On God and Religion- Part II

My friend, a devout Muslim, and a very nice man, sent the following article to a list of people of which I was one. I noticed all the names where Arabic, or they were family member and not the usual large list. This shortened list made sense. Afterall, the article was meant specifically for a Muslim audience. Including a wider might have provoked a whole new sets of debates like who the people of scripture are, where the non-Abrahamics fit in, etc. It might have even provoked more simplistic questions like "what is the point of the article?" All of us can read the verse and interpret it. Why do we need Shaykh Oadah's interpretation in the first place?

The article also demonstrates a good example of why it is so difficult to reason with some religious people. How can one reason with someone when his religion tells him to be a devout follower, you cannot be half-hearted in following this religion whether it makes sense or not. It also sets religious debates such as what is to be discussed is not the religion, but what the people need to do to adhere to it. It is a forgone conclusion in the mind of some religious people that their religious sources are beyond debate, but everyone one else's religion, and everyone else's view point is not of equal weight.

Anyway, I figured I would add the article to my blog, because I thought it would make a nice example of why religion is contra-spiritual and why it is counter productive. My comments are interjected into the article in CAPS:

Allah says: "Then We gave the Scripture as an inheritance to those We had chosen among Our worshippers: but some among them wrong their own souls; some are halfhearted; and some, by Allah's leave, are foremost in good deeds. That is the highest grace." [Sûrah Fâtir: 32]

WE KNOW THIS IS IN THE QURAN. WHETHER ALLAH (ARABIC FOR GOD) SAID THAT OR NOT IS SUBJECT FOR DEBATE, PARTICULARLY IF YOU ASK SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE QURAN AS A WORD OF GOD, SUCH AS A JEW OR A CHRISTIAN. NOTE THAT THE VERSE REFERS TO GIVING "THE SCRIPTURE TO THOSE WE HAD CHOSEN AMONG OUR WORSHIPPERS." WAIT!! I THOUGHT JEWS WERE GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE.. OR IS IT THE CHRISTIANS WHO ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOUR?. OR IS IT THE ARABS IN WHOSE TONGUE THE QURAN HAS BEEN REVEALED? OR IS IT ALL OF THE ABOVE?? I AM CONFUSED.. I WILL ASSUME THAT THE VERSE REFERS TO ALL PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, OR THE ABRAHAMICS. THE SHAYKH SEEMS CONVINCED THAT IT IS MEANT FOR MUSLIMS BUT THAT IS THE SHAYKH'S INTERPRETATION, NOT WHAT'S IN THE VERSE.

Allah presents us (OH, YES SHAYKH! PLEASE TELL US WHAT ALLAH SAYS AND TELL US EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS.. NONE OTHER THAN YOU IS CAPABLE OF READING THE AYA AND INTERPRETING ITS MEANING) in this verse with three categories of people (HOW NICE! IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT WE NICELY FIT INTO THREE NEAT, CLEARLY DEFINED CATEGORIES AND RANK THEM ON THOSE CATEGORIES). Allah makes it clear that in all three cases, the people have been chosen by Him. They are worshippers, and they have inherited the Scripture (SORRY BUDDISTS, HINDUS, TOAISTS, BUSHMEN, ETC.. WE KNOW YOU REPRESENT MORE THAN HALF THE WORD, BUT YOU'RE SOL RIGHT OF THE BAT.. CONVERT NOW, OR STOP READING AND START CONTEMPLATING ETERNAL DAMNATION). Allah begins with mentioning those "who wrong their own souls". These are the people who succumb to sin and commit acts of disobedience to their Lord (WHEN JASHUA'S ARMY DESTROYED KANAAN AND KILLED ITS MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, THEY OBEYED GOD.. WHEN MUSLIMS USED TO TAKE WOMEN INTO SEXUAL SLAVERY, THEY DIDN'T DISOBEY GOD.. WHEN CHRISTIANS SOLD PEOPLE TO BONDAGE, THEY DIDN'T DISOBEY GOD. HOWEVER, EAT PORK IF YOU ARE MUSLIM OR MIX FIBERS IN YOUR CLOTHES IF YOU ARE A JEW AND GOD GETS MAD!) The second group consists of those who are "halfhearted". These people neither fall into excessive sin nor devote themselves to worship (MAYBE THEY ONLY BELIEVE SOME OF THE STUFF SINCE THE OTHER HALF SEEMS--- UH-- UNREASONABLE.. THEY COULD BE EMPLOYING A TECHNIQUE CALLED THINKING... SOME PEOPLE ARE INCOMPLETE LIKE THAT). The third group consists of those who are "foremost in good deeds" (THEY CLEARLY DO WHAT THEY ARE TOLD WITHOUT ANY UNDERSTANDING OR QUESTIONING. THAT'S FAITH! I AM NOT BEING SARCASTIC HERE.. TALK TO ANY DEVOUT MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN OR JEW AND THEY WILL TELL YOU JUST THAT: YOU JUST HAVE TO FOLLOW WHETHER IT MAKES SENSE OR NOT. WHO ARE YOU TO QUESTION "GOD?" OF COURSE, WHEN THEY SAY THAT, THEY ARE OFTEN SAYING WHO ARE YOU TO QUESTION RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES AND THE TEXTS MANIPULATED BY THEM?).

To all three categories of people Allah makes the following promise: "Gardens of Eternity will they enter: therein will they be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk (THAT WOULD GET OLD AFTER THE FIRST THREE THOUSAND YEARS OR SO, WOULDN'T IT? AND IS ALLAH HERE TELLING US THAT GOLD AND SILK ARE THE ALTIMATE FORM OF BLISS? I KNOW THE QURAN TALKS ABOUT NON-INTOXICATING WINES, VIRGINS, AND REALLY BIG PALACES AS WELL, BUT IS ALLAH ALTIMATELY BRIBING US TO DO WHAT HE SAYS WITH DECADENT STUFF IN THE AFTERLIFE?). And they will say: Praise be to Allah, who has removed from us (all) sorrow (WHAT ABOUT BOREDOM AND DEPRESSION DUE HAVING NOTHING TO DO, NO FRIENDS TO HANG OUT WITH, NO RISKS, AND NO PROSPECT FOR ANYTHING GOING WRONG FOR ALL ETERNITY--- ISN'T THAT TORTURE OF SORTS? DOESN'T IT SEEM LIKE HEAVEN IS JUST A MILDER VERSION OF HELL WITHOUT THE HEAT, THE CHAINS, AND THE BAD FOOD?): for our Lord is indeed oft-forgiving, gracious." [Sûrah Fâtir: 33-34] These verses are one of the places in the Qur'ân where Allah promises good to His servants (YEP.. INDEED, WE'RE TALKING BEST CASE SCENARIO HERE).

This passage is among the most specific in the sense of generosity that it conveys, especially where it says: "Praise be to Allah, who has removed from us (all) sorrow." This is because all people – no matter what they experience in this world of fame, fortune, health, success, or power – they are never spared sorrow. Their sorrows might very well stem form the very prosperity that they enjoy. A person might grieve due to the loss of some of these blessings, or the demands that they pace on that person's shoulders, or because of the envy, treachery, and rivalry that those blessings incite in others. In the hadîth where the angel Gabriel approaches Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and inquires about Islam, faith, and excellence in worship (ACCORDING TO OTHER QURAN AND HADITH, GABRIEL SUPPOSEDLY REVEALED THE ENTIRETY OF THE QURAN TO THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD INCLUDING THE VERSE SITED IN THIS ARTICLE.. WHY WOULD GABRIEL BE ASKING THE PROPHET TO TELL HIM SOMETHING HE SUPPOSEDLY KNOWS ALREADY?--- I GUESS THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE "UNCONFIRMED" HADITHS THAT DON'T SEEM TO JIVE WITH THE MAINSTREAM STORY IN THE QURAN), we again see three levels for people who believe. There are parallels between this hadîth and the verse of the Qur'ân that we are discussing (THAT'S GOOD! IT'S ALWAYS NICE WHEN THE HADITH AND THE QURAN DON'T CONTRADICT EACH OTHER. AGAIN, I AM NOT BEING SARCASTIC.. THERE ARE MANY PLACES WHERE THEY DO BECAUSE HADITHS WERE NOT WRITTEN DURING THE TIME OF THE PROPHET. THE HADITH WAS GATHERED AND RECALLED SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE GATHERING OF THE QURAN FOR THE PURPOSE OF HELPING TO BRIDGE GAPS IN THE QURAN'S MEANING AND UNDERSTANDING ITS INTENT. THE QURAN ITSELF WAS GATHERED SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF MUHAMMAD DURING OTHMAN'S KHALIPHATE AFTER SEVERAL OF THE MEMORIZERS OF THE QURAN HAD PERISHED IN THE WARS DECLARED BY ABU BAKR, OMAR, AND OTHMAN EVEN BEFORE THE DEATH OF THE PROPHET MOHAMMAD).

Here, the first level – Islam – refers to outward acts, implying that those acts of devotion are accompanied by sinful behavior or a lack of deep devotion. The second level – faith – refers to the deeds of the heart. (SHOULD'T ONE HAVE FAITH FIRST BEFORE PERFORMING "OUTWARD ACTS?" ISN'T FAITH THE DRIVER TO ACCEPT A RELIGION OR REJECT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE? IF I AM CHRISTIAN, DOES IT MAKE SENSE THAT I WOULD READ THE QURAN AND PRAY FIVE TIMES A DAY BEFORE I UNDERSTAND WHY TO GIVE UP MY RELIGIOUS PRACTICES AND ADOPT NEW ONES?" These are the deeds that prevent a person from falling into sin in the first place (UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIM AND A FALACY OF FALSE CONCLUSION. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF MANY PEOPLE THAT PRAY AND HAVE UNMARRIED SEX. I KNOW PEOPLE THAT FAST RAMADAN AND DRINK THE REMAINING PART OF THE YEAR. THERE IS NO LOGICAL LINK BETWEEN ADHERING TO RELIGIOUS PRACTICE AND PERFORMING ACTS FORBIDDEN BY IT). This is what the Prophet (peace be upon him) meant when he said: "A person does not commit adultery while he is a believer (BUT HE IS A BELIEVER WHEN HE RAPES A SLAVE, OR MILK-AL-YAMEEN?)." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim] Finally there is the level of excellence (ihsân). This is the highest, most illustrious level that a believer can attain. This is the level of those the verse refers to as being the "foremost in good deeds." One of us might be at times on the level of "Islam" and at other times on the level of "faith". Sometimes, we might even attain the level of "excellence" in our faith and worship. The state of the human heart is always in flux. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The human heart is more swift to commotion that a pot of water when it is set to boil." [Musnad Ahmad] It is a mistake to assume that all people are on the same level in their faith, piety, and religious commitment (IT IS A BIGGER MISTAKE TO ASSUME THAT THERE IS AN AGREED UPON BASELINE FOR FAITH, PIETY, AND RELIGIOUS COMMITTMENT OVERWHICH EVERYONE IS IN AGREEMENT, OR THAT THERE IS EVEN AGREEMENT THAT ANY OF THESE THINGS ARE ACTUALLY GOOD IN AND OF THEMSELVES. IN CHRISTIANITY, DIVORCE IS BAD. IN ISLAM POLYGAMY AND DIVORCE ARE OKAY.. EATING PORK IS NOT OKAY IN ISLAM AND JEWDAISM. IT IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE IN CHRISTIANITY. THEREFORE, PIETY, FAITH, AND RELIGIOUS COMMITTMENT ARE ALL RELATIVE TERMS AND THEY MAY BE MORAL OR IMMORAL DEPENDING ON THE PROSPECTIVE OF THE RELIGION TO WHICH ONE HAPPENS TO BE BORN. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IT IS EVEN A BIGGER MISTAKE TO ASSUME THAT RELIGIOUS COMMITTMENT AND FAITH GO HAND IN HAND. I BELIEVE IN GOD. I BELIEVE IN MORALITY. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT RELIGION TOO FREQUENTLY GOES AGAINST GOD AND MORALITY AND REFLECT NEITHER THE WORD OF GOD (THE QURAN AND THE BIBLE HAVE BEEN MANIPULATED) NOR THE A VERIFIABLE HISTORY OF ITS MESSENGERS). it creates a problem if we expect that of people and hold them to expectations they are unable to fulfill ((WE CAN HOLD EACH OTHER TO CERTAIN SOCIAL STANDARDS THAT LINK US AS A SOCIETY, WHO IS ANYONE TO HOLD ANYONE ELSE TO EXPECTATIONS ON PERSONAL BELIEF? . TO THINK THAT SOME OF US CAN HOLD OTHERS TO RELIGIOUS OR SPIRITUAL EXPECTATIONS IS BOTH LUDECROUS AND ARROGANT IN MY OPINION. THAT SHOULD BE BETWEEN THEM AND GOD).

When people are not given easier options, they often simply give up or look for alternatives that are often wrong. This is a mistake that some Islamic preachers make. When a preacher finds himself before a group of Muslims at a public venue or at a school, it is merely a trial for them when the person discussing Islam with them discriminates between them according to their appearances and their statements or passes judgment over them (YES! VERY BAD FOR BUSINESS.. ALL JUDGEMENTS OF THESE SPIRIRITUAL INFERIORS SHOULD BE DONE SILENTLY) This is not the Day of Judgment. It is not time to sort people into the righteous and the unrighteous We must leave them to their Creator (REALLY??!! SO WHAT'S THE POINT OF THIS ARTICLE THEN? THE WHOLE ARTICLE IS NOTHING BUT A BIG CLASSIFICATION AND RANKING EXCERCISE. WHAT DOES THE SHAYKH WANT? I AM REALLY CONFUSED NOW). .

We should strive for their betterment by exercising patience and by working hard. We need to look towards gradual improvement over a long stretch of time. We need to learn from them what we need to know. None of us are the judges of the people (I AGREE! BUT JUDGING PEOPLE IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS ARTICLE IS DOING). We must be humble before our Lord (UNLESS OF COURSE YOU ARE AN IMAM OR SHEIKH OR A RABBI OR A PRIEST.. THEN YOU CAN JUST SPEAK ON GOD'S BEHALF). Whoever shows humility before Allah will be ennobled by Allah. It is not necessary for a person to be a student of knowledge in order to be a Muslim, or memorize the Qur'ân, or engage in Islamic missionary work. The more we impose conditions on the people and pile expectations on their shoulders, the fewer people we will have listening to us (BAD FOR BUSINESS AS WELL..)

People have different temperaments. They come from different backgrounds. Some are more mature than others, more educated. Some are new Muslims or are new to religiousness. (THE SHAYKH FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROBLEM DOESN'T LIE WITH THE RECIPIENTS OF THE MESSAGE, BUT WITH THE MESSAGE ITSELF! THERE IS A CREDIBILITY PROBLEM WITH ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS IN GENERAL WHICH HAVE LEADING PEOPLE FROM ALL ABRAHAMIC RELIGIONS TO REJECT GOD ALONG WITH REJECT SPIRITUALITY BECAUSE RELIGION HAS GIVEN GOD SUCH A DWARFED AND SKITZOPHRINIC IMAGE.. THE FASTEST GROWING FAITH IS NOT ISLAM OR CHRISTIANITY, BUT ATHIESM, AND AGNOSTICISM. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING NEW. ARTICLES SUCH AS THIS ONE, WHICH APPEAL TO FEAR INSTEAD OF REASON AND TO PREJUDICE INSTEAD OF COLLECTIVISM ADD TO THE DISTORTION OF GOD'S IMAGE.. IT FAR MORE PRODUCTIVE TO LOOK FOR MORALITY OUTSIDE OF RELIGION THAN TO TRY TO WADE THROUGH WHAT PARTS OF RELIGION ARE DIVINE AND WHAT PARTS OF IT ARE MIND CONTROL, AND I CAN COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WHO REJECT RELIGION ALSO REJECT GOD. PEOPLE CONSTANTLY TARNISH HIS NAME IN THE WORST POSSIBLE WAYS AND PEOPLE ASSOCIATE THE RACIST, INTOLERANT MESSAGES THEY GET FROM RELIGION WITH THE BEING WHO IS CONSTANTLY INVOKED IN THOSE MESSAGES, I.E. GOD) There will be among them "some who wrong their own souls; some who are halfhearted; and some who are, by Allah's leave, foremost in good deeds." It is always a mistake to assume that all of them are going to be the same in their devotion or conduct or even in their manner of expressing themselves. This was not even the case during the earliest days of Islam . In those pristine days (HOW FAR DOES HE WANT TO GO BACK AND HOW LONG IS THAT PERIOD? WHOSE KHALIPHATES ARE INCLUDED IN THESE "PRESTINE" DAYS?? THIS IS A NOSTALGIC NOTION OF A TIME THAT DIED LONG BEFORE THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD HIMSELF DIED.) great care was taken to accommodate people's natural aptitudes and temperaments. Practical expressions of faith were cultivated that were far removed from impositions, affected airs, and obstinacy (WOW! IT WAS EVER LIKE THAT IN ISLAM?? WHAT HAPPENED??). No doubt, we should strive for progress, growth, and improvement.

However, this needs to be accomplished without being pushy or insistent, without offending people or causing resentment, and without causing division in society (WHEN THE SHAYKH INVOKES RELIGION, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HE IS DOING). The enmity and discord that result from a misguided attempt at reform are often far worse than the evil tendency whose removal is being sought. No doubt, we should strive for progress, growth, and improvement. However, it is wrong to wage a perpetual campaign for particular aspects of outward behavior – which may or may not be relevant – to the neglect of deeper, more subtle, but vital aspects of faith and life. No doubt, we should strive for progress, growth, and improvement (YEAH YOU SAID WE SHOULD STRIVE FOR PROGRESS, GROWTH, AND IMPROVEMENT SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY, WITHOUT EXPLAINING ONCE WHAT YOU MEAN BY IT. IT IS VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND PROGRESS, GROWTH, AND IMPROVEMENT AS STAND-ALONE CONCEPTS.. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN WHEN YOU HAVE STARTED BY LUMPING PEOPLE INTO CATEGORIES AND RANKING THEM BASED ON BOGUS AND SIMPLISTIC STANDARDS). However, we must take care not to judge people and discriminate between them on the strength of standards that are as superficial as they are conspicuous (SO LET'S NOT CATEGORIZE THEM AND RANK THEM).

True preference is on the basis of piety. Allah says: "Indeed, the best of you with Allah are the most pious among you." Piety is – first and foremost – in the heart, though it influences our actions and behavior. It does no service to Islam to relate everything to certain social patterns or behavioral practices as if all is lost otherwise. Allah's mercy is greater than the limited perceptions of people.

Someone may attain Paradise in the Hereafter due to a small good deed, or a single shed tear, or a feeling in the heart. Maybe that person helped someone in need, or showed kindness to an animal, or engaged in the smallest act of kindness with the right heartfelt intention or with the right degree of humility. Someone else may lag behind in the Hereafter whose piety in life was far more evident and conspicuous. Maybe that person was neglectful in taking account of the heart. Maybe that person was too self-satisfied or felt superior to others (I FIND THIS STATEMENT HUMOROUS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO SPENT THE BULK OF THIS ARTICLE RANKING PEOPLE) Maybe that person exhibited some pretentious behavior or imposed hardships on others that Allah did not intend. Maybe that person spoke ill of people or acted unjustly towards them. The mercy and favor that Allah shows us all is far greater than the works that we do. The prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If Allah were to punish all of His creatures in the heavens and on Earth, He would not be unjust in doing so. If He were to show them mercy, than His mercy is far greater than their deeds merit." [Sunan Abî Dâwûd]

OH YES!!! GOOD OL' ABU DAWUD!! HIS BOOK IS SO FULL OF ERRONEOUS HADITHS AND ATTROCIOUS DEPICTIONS OF GOD AND OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD THAT HE HIMSELF HAS ACKNOWLEDGED ITS LACK OF AUTHENTICITY. THERE ARE HADITHS THAT ABU DAWUD DOCUMENTED INCLUDING HOW THE PROPHET TORTURED AND KILLED INNOCENT PEOPLE, TO CONDONING THE MURDER OF A PREGNANT WOMAN WHO INSULTED HIM. THESE STORIES ARE COMPLETELY INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT IS KNOWN OF THE EASY-GOING AND FORGIVING PERSONALITY OF THE PROPHET WHO LIVED A POOR MAN AND DIED A POOR MAN; AND WHO WAS A FRIEND AND AND ALLY OF THE WEAK AND PERSECUTED. THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM USED HIM TO BUILD AN EMPIRE IN MUCH THE SAME WAY CHRISTIANITY USED JESUS TO BUILD AN EMPIRE OF LAND, WEALTH, AND POWER.



Here's one Hadith from the time of Bukhari. Unlike the lackluster reputation of Abu Dawud's hadith, Bukhari is accepted as THE authority on authentic hadiths. Note again that they are saying these things were done by one of the greatest religious founders of all time.. Also notice how the female is highlighted as the source of evil in this particular story :

Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 188:Narrated 'Amr bin Maimun:"During the pre-lslamic period of ignorance I SAW A SHE-MONKEY SURROUNDED BY A NUMBER OF MONKEYS. THEY WERE ALL STONING IT, BECAUSE IT HAD COMMITTED ILLEGAL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE (THAT BITCH!! IT'S OBVIOUSLY A NON-MUSLIM MONKEY.. FEMALES ARE EVIL IN EVERY SPECIES). I TOO, STONED IT ALONG WITH THEM."

My intent from publishing this article and from adding the commentary is not to insult the Prophet Muhammad or speak against God. I do believe in God.. I love Him and deeply believe in his love for the world. My intent is to demonstrate that what we know of the Quran, which was gathered from the memories of people during Othman's Khaliphate and after endless wars have already claimed many of the Quran's memorizers cannot be entirely the word of God.. My proof? Parts of the Quran itself as I hope I was able to highlighted. In light of all the wars among the Khaliphs themselves throughout the history of Islam, there is very little that we can conclusively say about the Quran or about the Prophet Muhammad. I can go on and on about the bible as well, which has even less consistency and more historical wear-and-tear and human intervention than even the Quran.

Therefore, in order for there to be reconciliation between the Abrahamic religions, we, the Abrahamics, have to FIRST ignore our texts and surrender to the idea that they are manipulated and flawed. Not doing so is a sure way to keep us running in circles as we have been since Moses got lost in the dessert. Second, we have to reclaim morality in its most absolute, and most generic definition to be able to resolve the conflicts and wars we have had for mellinea, and continue to have to day.

It is time for us to put start deferrentiating between morality and religion.. between God and those who falsely and arrogantly speak on his behalf. Only then will this world make sense and will we able to acheive peace.