Author: Surts

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not a religion of mounrning and gloom. (Joseph B. Wirthlin)

Thinking about the musings from Day 52: These Books…Can This Be Settled…Once And For All?…

I would submit to you that there is compelling evidence in the Old Testament that proves its reliability beyond any other religious book. I presented 6 sets of verses relating to: the number of days to create the universe…the number of days to create the mountains…the ratio of a day…the creation of Adam…God, Moses and Mt. Sinai…and the shape of the Earth. These 6 sets of verses help to prove that on multiple, scientific fronts, the Old Testament of the Holy Bible is the most reliable religious book known to humanity.

I would further submit to you that there are in fact hundreds of bible verses that are scientifically provable and those will be presented later on. These bible verses can be found in both the Old and New Testaments….

So why then did I not cover the New Testament in Day 52?

I think now is the time to go a little backwards before moving forwards.

In Day 33: The Basics Of Christianity, I provided evidence that Jesus of Nazareth was either a great man, a great teacher, and/or a great prophet. In Day 36: Jesus…The Outside, Independent Corroboration, I provided evidence from 3 well respected men in the Middle East region who came to similar conclusions about Jesus of Nazareth…

Jesus of Nazareth was in fact a real person.

I began back in those prior writings, presenting the case for the birth, life and death of Jesus of Nazareth.

With that being said, I would submit to you that now the focus needs to shift to not only the life of Jesus of Nazareth, but his death.

And, more importantly, what happens 3 days after that.  

I would submit to you that the two most important dates regarding Jesus of Nazareth would be his birth and his death. One should not discount obviously the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth during his lifetime. However, in the end, if one cannot prove both the birth and the death of Jesus of Nazareth, then his teachings during his lifetime in the end could be viewed as meaningless.

Based on the fact that there are an estimated 2.5 billion Christians in the world in the year 2020, the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth must in fact have meaning after all.  

The question that you must ask yourself is this:

Do the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth matter more because of his birth or because of his death?

I would submit to you that the question above is a trick question.

Perhaps a more precise question would be this:

Do the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth matter more because of his birth or because of his resurrection 3 days after his death?

On Day 39: The Trilemma, I presented two individuals, John Duncan and C.S. Lewis, who made things even more interesting regarding the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth by posing this dilemma:

The Trilemma.

Was Jesus of Nazareth a deceiver of mankind, who knowingly committed fraud through his teachings?

Was Jesus of Nazareth himself deceived and/or perhaps insane?

Or was Jesus of Nazareth in fact exactly who he said he was, God in the flesh?

Or, as C. S. Lewis simply puts it:

“Jesus was either a Liar, a Lunatic, or Lord.”

So, do 2.5 billion Christians today, ultimately follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth because he is a Liar…a Lunatic…or Lord?

That will be covered next time.

Do not feel discouraged if you are having a difficult time going backwards before going forwards. Do not feel discouraged if you are still undecided as to the validity of the birth, of Jesus, let alone his teachings and death and resurrection.  Instead, embrace the idea that after learning a little bit more of the birth of Jesus, perhaps the nudge became a little more apparent.  Is there more to learn?  Absolutely.  Embrace the idea that you cannot, nor should not, ever stop learning.

¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 53: Christianity And The Life Of Jesus.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

If Christianity is false it cannot be saved by theology, if it is true it cannot be destroyed by science. (E.Y. Mullins)

Thinking about the musings from Day 51: So…Which One Is The Best Book? – Part 2.…

I would submit to you that after reviewing the basic facts regarding the holy books of the belief systems of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, one can conclude that the Old Testament, New Testament and the Quran are in fact not the same holy book.  So if that is the case then…

Which book? 

The most logical conclusion, it appears, is within our grasp…. 

What if there was a way that we could use science to help us determine which holy book is the most reliable? 

I would submit to you that if we can use science in order to help us to determine which one is the best book, then we can move on to achieve our ultimate goal: to find a belief system and a holy book that we can believe in now and…

For eternity.

So how exactly am I going to use science to help us come to a logical conclusion regarding which one is the most reliable holy book?

As a social studies teacher, I must admit that depending on science is not easy. 

As I have discussed in prior writings, my full-time career for over 26 years now, has been as a teacher in the public school system.  Most recently, the majority of the last 16 plus years have been teaching sophomores in high school Advanced Placement World History.

I would submit to you that this is important context for you to know about me for the simple fact that I am going to explain to you exactly what I tell them when I teach world history.

Sometimes I need to borrow a little science to help me.

The math and science portion of my brain is very mushy and there is not a lot of activity going on over on there. Due to the fact that my brain is mushy and lacking activity, whenever I need to use science and math to prove historical points, I always make sure to tell them to:

“Keep the math and science simple.”

It is amazing to me the amount of science that one can find in in Old Testament, New Testament and Quran. However, is it all the same science?

It is up to you to decide what holy book is the most reliable based on the scientific evidence that they present.

What follows next are 6 scientific topics that are covered in these holy books. I highlighted in silver the portions of the verses for you to compare….

1) How many days did it take for God to create the universe?

¹In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth…⁵ And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day…³¹ And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.  (Genesis 1:1,5,31 KJV)

² And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. ³ And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.  (Genesis 2:2-3 KJV)

Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds. (Quran 7:54)

Say, “Do you indeed disbelieve in He who created the earth in two days and attribute to Him equals? That is the Lord of the worlds.”  (Quran 41:9)

2) How many days did it take for God to create the mountains?

⁹ And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. ¹⁰ And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called the Seas: and God saw that it was good. ¹³ And the evening and the morning were the third day.  (Genesis 1:9-10, 13 KJV)

And He placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures’] sustenance in four days without distinction – for [the information] of those who ask.  (Quran 41:10)

3) Sometimes a day that we think of is not the same as a day that God thinks it is. What is that ratio of days?

⁸ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  (2 Peter 3:8 KJV)

And they urge you to hasten the punishment. But Allah will never fail in His promise. And indeed, a day with your Lord is like a thousand years of those which you count.  (Quran 22:47)

The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years.  (Quran 70:4)

4) How was the first human, Adam, created?

⁷ And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.  (Genesis 2:7 KJV)

[So mention] when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I am going to create a human being from clay.  So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My [created] soul, then fall down to him in prostration.”  (Quran 38:71-72)

He said, “I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.” (Quran 38:76)

Then he was a clinging clot, and [ Allah ] created [his form] and proportioned [him].  (Quran 75:38)

Created man from a clinging substance.  (Quran 96:2)

5) What happened on Mt. Sinai and with Moses after the interaction between God and Moses?

¹⁶ And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. ¹⁷ And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. ¹⁸ And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. ¹⁹ And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. ²⁰ And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. ²¹ And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish. ²⁵ So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.  (Exodus 19: 16-21, 25 KJV)

And when Moses arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, “My Lord, show me [Yourself] that I may look at You.” [ Allah ] said, “You will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it should remain in place, then you will see Me.” But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level, and Moses fell unconscious. And when he awoke, he said, “Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first of the believers.”  (Quran 7:143)

6) What shape is planet Earth?

¹⁹ And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. (Genesis 7:19 KJV)

¹⁰ He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. (Job 26:10 KJV)

²⁷ When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: (Proverbs 8:27 KJV)

²² It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:  (Isaiah 40:22 KJV)

[He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].  (Quran 2:22)

And the earth – We have spread it and cast therein firmly set mountains and caused to grow therein [something] of every well-balanced thing.  (Quran 15:19)

[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.  (Quran 20:53)

The number of days to create the universe…the number of days to create the mountains…the ratio of a day…the creation of Adam…God, Moses and Mt. Sinai…and the shape of the Earth.

So, which holy book of which belief system can we consider the most reliable?

Maybe the more important question you should be asking right now is:

Why are there no verses to compare from the New Testament?

Sometimes, we need to go backwards before we can go forwards.

Do not feel discouraged if you can conclude the holy bible is the most reliable holy book, yet you do not know what to do with this new information. Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to understand what to do with all of this evidence that you may or may not have ever been exposed to in your busy life.  Instead, embrace the idea that as you gather the facts, there does appear to be a belief system that rises above the rest and a holy book that at least on the surface, seems to confirm it. 

⁴ For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. (Psalm 33:4 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 52: These Books…Can This Be Settled…Once And For All?.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

The Bible contains truth found nowhere else. Human reason may discover certain truths about God. But the revealed truth of the Bible exceeds these so as to defy comparison. One may exhaust the meaning of the contents of other books, but not that of the Bible. (Herschel Hobbs)

Thinking about the musings from Day 50: So…Which One Is The Best Book?…

I would submit to you that after reviewing the holy books of the belief systems of Polytheism/Animism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism/Daoism, one can conclude that there must be a more reliable holy book than any of these. The question is which one? 

With only two books left, the time has come to dig deeper into the contents of both the Holy Bible, and the Quran. 

After all, your soul depends on it.

In reality, there are approximately 4.5 billion who are followers of Judaism (14.6 million), Christianity (2.4 billion), and Islam, (1.9 billion). There are many similarities among them.  The main ones are as follows:

1) All are monotheistic, or believe in a single god;

2) All can trace their lineage back to Abraham, who was first mentioned in Genesis, in the Old Testament, in the Holy Bible;

3) All can trace their founding through the sons of Abraham: Isaac, for the Jews and Christians, and Ishmael, for the Muslims;

4) All consider Jerusalem in present day Israel a ‘Holy City’;

5) Geographically, they all originated in the Middle East;

6) All recognize the importance of the prophets: Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus and;

7) All believe in angels and demons;

So on the surface, it appears that these 3 major belief systems have quite a few things in common.  However, as I explained in Day 48: The Validity Of Islam., there are 9 areas where the Holy Bible and the Quran differ.  They are as follows:

1) Is God to be feared or favored?

2) Was Mary in a remote place or in Bethlehem when Jesus was born?

3) Was Mary by a stream and under a palm tree or in a manger near an inn when Jesus was born?

4) Was Abraham a Muslim and not a Jew, or was Abraham the father of the Jews and not a Muslim?

5) Was Jesus, a messenger of Allah, or was Jesus one with God, forming one third of the ‘Holy Trinity’?

6) Is God, Allah, considered one God, or is God, God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Ghost, considered one God?

7) Is Allah above having a Son, or did God have a beloved Son?

8) Was Jesus not killed and crucified, or was Jesus killed and crucified?  And;

9) So did Jesus and his disciples support Allah, or are those who deny Jesus as the Christ…the antichrist?

Is that it?  Is that all the evidence that we have to go on to determine if one, or both of these books are to be considered as the most reliable holy book that humans have ever known?

I would submit to you that there is more evidence to consider before determining the reliability of either of these two holy books.

For starters, it would be a good idea to take one of the holy books and split it into two parts. In fact, the Holy Bible has already been split into two parts. For the followers of Judaism, they follow the holy book known as the Old Testament. The Old Testament contains the first five books of the Holy Bible, also known as the Torah. Those first five books are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In addition, the Old Testament contains another 34 books, Joshua through Malachi. This is where the belief system of Judaism stops regarding their holy book. It stops at the Torah and Old Testament, or from Genesis to Malachi.

In addition to following the Old Testament, Christians also follow the New Testament. According to the King James Version, the New Testament contains another 27 books, Matthew to Revelation. The King James Version is the version that I use to pull bible verses from to conclude each daily reading with. 

At the end of the day, I use the King James Version for basically two reasons:

1) It is most widely used version, coming out in 1769 and;

2) I am a sucker for ‘Old English’, even though I am not really that old, (just over 50 years old at the time of this writing), and I am not English.    

The New Testament begins with the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and ends with Revelation.  

At the end of the day, the main reason why someone who is a follower of Judaism would not read the New Testament is the fact that its main theme deals with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Only Christians, of course, believe the ‘Son of God’ portion regarding the events surrounding Jesus of Nazareth.

The Muslims at least in theory, should be somewhat familiar with several books from both the Old and New Testament of the Holy Bible. They are as follows:

1) The Tawrat, or Torah, revealed by their prophet, Moses;

2) The Zabur, or Psalms, revealed by their prophet, David and;

3) The Injil, or Gospels, revealed by their prophet, Jesus.

I guess to sum all of this up would be as follows:

The holy book for a follower of Judaism is the Old Testament.

The holy book for a follower of Christianity is the Old Testament and New Testament.

The holy book for a follower of Islam is the Torah, Psalms, Gospels, and the Quran.

At the end of the day, the Old Testament, New Testament and the Quran are not the same holy book. 

So now that it is established that these holy books are not the same, which one is the most reliable?

Is there even more evidence between these two holy books that can help us to make an even more informed and sound decision as to which holy book is the most reliable of all the major belief systems of mankind?

That will be covered next time.

Do not feel discouraged if you frustrated because the holy books of the Jews, Christians and Muslims are not the same. Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to understand which one is right for you.  Instead, embrace the idea that as you are learning more about these holy books, you are learning for yourself the importance of gathering information to come to a sound decision.  A sound decision that you can your soul can depend on.

²² Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”  (Psalms 55:22 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 51: So…Which One Is The Best Book? – Part 2.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

When the world beats you down, open up your Bible. (Lysa TerKeurst)

Thinking about the musings from DAY 49: Rest…Relax…Reflect…

I would submit to you that in order to decide which belief system is the most logical from an eternal perspective, one must be able to also decide which holy book to trust. After all, if you cannot trust the holy book of the belief system you feel is the most reliable, then can you truly trust that belief system at all? 

This is an important question that needs to be addressed. 

In fact, I would further submit to you that your soul depends on it…

For eternity.

So far to date, I have covered 8 belief systems:

1) Polytheism/Animism:

Day 18: The Basics Of Polytheism/Animism. and

Day 19: The Validity Of Polytheism/Animism.;

2) Hinduism:

Day 20: The Basics Of Hinduism. and

Day 22: The Validity Of Hinduism.;

3) Buddhism:

Day 23: The Basics Of Buddhism. and

Day 24: The Validity Of Buddhism.;

4) Confucianism:

Day 25: The Basics Of Confucianism. and

Day 26: The Validity Of Confucianism.;

5) Taoism/Daoism:

Day 27: Daoism…Or Is It Taoism? and

Day 29: The Validity Of Daoism…Or Is It Taoism?;

6) Judaism:

Day 30: The Basics Of Judaism.,

Day 31: The Basics Of Judaism – Part 2. and

Day 32: The Validity Of Judaism.;

7) Christianity:

Day 33: The Basics Of Christianity.,

Day 34: Jesus Of Nazareth…What Do His Friends Think?,

Day 36: Jesus…The Outside, Independent Corroboration.,

Day 37: The Solemn Oath.,

Day 38: Jesus The Radical – Unpacking The Top Five. and finally

8) Islam:

Day 40: Are We Done Yet?,

Day 41: Location…Location…Location.,

Day 43: Ready. Set. Go!,

Day 44: Islam Is Now 2-0., Day 45: Five Pillars…And One Quran.,

Day 46: The Doctrine Of Abrogation.,

Day 47: So What Exactly Is The Law Of Sharia?, and

Day 48: The Validity Of Islam.

I will now present some brief information about the holy books of each of these major belief systems.  Combined with the information that you already have access to with the 8 belief systems that I have covered above, hopefully you will be able to come to your own logical conclusions as to which one/ones, is/are can/should be considered as the most reliable going forward.

1) Polytheism/Animism.  Honestly, I don’t really know how to cover the holy book for the Polytheism/Animism belief system. Based on the fact that there is no single holy book that covers Polytheism/Animism. Since there is no single holy book that covers this belief system as a whole, its reliability as a belief system immediately comes into question. So the question that you need to ask yourself is this:

Is the belief system of Polytheism/Animism reliable and trustworthy after taking into account its holy book?

2) Hinduism.  For Hinduism, there are two holy books that I cover in class, the Vedas and the Upanishads. 

For the first Hindu holy book, known as the Vedas, the descriptions of these four holy books are basically a collection of hymns, poems, prayers, and a listing of Hindu gods and goddesses and…

Magical spells.   

So right now, I am immediately thinking of the first, Marvel Thor movie that came out in 2011.  In this movie, there is a scene where Thor is explaining to his girlfriend Jane about the nuances between magic and science:

“Your Ancestors Called it Magic, but You Call it Science. I Come From a Land Where They Are One and the Same.”

For the second Hindu holy book, known as The Upanishads, these were written by some Hindus priests, who were questioning the nature of the Vedic order in ancient South Asia and the rigid caste system of Hinduism itself.  The Upanishads contain ideas regarding spiritual progress, living as religious hermits isolated from society, rejecting wealth and giving up family life. 

On the surface, it appears that the Upanishads were written in response to concerns that these Hindu priests had regarding portions in the Vedas.  Finally, there is no mention or direct evidence that the Upanishads were divinely inspired.   

Based on the fact that the Vedas contain content pertaining to magic, while the Upanishads appear to be of human, and not divine origins, the question that you need to ask yourself is this:

Is the belief system of Hinduism reliable and trustworthy after taking into account its holy book?

3) Buddhism.  Even though Buddha taught for about 45 years…and his teachings covered a geographic range of hundreds of miles in the Himalayan Foothills on the current India/Nepal border…by the time of his death, not a single word of his teachings were written down. A group of approximately 500 arhats, or followers of Buddha, did eventually place his teachings into written form. These writings which became the foundations of the Buddhist holy book, formed about 500 years after the death of Buddha. Known collectively as the Tripitaka, or ‘three baskets’, (most likely named because they were stored in three different sized baskets), Buddhists believe that certain passages contained in these holy books, known as dharani and mantra, are supposed to carry magical powers when recited over and over.  

As I type this, my mind now wonders over to the chapter from The Fellowship of the Ring, titled, The Mirror of Galadriel. In this chapter, the royal elf, Galadriel, is explaining the concept of magic to Frodo Baggins, a hobbit from the Shire:

“For this is what your folk would call magic. I believe; though I do not understand clearly what they mean; and they seem also to use the same word of the deceits of the Enemy.“

The issue here, like Hinduism and their Vedas, is simple. The Tripitaka contains passages that are supposed to carry magical powers. In addition, these Buddhist, holy books were not written down until approximately 500 years after the death of Buddha. The question that you need to ask yourself is this:

Is the belief system of Buddhism reliable and trustworthy after taking into account its holy book?

4) Confucianism. The holy book for Confucianism are the Analects, a collection of the teachings and thoughts of Confucius himself. In addition, they also contain a dialogue between Confucius and his disciples.

Here are some facts that one must consider when considering the holy book of the Confucianists, the Analects:

1) They were not written by Confucius, but were written by his disciples;

2) Historians are unsure as to the length of time that they were written, somewhere between 30-50 years;

3) Historians are unsure as to the precise date of publication of the Analects;

4) Due to the book burning of 213 BCE by the First Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the original source(s) of the Analects is in dispute;

5) Despite being grouped by themes, there is no order or structure within the Analects;

6) The chapters are random;

7) The topics are not connected within the chapters;

8) Due to repetition throughout, either word for word or with slight variation, scholars are unsure as to how many authors were involved in writing the Analects;

9) There was no single version of the Analects, but 3 versions and finally;

10) Confucianism itself originally began as a philosophy, not a religion.

After reviewing the facts regarding the Confucian Analects, the question that you need to ask yourself is this:

Is the belief system of Confucianism reliable and trustworthy after taking into account its holy book?

5) Taoism/Daoism. The Taoists/Daoists have two main texts, the Tao-te Ching and the Chuang-tzu. The Tao-te Ching is not a holy book, which makes sense due to the fact that Taoism/Daoism itself began as a philosophy, and not a religion.

The second book, the Chuang-tzu, is not a holy book either but rather a book that focuses on the life and person of Lao-tzu, the founder of Taoism/Daoism. Historians acknowledge that Lao-tzu was a philosopher, and not a religious leader. Based on this evidence regarding Taoism/Daoism, the question that you need to ask yourself is:

Is the belief system of Taoism/Daoism reliable and trustworthy after taking into account its holy book?

That leaves us with three religions left, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.  We are also left with 2 holy books, the Holy Bible and the Quran. 

In Day 48: The Validity Of Islam., I compared these the Holy Bible and the Quran using 9 different sets of verses comparing these two books. If you go back and re-read them again, you will find that these 9 sets of verses are not saying the same thing at all.

It appears that the Holy Bible and the Quran must be further scrutinized side by side before one can make an informed decision regarding these 8 sets of holy books.

Is there even more evidence that can be found to help one determine the validity of either the Holy Bible and/or the Quran? If so, once reviewed, will one then be able to make a logical, informed decision as to which holy book is the most reliable regarding these 8 belief systems?

That will be covered next time.

Do not feel discouraged if you are still undecided as to the validity of the holy books of the major, world belief systems. Do not feel discouraged if you are still undecided as to which holy book is the most reliable.  Instead, embrace the idea that after reading the information that was presented to you today, at least you have facts to look back on to help you to narrow your choices down.  Perhaps you are still undecided.  Enjoy the freedom knowing that hopefully sometime soon, you will come to an informed decision that you can feel extremely confident in.

¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 50: So…Which One Is The Best Book? – Part 1.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

When we rest, our energy is restored. (Lailah Gifty Akita)

Thinking about the musings from DAY 48: The Validity Of Islam…

I would submit to you that it is important to take some rest. 

Just like the seventh week winding down at school, week 7 is winding down here.  I end with the quote: “I will give you Sunday’s off, it’s a God thing….”

The more I think about it, I don’t really know if it is really just a ‘God thing’.  I mean, don’t animals, insects, birds, plants, the rest of Mother Nature and even Atheists, believe in the importance of rest?  Whether they think it’s a ‘God thing’ or not, rest is necessary for all of us on this Earth, to restore, and to rejuvenate, our hearts, minds, bodies and souls.  I think, most importantly, because Monday’s can be brutal, on a good Monday….

Bottom line no matter where you stand on the issue of God…get some rest.

Spend some time if you want to do some reviewing, reflecting, and/or meditating, on the week that has just ended.  To be mindful perhaps of the from last week:

Day 43: Ready Set Go! – The Last of the Prophets, at least according to Muhammad himself, finds in the beginning of trying to introduce Islam to his family and friends leads him to leave Mecca and is roundly rejected.  As a result, Muhammad runs;

Day 44: Islam Is Now 2-0. – After finding refuge in the city of Yathrib, Muhammad finds a much more receptive audience.  Leading military operations from this city, Muhammad begins engaging former family members at the Battle of Badr and the Battle of Uhud.  After returning to Yathrib 2-0, Muhammad has gained at least 10,000 followers.  As a result, he leads his 10,000 converts to Islam back to the city where it all began, Mecca;

Day 45: Five Pillars…And One Quran. – To be a Muslim is to be aware and to read from their holy book, the Quran.  The Five Pillars of Islam is an expectation for those wishing to do the will of Allah.  The importance of reading the Sunnah is necessary as well so as to be able to know how to live how Muhammad expected Muslims to live.

Day 46: The Doctrine Of Abrogation. – When considering Islam, one must consider the Law Of Sharia, along with the Quran and the Sunnah in order to determine whether or not Islam is the most reliable belief system;

Day 47: So What Exactly Is The Law Of Sharia? – After becoming familiar with the Quran and the Sunnah, the next step in understanding the belief system is to be familiar with the Law Of Sharia. 11 examples are given to help one understand this important part of Islam;

Day 48: The Validity Of Islam. – After comparing 9 different sets of facts from the Bible and the Quran, many differences can be seen.  After determining that these two holy books are not as similar as would seem on the surface, the question that needs to be asked is which belief system is the best?;

Are you ready to get some rest?

Do not feel discouraged if you don’t know how to rest. Do not feel discouraged if you power down your mind and body that wishes to forge ahead, so many things to do, so little time.  Instead, embrace the idea that rest is rejuvenating.  Embrace the idea that rest restores and recharges.  10-15 minutes.  Do nothing regarding the upcoming workweek…for 10-15 minutes.  Then, 7 days later, extent your rest time out 5 minutes.  Deep breathing exercises.  Simple yoga poses.  Watching cute little puppies on your social media feed.  All unrelated to work and your job(s).  Something, some things, to clear your mind.     

²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 49: Rest…Relax…Reflect.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

It seems to me that Islam and Christianity and Judaism all have the same god, and he’s telling them all different things. (Billy Connolly)

Thinking about the musings from Day 47: So What Exactly Is The Law Of Sharia?…

I would submit to you that for the approximately 1.8 billion believers of Islam, (depending on which website you are looking at), it works for them. I would also submit to you that once you dig a little deeper into Islam, there is one basic logical conclusion that doesn’t seem…logical. 

Still, what Islam does prove logically is the fact that…

‘Someone Upstairs Runs The Show’.

Is Islam a logical belief system?

It appears on the surface that Islam could be perceived as a natural extension of both Judaism and Christianity. Consider what Judaism, Christianity and Islam all have in common:

1) With at least 4.3 billion combined in followers, they combine to be three of the most influential belief systems in the world today;

2) They are all monotheistic, belief systems;

3) They all trace back to the same Patriarch, Abraham;

4) All 3 acknowledge the significance of the prophet Moses and;

5) All 3 acknowledge the existence of Jesus of Nazareth.

I would submit to you that when you apply Aristotle’s syllogism to Islam, (Day 11: There Has To Be A Way To Make It All Make Sense…Right?), the results are very similar to Judaism and Christianity:

PART A – If I follow the Five Pillars of Islam, I acknowledge that there is one, true God;

PART B – If I follow the Sunnah, I acknowledge that Muhammad is the last of the prophets;

PART C – By following the Five Pillars and the Sunnah, I as a Muslim would acknowledge that there is one true God, and that Muhammad is the last of the prophets.

The logic seems reasonable, follow the basic tenants of Islam, follow the Quran and the Sunnah, and your soul is set for eternity. Follow what Allah wants you to follow…Read and live according to the words in the Quran…Follow what Muhammad did…Read and live according to the words in the Sunnah.

Why wouldn’t you not want to follow Islam as a belief system? It appears to be the last of the great, monotheistic religions, and it is chronologically, following Christianity by just over 600 years. There are two books to be familiar with and live out, the Quran and the Sunnah.  Follow those edicts and you should be good to go for the rest of your life. 

Right?

I wish to submit to you 9 sets of verses, from both the Quran and the Bible. Please consider the following question when reading the Quran and Bible sets of verses:

“Is the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and the Bible, the holy book of the Jews and Christians, consistent?”

I placed in italics the places for you to focus on when reading these verses:

1) She said, “Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah.”  (Sunnah 19:18)

1A) ²⁸ And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.  (Luke 1:28 KJV)

2) So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, “Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.”  (Sunnah 19:22-23)

2A) ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) ⁵ To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  (Luke 2:4-5 KJV)

3) But he called her from below her, “Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream.  And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.  (Sunnah 19:24-25)

3A) ⁶ And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  (Luke 2:4-7)

4) Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was one inclining toward truth, a Muslim [submitting to Allah ]. And he was not of the polytheists.  (Sunnah 3:67)

4A) ⁸ But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.  (Isaiah 41:8 KJV)

5) O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him… (Sunnah 4:171)

5A) ³⁰I and my Father are one. (John 10:30 KJV)

6) …So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, “Three”; desist – it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God…  (Sunnah 4:171)

6A) ⁹ But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  (Romans 8:9 KJV)

7) …Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.  (Sunnah 4:171)

7A) ⁵ While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.  (Matthew 17:5 KJV)

8) And [for] their saying, “Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.” And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.  (Sunnah 4:157)

8A) ¹⁸ Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.  (John 19:18 KJV)

9) And [I have come] confirming what was before me of the Torah and to make lawful for you some of what was forbidden to you. And I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear Allah and obey me.  Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is the straight path.”  But when Jesus felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, “Who are my supporters for [the cause of] Allah?” The disciples said, “We are supporters for Allah. We have believed in Allah and testify that we are Muslims [submitting to Him].  (Sunnah 3:50-52)

9A) ²² Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.  (1 John 2:22 KJV)

After reading the 9, above-mentioned verses from both the Quran and the Bible, consider the following:

Should your god be based on fear or favor?

Was Jesus born in a remote place or Bethlehem?

Was Jesus born by a stream and under a palm tree or near an inn and in a manger?

Was Abraham a Muslim and not a Jew, or was Abraham the father of the Jews and not a Muslim?

Was Jesus, a messenger of Allah, or was Jesus, one with God?

Is Allah the one, true God, or is God a Holy Trinity of: Spirit, Christ, and God?

Is Allah above having a Son, or did God have a beloved Son?

Was Jesus not killed and crucified, or was Jesus killed and crucified?

Did Jesus and his disciples support Allah, or are those who deny Jesus as the Christ…the antichrist?

After comparing these 9 sets of verses side by side, do the Quran and the Bible sound consistent to you?

If you believe that the answer is no, then wouldn’t the next question you should ask be:

If Muslims claim that the Quran ultimately came from God, and the Jews and Christians claim that the Bible also comes from God, which book is right if they are both inconsistent with each other?

That will be covered after some rest. 

Do not feel discouraged if you are still undecided as to the validity of Islam as a valid belief system. Do not feel discouraged if you are still undecided as to whether the Quran or the Bible is the more reliable holy book.  Instead, embrace the idea that after reading the information that was presented to you today, at least you can conclude that you have more questions than answers regarding the Quran and the Bible.  Perhaps many questions.  Enjoy the freedom that you have to ask such deep and profound questions.

¹⁶ Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:16 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 48: The Validity Of Islam.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

I think that rather than condemning Islam, Islam needs to be studied by those who are sincere. (Louis Farrakhan)

Thinking about the musings from Day 46: The Doctrine Of Abrogation…

I would submit to you that after covering the early history of Islam:

Day 41: Location…Location…Location;

Muhammad’s flight from Mecca to Yathrib/Medina:

Day 43: Ready. Set. Go!;

To the early, military victories:

Day 44: Islam Is Now 2-0;

The significance of the Five Pillars and their religious book, the Quran:

Day 45: Five Pillars…And One Quran;

And the importance of abrogation:

Day 46: The Doctrine Of Abrogation;

There is still one more important element that needs to be covered….

Law Of Sharia.

It is at this time in class, that I introduce an algebraic equation to help the students fully understand the belief system of Islam. I would submit to you that this algebraic equation is what Muslims are expected to follow in order to truly please Allah. In addition, this algebraic equation is ultimately the way both Allah and Muhammad would expect you to follow as a Muslim. 

It goes like this:

(Q + S) + LOS = M

It is quite ironic that this basic, algebraic equation that I put together, would not have been possible without a Muslim. Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, a 9th century Muslim who was the head librarian at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, Iraq, is known as the ‘father of algebra’…

Back to my algebraic equation.  The Q represents the Quran.  Read the Quran.  Follow the expectations in the Quran.  How Allah expects you to live is in the Quran:

Q for Quran.

The S is the Sunnah.  Read the Sunnah.  Follow the expectations in the Sunnah.  How Muhammad would have lived and expects you to live is in the Sunnah:

S for Sunnah.

Lastly, there is a third, key piece to this equation that must be plugged in for Muslims to be true, followers of Islam.  That is the LOS portion of the equation: 

LOS for Law Of Sharia.

Simply defined, the Law Of Sharia, of Sharia Law, is basically a combination of the Quran and Sunnah. This makes logistical sense in that the Quran, that Allah dictated to the Angel Gabriel, who in turn then dictated the Quran to Muhammad, who in turn then dictated the Quran to his followers. The words of Muhammad, or the ‘hadith’, (his actions), were written down in the ‘Sunnah’. 

Without getting too complicated, let’s just stick to the basic, algebraic equation above.  In order to be the Muslim that Allah wants you to be, you must not only read the Quran and the Sunnah, following those expectations, but your entire life must be set up around those two books as well.  In other words, your social, political, economical, and cultural lives should revolve, from birth to death, around Islam.  Revolving around Allah, via the Quran, the one, true god and the last of the prophets, Muhammad, via the Sunnah. 

That is basically what Law Of Sharia is.

It is important to note that historically speaking, when Muslims are applying the Law Of Sharia in their everyday lives, they are combining politics with religion.  When a society combines politics and religion, that is called a theocracy. 

So what are some of the expectations regarding the Law Of Sharia?  Here are 11 examples from the Quran:

1) And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you, and fitnah is worse than killing. And do not fight them at al-Masjid al- Haram until they fight you there. But if they fight you, then kill them. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers. Quran 2:191;

2) Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance – [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand. Quran 4:34;

3) They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah. But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper. Quran 4:89;

4) [As for] the thief, the male and the female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent [punishment] from Allah . And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. Quran 5:38;

5) O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people. Quran 5:51;

6) And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Quran 9:5;

7) Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture – [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled. Quran 9:29;

8) Why did they [who slandered] not produce for it four witnesses? And when they do not produce the witnesses, then it is they, in the sight of Allah, who are the liars. Quran 24:13;

9) Indeed, those who abuse Allah and His Messenger – Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter and prepared for them a humiliating punishment. Quran 33:57;

10) Indeed, those who oppose Allah and His Messenger are abased as those before them were abased. And We have certainly sent down verses of clear evidence. And for the disbelievers is a humiliating punishment. Quran 58:5;

11) O Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination. Quran 66:9.

So now that we are familiar with the 3 legs that hold up the foundation of Islam: the Quran, Sunnah and Law Of Sharia, is it a belief system that is worthy of your soul for eternity?

That will be covered next time.

Do not feel discouraged if you are still questioning Islam. Do not feel discouraged if you are still trying to process the combination of expectations of Islam regarding the Quran, Sunnah and now, the Law Of Sharia.  Instead, embrace the idea that learning about these fundamental components of Islam will help lead you to make a clear choice soon.

⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 47: So What Exactly Is The Law Of Sharia?.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

Be peaceful, be courteous, obey the law, respect everyone; but if someone puts his hand on you, send him to the cemetery. (Malcolm X)

Thinking about the musing from DAY 45: Five Pillars…And One Quran,

I would submit to you that before moving forward regarding the belief system of Islam, it is important to cover perhaps the most important aspect of this belief system. I would further submit to you that what will be covered now is perhaps the most unique and compelling component contained in the Quran:

The doctrine of abrogation.

So what exactly is the doctrine of abrogation?

In order to better understand the doctrine of abrogation, I will be using the following verses from the Quran:

Surah 2:106, 16:101, 2:190 and 9:5.

First, consider the following from Surah 2:106:

“We do not abrogate a verse or cause it to be forgotten except that We bring forth [one] better than it or similar to it. Do you not know that Allah is over all things competent?”

Second, consider the following from Surah 16:101:

“When We substitute a verse in place of a verse, and Allah is most knowing of what He sends down, they say: You are but a forger! But most of them do not know.”

I would submit to you that in Surah 2:106, a baseline has been created regarding the doctrine of abrogation. In other words, Allah first creates x.  Then, sometime in the future, Allah then creates y.  At this point, Allah being Allah, y is now greater than x.

If this does not make sense yet, perhaps this math equation may help:

x (before) < y (going forward) = Allah being Allah.

Ok, perhaps it is not exactly the perfect math equation, but then again, I was never strong in any of my math classes growing up….

On the surface, the doctrine of abrogation does make sense. Think about it.  You have a cell phone.  Or a car.  Or a refrigerator.  Or…

You get the idea. 

Think about an item you have in your possession. After a while what happens to said item?  It gets old.  It needs a tune up.  It gets worn down.  It goes out of style.  It…

Again, you get the idea.

The next verse from the Quran to help one to better understand the doctrine of abrogation comes from Surah 2:190:

“Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors.” 

Now consider the following analogy and question that I ask my students after we read Surah 2:190:

“Let’s try to apply the concept of Surah 2:190 to a football game. If the Muslims where a football team, according to Surah 2:190, what team would they send out to begin the game: offense, defense, or special teams?”

For most, the answer is clear. 

“Defense!”

Finally, I use the following from Surah 9:5:

“And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”

Now, for a follow up question after Surah 9:5 is read:

“So after reading Surah 9:5, and sticking with our football analogy, pretend that the first half has ended and the halftime show is now over. The second half of the football game is ready to begin. After reading this verse, what side of the football field does the Muslim football team head out to, to begin the second half: offense, defense, or special teams?

At this point, everyone knows this answer.

“Offense!”

As for the second and third sentences of Surah 9:5?  Well, I would submit to you that perhaps there is a case to be made about the Muslims being on special teams at this point. After all, there appears to be no offensive, or defensive language in both the second or third sentences.

However, the first sentence is quite clear. Offense.

I now ask a third question to gage the understanding of the students regarding the big picture with the doctrine of abrogation:

“So, using our football analogy, after reading Surah 2:190, why is it that the Muslims are now going out on offense to begin the second half?”

Whatever student was lost before I began all of this is no longer lost.  This answer is always the loudest and most clear: 

“Abrogation!”

That is the correct answer. 

A rapid succession of questions and answers quickly follow:

ME: “How many times in the Old Testament is the word or the doctrine of abrogation mentioned?”

STUDENTS: “Zero.” or “none.” or “nowhere.”

ME: “How many times in the New Testament is the word or the doctrine of abrogation mentioned?”

STUDENTS: “Zero.” or “none.” or “nowhere.”

ME: ““How many times in the Quran does the God of Islam, Allah, change because he can, because the doctrine of abrogation allows him to do so?”

STUDENTS: “Huh?”

ME: “Can we agree that the answer to that question would be at least once, because of Surah 2:190 and Surah 9:5? The change from defense to offense?”

SOME RANDOM STUDENT: “Isn’t it actually at least two and not one?  Isn’t Surah 2:190 and Surah 9:5 two different verses and thus two different times in the Quran?”

ME: Non-verbal reaction…I shrug my shoulders and raise my eyebrows. 

I guess in theory, we could spend the rest of the class period discussing the validity of whether there are one, or two, or perhaps more cases of the doctrine abrogation mentioned directly or indirectly in the Quran. 

But that doesn’t matter for us in the classroom.  We must move on with the content regarding Islam.

Two final questions are asked:

ME: “Is it possible that the God of the 3 monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, are in fact the same God?”

STUDENTS: “No.”

ME: “Why not?”

STUDENTS: “Because of abrogation.”

The point has been made.

After wrapping up the doctrine of abrogation, I move forward by going back to Muhammad.

It would be most beneficial, if you were a Muslim, to know a simple question:

Is there another book in addition to the Quran, that Muslims should be familiar with?

A book that would answer the question of:

“What Would Muhammad Do?’

Yes there is.

As a practicing Muslim, wouldn’t you want to know how Muhammad handled a situation similar to your own? 

Of course you would.  That is why it is important for Muslims to be aware of exactly that, what would Muhammad do.

This ‘how to manual’ is called the Sunnah, the ideal model for proper living your life as a Muslim.   

So, now that the Muslims know what Allah wants them to do through the Quran, and they also know what Muhammad would do through the Sunnah, is there anything else left for a Muslim to learn?

Yes, the concept of Law of Sharia.

So what is the Law of Sharia?

How does the Law of Sharia, combined with the Quran and Sunnah, make a Muslim complete?

That will be answered next time.

Do not feel discouraged if the Quran and Sunnah, still do not make sense. Do not feel discouraged if you still cannot come to a conclusion regarding Islam as a belief system.  Instead, embrace the idea that as this information becomes available, you will have a strong sense as to what belief system is right for you.

¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 46: The Doctrine Of Abrogation.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

Traditional Islam is a mixture of all obedience to Allah, and if that requires militancy, so be it. (Deepak Chopra)

Thinking about the musings from DAY 44: Islam is now 2-0… 

I would submit to you that once you are aware of the history and original geography regarding the beginnings of Islam, the understanding of the current history and present geography of Islam makes more sense.  There is no doubt that Islam is a unique belief system.  There is no doubt that Islam confirms, like so many other of the world beliefs systems, that indeed:

Someone Upstairs Runs The Show. 

Muhammad, the founder of Islam and rejected in Mecca, traveled north to the city of Yathrib, to try to convince those in that city as to the validity of his revelations. The revelations that he received from the angel Gabriel, who in turn were given these revelations by the ‘one, true god’, Allah.

The evidence that Muhammad was successful in converting Yathrib away from polytheistic/animism worship and led them to the monotheistic beliefs of Islam, can be found within the new name of the city itself. No longer known as Yathrib, it is now known as Medina, or the ‘city of the Prophet’. 

After engaging in two battles against his family, the Quraysh tribe, Muhammad headed south returning to Mecca, after the back to back victories at the Battles of Badr and Uhud.

Once at Mecca, Muhammad laid siege with 10,000 Muslim followers, sometime between December of 629 and January of 630.

Muhammad and his Muslim followers captured Mecca and destroyed the idols held in the ‘very sacred temple…highly revered by all the Arabs’, the Kaaba.  What was once a former holy shrine to over 360 polytheistic/animistic gods, Muhammad declared would now be the holy shrine of Allah.  

I would submit to you that to better understand the belief system of Islam, one must understand the significance of the number 5. Known to Muslims as the Five Pillars, these expectations are at the center of the Islamic faith. 

The Five Pillars are as follows:

1) Faith – Declare the Faith;

2) Prayer – Pray towards Mecca five times a day;

3) Alms – Help those in need;

4) Fasting – to focus on Allah during the holy month of Ramadan and;

5) Pilgrimage – To travel to Mecca at least once during their lifetime.

The Islamic holy book, the Quran, (Koran), is quite interesting.  To Muslims, the Quran is the ‘eternal expression’ of Allah, which makes sense because they believe that their holy book was not physically written by humans.

At least, not originally.

The origin of the Quran is as follows:

1) The Quran began as the literal speech of Allah;

2) This literal speech was then inscribed on a tablet in heaven;

3) To which Gabriel had access to the tablet by reading it;

4) Who then dictated it to Muhammad;

In other words, Muhammad is the last of the Prophets because Allah choose Gabriel to bring the Quran to Muhammad, who would then bring the Quran to the rest of humanity.

In the Quran, there is a doctrine that once understood can help you to better understand Islam.

So what exactly is this doctrine?

That will be covered next time.

Do not feel discouraged if the Five Pillars, the Quran, Sunnah or Law of Sharia, still do not make sense. Do not feel discouraged if you still are on the fence regarding the belief system known as Islam.  Instead, embrace the idea that soon, you will have gathered enough facts to come to a solid conclusion regarding Islam.

⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 45: Five Pillars…And One Quran.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?

I lead no party I follow no leader.  I have given the best part of my life to careful study of Islam, its law and polity, its culture, its history and its literature. (Muhammad Iqbal)

Thinking about the musings from DAY 43: Ready. Set. Go!…

I would submit to you that the introduction of Islam by Muhammad on the Arabian Peninsula over 1,400 years ago was the beginning of something big.  It is also important to note that historically, it did not start off well as Muhammad’s own family rejected his teachings.  Where will this all end up?  That will be covered now.

Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was at first rejected by just about everyone in Mecca, where he first introduced this belief system.

I would submit to you that it would have been bad for business, if his family, and other like-minded business owners in and around Mecca, would have accepted Muhammad and the Islamic belief system.  The acceptance to Islam would have meant a rejection of polytheism, the mainstay of economic activity in and around Mecca, revolving from the polytheistic worship center, the Kaaba. 

Why would they accept Allah at the expense of losing all that business from the polytheistic worshippers visiting the Kaaba, Mecca, and their businesses?

They didn’t. 

Rejected, Muhammad left Mecca and traveled to the northern city of Yathrib, a competing city for the camel caravans traveling throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.  

Yathrib was ranked number 2 in the region due to the simple fact that it was lacking the Kaaba.

If you were a business owner in Yathrib and Muhammad came to your door sharing Allah, and the revelations given to him by the angel Gabriel…

How would you react? 

You would convert to Islam.   

What would you have to lose by converting when you are already in second place to Mecca as a believer in polytheism/animism? (For a quick refresher, please feel free to go to these prior posts: Day 18: The Basics Of Polytheism/Animism and Day 19: The Validity Of Polytheism/Animism.

On the surface, it would appear to be a sound, financial decision, considering the circumstances.

And so, although rejected in Mecca, Islam began to grow in influence in the second city on the Arabian Peninsula, Yathrib.

Eventually, the city got a name change, from Yathrib to Medina, known now as the ‘City of the Prophet’….

Now, Islam was ready to spread beyond its walls.

In March of 624 CE, Muhammad learned that a large, Quraysh caravan with a large sum of money and trade goods, was returning to Mecca.  His Muslim followers, approximately 300 in number, chose to meet up with this Quraysh caravan.

And engaged them militarily.  According to many believers, Muhammad lead the raiding party. 

Outnumbered approximately three to one, Muhammad and his followers were none-the-less victorious at the Battle of Badr.

Consider the following from the Koran 3:122-127:

“¹²²When two parties among you were about to lose courage, but Allah was their ally; and upon Allah the believers should rely.  ¹²³And already had Allah given you victory at [the battle of] Badr while you were few in number. Then fear Allah ; perhaps you will be grateful.  ¹²⁴[Remember] when you said to the believers, “Is it not sufficient for you that your Lord should reinforce you with three thousand angels sent down?  ¹²⁵Yes, if you remain patient and conscious of Allah and the enemy come upon you [attacking] in rage, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction].  ¹²⁶And Allah made it not except as [a sign of] good tidings for you and to reassure your hearts thereby. And victory is not except from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Wise – ¹²⁷That He might cut down a section of the disbelievers or suppress them so that they turn back disappointed.”

The Battle of Badr produced three outcomes:

1) Despite the three to one military disadvantage, Allah granted them victory against their pagan rivals;

2) The loss was a psychologically destructive event for the Quraysh tribe and;

3) It encouraged the Muslims to continue spreading Islam throughout the Arabian Peninsula.

These were the outcomes going forward after the underdog won.

Consider the following from the Koran 3:13:

“Already there has been for you a sign in the two armies which met – one fighting in the cause of Allah and another of disbelievers. They saw them [to be] twice their [own] number by [their] eyesight. But Allah supports with His victory whom He wills. Indeed in that is a lesson for those of vision.”

And 8:65:

“O Prophet, urge the believers to battle. If there are among you twenty [who are] steadfast, they will overcome two hundred. And if there are among you one hundred [who are] steadfast, they will overcome a thousand of those who have disbelieved because they are a people who do not understand.”

Despite these results from the Battle of Badr, economically, militarily and psychologically, the Quraysh were still overall convinced that one defeat in battle does not decide the entire war that has just erupted between Muhammad and his new family of Muslim followers and his family related by bloodlines, the Quraysh.

Muhammad and the victorious Muslims, were more than willing to prove them wrong a second time.

One year later, in March of 625, the Battle of Uhud ensued.

The numbers of combatants numerically were similar as the Battle of Badr regarding infantry.  Although the Muslims had grown to approximately 700-1000, the Quraysh still had at least a three to one advantage, numbering 3,000. 

Regarding cavalry, the numbers were much more one sided: The Quraysh numbered 200.  The Muslims, single digits.

Again, despite the overwhelming numerical disadvantages, the Muslims won again, in large part due to Muhammad himself.  Not only was he at the battle, Muhammad was an active participant.  

Consider the following from the Tabari IX, the documentation itself coming from Ibn Jareer al-Tabari, arguably Islam’s most renowned scholar of the day:

“Muhammad took three swords from the armor of the Banu Qaynuqa, which were called Qalai, Battar [‘very sharp’] and al-Hatf [‘death’].  Muhammad took three lances and three bows from the weapons of the Banu Qaynuqa. Muhammad took two coats of mail from the weapons of the Banu Qaynuqa. Muhammad had a shield with a sculptured image of a ram’s head which he disliked, and one morning when he woke up, Allah caused that image to disappear.”

So, what would you do if you were rejected by almost everyone around you, yet those who do believe in you are able to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, with your leader leading you to victory, twice, within two years?

You would most likely do what Muhammad and the Muslims did.

You travel to Mecca, where it all began.   

Do not feel discouraged if the facts and history surrounding Islam still do not make sense. Do not feel discouraged if Islam should be your belief system to follow.  Instead, embrace the idea that this continual accumulation of facts and figures and history regarding not only Islam, but the 7 prior belief systems covered in previous writings, is making you a more well-rounded individual.

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)

Was today’s blog a little confusing at times? Was the content perhaps a little overwhelming? Did you feel lost not understanding some or most of the subject matter?

Those feelings are totally understandable and it is ok to have one or more of those feelings. Remember that you are reading Day 44: Islam Is Now 2-0.

If you haven’t been in class since the first day of school…or when the project began…or when the contract was first signed, etc., these feelings make perfect and logistical sense.

Please feel free to go back to where all of this began:

Day 1: What Is A Mid-Life Crisis?