, without consent she gives dowry back; men can pronounce divorce twice, seek separation, and then regain marriage, but a third pronouncement of divorce the women has no lawful obligation to return
• Theft – imprisonment or amputation, depending on number of crimes.
• Adultery – for married men and woman, stoning; for unmarried, 100 lashes.
• Dietary codes and dress codes – penalties decided locally on a case by case basis
• Disobedient wives – men can physically discipline, but 1^st verbal, 2^nd refrain from intimate relations, 3^rd beatings.
• Conversion to other religions – strictly forbidden, termed apostasy, equated to treason, and carried a penalty of death (most interpretation of Sharia)
• Homosexuality – considered an abomination and a grave sin.  Same punishment as adultery
• Freedom of speech – not allowed as to criticism of Muhammad – considered blasphemy. Punishment = death.
• Treatment of Non-Muslims – (‘dhimmis’) – good and humane treatment with full privileges to practice, except for public demonstrations, proselytizing (converting Muslims), taxed more than Muslims, no new churches, possibly wear cloth of different color to distinguish them from Muslims, cannot testify against Muslims,   Muslims do not recognize or acknowledge religious freedom
• Jihad – a religious duty of Muslims.  The 6^th Pillar (according to some scholars). The only form of warfare permissible under Islamic Law.  Holy war.  Defense of Muhammad (possibly based on the first attack against Muhammad in Mecca) and Allah until there is only Islam and one god – Allah. 

 

This is a quick summary and a start to understanding many of the essentials and the tenor of Sharia Law.  It is clearly a law born out of the messages from Muhammad the last 22 years of his life.  It creates for a rational person significant problems when applied to the idea of human rights.  It is a law that subscribes to a world to be only Muslim and the law of all the land to be only Sharia, the dictates from the authorities in power and their religious advisor.  Freedom of religion is not to be considered.  Freedom itself is a concern.  Certainly the act of preventing other thoughts as to another religion from invading the minds of Muslims is important.  Rote repetition as a reminder and daily act of prayer (more mantra) that there is only Allah and Muslims must protect and fight for their religion as the Only religion is foremost. 

May the Grace of God, the Triune God, and the Holy Spirit that fills all believers provide light and comfort to those so oppressed by a religion that does not allow freedom.  It does not even allow the voice of one they consider a prophet, Jesus Christ, to be heard, not even his expression that “It is for Freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Gal. 5:1)

May everyone be free – free to use their intellect to decide for themselves their path to an life eternal.  It should be voluntary, not required by law, or coerced.

Grace and peace.

Understanding Islam – Part 6 (Women and Islam-2)

 The last Blog was also on Women and Islam, which I intend to expand upon.

The times, from the daily events occurring, of the writings of the Qur’an, the Old Testament (books) and New Testament (books) was the stage for the treatment of women and the situations, the recollections, and the descriptions reflected.  The question that arises goes to the issue of the allowances within the framework of the Qur’an or Scripture to change.  As time passes, as cultures and societies evolve should the wording be considered in light of the times of the original document and allow for modifications, not as to intent, but along the line of “What would God say,” or “What would Allah say,” today, in this time, in this world-culture.   

In the 2000 years since the birth and life of Christ, 4000 or more since Adam and Eve (which include Noah, Moses, Isaac, Ishmael,  Jacob, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and more), and 1400 years since Muhammad there have been many significant changes that have taken place throughout the world.  Knowledge and understanding of the natural elements that comprise our universe alone, in the name of science, demonstrate the magnitude of changes that have taken place.  Economic development and extensive communications have allowed the peoples of the world to become wealthier and closer.

One thousand years after the establishment of Islam the age of Enlightenment introduced a broad base of intellectual thought, philosophical and theological, that used a new set of eye-glasses to understand people, our existence, reality and the relationships of men and woman.  Dynamic influences fell upon how we were to think about our religions, our faith, our relationships, our leadership, the variety of governments in place (in many areas tribal centers of oversight vs. those considered more sophisticated in European Countries) and their posture towards rule or control, the temporal vs. spiritual factors in governance, and just who represented authority over mankind. 

Consideration of the aforementioned issues continue today with much already written, read, discussed and debated on the variety of subjects.  But one must agree that the relationship between humans, men and women, slave and master, king and serf, monarchy and republic, socialism/communism and democracy have all included women and men in their forums.  The public square has been opened to the views of everyone, yet there are those that continue to suppress the views of all.  The entire world has not opened all the doors.  There are locales where the local authorities, tribal or autocratic, some operating even under the name of democracy (although suspect) actively monitor modern communication techniques within their boundaries and disallow any outside sources from being heard.  Individuals are fed only what the authorities what them to hear.

In the formative years of the Roman Catholic Church it was the priests, the scribes, and those being trained for the clergy that were educated, taught to read, and who had access to the Bible as well as books by classic authors – Cicero quite popular.  They in turn shared with the people their knowledge, often however tempered to their collective thinking – a form of censorship.  This was much the case until the time of the Reformation, and the 100 years or so prior, when the printing press enabled publishing of works to be made available to all.  The Bible was the most popular first book published, in its entirety.  Schools sprang up where people could learn to read and the teachers were not just members of the clergy, monks or Sisters, but lay persons, scholars, legal minds and other non-religion types.  Discoveries were made of words heretofore overlooked and passages never discussed, and authors never before heard of, from Plato and Aristotle to St. Thomas Aquinas and Augustine.  Minds were being awakened to a whole new window open to that which had been written as history, as conjecture, as thoughts about life, and as the word of God.  The winds of history were bringing with it new interpretations, fresh new insights and rebellion towards standards established reflective of authoritative posturing for control.  Women too were being seen in a new light.  Thus can the darkness of old still be retained, the light of today prevented from entering corners of influence that hold-on to ways of the past?

Have the rights of women changed?

Should the witness of a woman today be equal to that of a man?  What proof is there that it has ever been less or equal to ½ as the Qur’an states? (See Sura 2:282)

Should polygamy be accepted, giving consideration to marrying another if a wife cannot satisfy her man, or should she become infirmed, and the man obligated to caring for all equally?

Is today’s woman a possession for a man, because he so ‘covets’ her as he would a fancy automobile or house or horse or money or some other prized item?

Must a wife be totally obedient (“so the good women are obedient”), subject if not to punishment, beaten as necessary to align her with the marriage in which the husband is the commander?  (See Sura 4:34).  Obedience may refer to obeying Allah, yet this paragraph in the Qur’an goes on to suggest admonishment for fear of desertion, and this is not from Allah, but from the husband.

Should there be equality – as to dress, finances, inheritances, household obligations, voting and testimony?  Is it time for the veil to be lifted?  It has been noted that woman have sensual desires, as do men, not all are temptresses and may indeed find men attractive (seductive) as men oft find women attractive (seductive).  Why then should the women be regarded as a lesser being and most responsible for the temptations of men?  Are women not tempted?  Are men and women equally sinners?  Should men then cover-up, where a veil, avoid tight clothing or exposure of attributes? 

Relations between men and woman need recognize differences indeed, yet find those differences a balance to the equation considering the unity of marriage – a man and women joined together to equal One.  The Bible recommends conditions for woman too – but how are these to be considered – such as to dress modestly (1 Tim. 2:9), remaining silent in church, as to avoid disorderly speaking (1 Cor. 14:34), yet women can pray and prophesize (1 Cor. 11:5) which allows speaking in church and in public places.  As to marriage the Bible suggests women be obedient towards their husbands, both though having marital duties (1 Cor. 7), and to be with each other so as not to be tempted by Satan due to lack of self control (applicable to man and woman), with no allowance for divorce by the man, and considerably less concern for a believer and unbeliever in marriage (the unbeliever “has been sanctified” by the other – 1 Cor. 7:14).  A priority is established biblically (Ephesians 5:22-33), woman “submit to husbands as to the Lord”, the man the head of the household as Christ is the head of the Church, while husbands are to “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” and “love their wives as they would their own bodies.”  In marriage the man and the woman are to be united and “the two will become one flesh.”  The marriage relationship is conditioned on man loving his wife as much or more than his body, never then doing to her what he would not subject himself to – that is quite a statement and requirement.  The woman need respect the man, but the love must come from the head of the family.  It is not a control issue.  But as God loves (the Triune God), often an unrequited love, God still loves all mankind.  Allah does not love first, but commands Allah be praised and loved.

As to the love of Allah vs. that of God (the Trinity).  Allah loves those who do good to others (sura 2:195), loves those who turn to him (sura 2:222), loves those who trust in him (sura 3:159), loves the dutiful (sura 3:76) and the steadfast (in protecting Allah) (sura 3:146), with no mention of Allah loving mankind, or loving those that may not love him. 

God’s love, the love of the Lord, endures forever (1 Chronicles 16:34), abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion (Numbers 14:18), an unfailing love (Psalms 21:7, and noted often in the OT), refuge available to “both high and low men in the shadow of your wings” (Psalms 36:7), can be trusted (Psalms 52:8), slow to anger and abounding in love (Joel 2:13), he will quiet you with his love (Zep. 3:17).  As expressed by Christ (God incarnate), “Love your enemies, do good to those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you… Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:27-28, 31)(You only hear justification for fighting unbelievers from Allah, not ‘love’ of the enemies); “greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13)(love demonstrated by word and action); God’s love demonstrated in the death of Christ, “while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8); “because of his great love for us, God…made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions” (Eph 2:4);

 There is a different regard for woman in the Qur’an; the Bible allows for progress.  This may be born out of love and understanding of the world to be and seen in the creation story.  In Paul’s writings he reflects on the standards of the day and the society, recognizing societal differences and suggesting through the unity of one flesh in marriage a joint approach to the future.  Creation continues in the hands of men and women and the dispositions they enjoy through the free will they have and share, with the obligations and responsibility for the future of the earth in the hands of men and women.  It was men and women that received God’s blessing while saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it.” (Gen 1:28)  Subduing is to share responsibility for the future of the earth and its inhabitants, the earth as created by God, to explore, learn, increase in knowledge, understand fully God’s handiwork, and work together to make it better, to improve upon it with God’s blessing. God was blessing progress.   This is the avenue for scientific discovery on earth and the cosmos as a whole.  This places both in charge. Man and woman, indeed all of humanity – does this not suggest equality.  

Over time we have seen the liberation of women.  It has been due to the history of the suppression and mis-treatment of women and recognizing their strengths and qualities and uniqueness and independence and indeed their equality with men as humans. It involved coming to grips with the reality of God’s plan and intentions for humans.   Has not this liberation been viewed positively in the Muslim world or is submission and obedience from the annuals of the era of Muhammad still required?  Would this not then be a reflection of a religion established in the past and remaining in the past with no regard or desire for Progress?  Is Islam then a want for the continued submission not only to Allah but to days gone by and conditions of the past?  If so, then the question that arises is – Why?  Is not life today an improvement?  Has not progress made by man and woman contributed to today’s world and its ability to feed and care for over 6 billion people.  [Certainly more is needed in caring for those most needy – yet some of the poverty in the world is due more to the wealth of the authorities of some of the poorest nations not being shared – most notably in Muslim countries rich in oil - moneys being deposited in banks in other countries for the safekeeping and enjoyment of the families of the authorities, the autocracy and their heirs.  This may not be in keeping with the Qur’an unless one only views the balance of good vs. evil – the determination of “what is enough” given to the poor can only judged by the heart of the giver.  If indeed the provision of an infrastructure alone that provides food, water and electricity by the governmental head – the autocracy – is sufficient, then justification in the name of Allah may be found.  The balance may be in measuring more good than whatever evil is in the heart of the autocracy. ]   

The Qur’an unfortunately, from my reading, paints a dark picture for women and progress is not on the agenda.  The dark picture painted is more like dwelling in an age that has come and is now gone, yet the treatment of those, including women, residing in the cultures that are dictated by the Qur’an, are constrained by the Book of that religion and not by all that is modern.  From Unveiling Islam, by the brothers Ergun and Emil Caner (referenced in my prior Blog on this topic), they state, “If a woman is honored and respected in an Islamic home, it is in spite of the teachings of Muhammad, rather than because of them.  Such is directly opposite to the admonitions of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible.” (pg. 140)  

After 1500 years one would in all logic consider a need for a new look at woman in the Muslim culture, yet to alter the Qur’an would defy Allah.  How can, then, Muslims ever change? 

We can only pray for the women of Islam for a more modern treatment by their husbands, community and authorities.  They may have to find their freedom on their own, but not necessarily from the dictates and demands of the religion of Islam, providing leadership, knowledge, judgment and understanding to all women now under the suppressed nature of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad in the words of and through the sacrifice made by Christ.  “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  (Galatians 5:1).    This Bible verse may reference the slaves all mankind are to sin, yet it also encompasses women and the freedom they too may enjoy in the loving Grace of the Triune God.

Grace and peace.

Greeting for 2010

Happy New Year.  I pray everyone had a healthy Christmas, Chanukah, and a gracious holiday.  2009 for few was a good year.  2010 can, by the grace of our Lord, be more productive, more rewarding and more generous for all mankind. 

For any interruption in my blogging I apologize, but I did have a wonderful time with all our children and grandchildren – a household of 18, incl. girlfriend.  It was busy, fattening, active, and just great.

I am working on my next piece for Understanding Islam – a second part on Women and Islam and a discussion on Sharia Law.  My next posting should be very soon.  Thank you for following, sharing and expressing your opinions.  All feedback is welcomed. 

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  From Eph 3:16-19 – I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – and that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.