Comparative Religious Studies: Islam
According to certain modern scholars, all Abrahamic religions more or less claim to follow the basic principles of the teachings of either the Torah, or scriptures which are based on the Torah and originate primarily from the Semitic races. This particular grouping of monotheistic beliefs encompass Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, among others.
This is actually a very loose and misleading description, because each of these religions has very stark contrasts which put them in unique categories all their own.
I’m not quite sure why these so called learned men put Islam in the same category as Judaism and Christianity, except for one small technicality. The religion does claim Abraham as it’s point of origin. However, this claim is much like saying America was founded by the Republican Party. The Republican Party came along a full 100 years after the foundation of this nation. Saying that they had any role in the formation of the governmental system is a complete falsehood. In the same way, Islam’s claim to have originated with Abraham is a complete and total fabrication.
Islam is not unique, even for it’s own time period. Other groups had already attempted to rewrite history as described by the Bible, some to great effect. The Gnostics, the Coptics, Arius and even the Roman Catholic Church had already provided a precedence for successfully modifying the scriptures of Judaism and Christianity to suit their own purposes. It is a known fact that Islam was invented by Mohammed in the mid-seventh century based primarily on what he knew of Jewish tradition and history. His claim to have received his mandate to write the Qu’ran directly from the arch-angel Gabriel is suspect, because the Qu’ran doesn’t present itself as an authoritative work.
According to the Hadith, Mohammed was given the ability to write by divine intervention. Unfortunately, it is widely published among skeptical scholars of Islam that the Qu’ran is one of the most poorly written documents known, containing many misspellings, grammatical errors and badly scribed passages. While bad penmanship isn’t necessarily a reason for disqualification, it does beg the question; if the Qu’ran is the literal word of God, wholly inspired and penned by God’s own prophet, then why does God have a problem with grammar and spelling? The answer lies in the historical context of the book.
The Qu’ran describes events from Hebrew lore which were known folk tales as though they were real, historical events. Many of the events described in the Qu’ran as historical are in direct contradiction to the Hebrew sources they claim to mirror. For instance, it was Ishmael that was supposed to be sacrificed on the mountain, but was saved by divine interference, not Isaac. The Qu’ran claims that Alexander the Great was a Muslim. It also tells us that Alexander was the one who “reached the west point of a flat earth.”1 [ For those of you who believe that the flat earth theory is a Christian concoction, take note.] The Qu’ran also states that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the sister of Aaron and Moses, and is the daughter of Imran, a mere discrepancy of 1500 years.
Islam is an invention, based upon a mid-seventh-century mash up of different cultural traditions, old wive’s tales and deceptive practices. Most of the stories contained in the Qu’ran are copies of Hebrew, Christian, Zoroastrian, or pagan legends, transposed into the greater body of the book fairly ad-hoc. In some cases the names and associations are changed, in others the stories are quoted verbatim. As for the religion’s ability to self-correct, it must be noted that the legend of Mohammed’s ascension from the rock now housed by the sacred Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem was invented some time after Mohammed’s death based on an ambiguous verse in the Qu’ran concerning the proofs of the divine.
The Muslim religion is not externally corrective, but it is stringently internally corrective. Those who dare speak out against Islam may find themselves tortured, beaten, or in some cases simply disposed of. There have been numerous examples in recent years as to what happens to individuals who gain too much recognition for disputing the claims of deity written in the Qu’ran. Islam cannot stand up to external examination, so as a part of the doctrines of the religion, it creates a defense mechanism which includes intimidation, and even destruction of any opposing ideology or thought process.
To truly understand the meanings and history of Islam one must examine the founder, his history, his actions and his claims. Mohammed created Islam. Yet, the very precepts of Islam state that we cannot, in any way, critically examine the person who founded this religion. We are allowed to condemn any other member of mankind, and for that matter, have license to kill any other member of mankind, but we must not examine, or criticize Mohammed. This is singularly strange when Mohammed never claimed to be God, but rather a servant of God. Why would a servant of God not allow himself to be examined to prove the authenticity of his statements? Be wary of those who put Islam in the same grouping as all other Abrahamic religions. They are at best foolishly ignorant, and at worst purposefully deceptive.
As to whether or not Islam is generally beneficial, I suggest that one take some time to examine the character of it’s founder, and his words regarding the treatment of people who are both Islamic and non-Islamic. Take time to examine the doctrine of Dhmini and the references to persons of other religions. Finally, take a look at how the Qu’ran displays domestic responsibilities:
Husbands should take full care of their wives, with [the bounties] God has given to some more than others and with what they spend out of their own money. Righteous wives are devout and guard what God would have them guard in the husbands’ absence. If you fear high-handedness from your wives, remind them [of the teaching of God], then ignore them when you go to bed, then hit them. If they obey you, you have no right to act against them. God is most high and great. – Qu’ran Sura 4:34
As compared with the Bible:
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (I Peter 3:7)
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25)
- Divinity of Quran by Syed Kamran Mirza humanists.net/alisina/divinity_of_quran.htm
Loading ...