Showing posts with label Doctrines of Islam Course Handout. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Doctrines of Islam Course Handout. Show all posts

Monday, June 8, 2020

Doctrines of Islam 14 (Imamate & Caliphate - Leadership)

Qur'an


Say," Obey God and the Apostle." But if they turn away, indeed Allah does not like the faithless. 3:32

O you who have faith! Obey God and obey the Apostle and those vested with authority among you. And if you dispute concerning anything, refer it to God and the Apostle, if you have faith in God and the Last Day. That is better and more favourable in outcome. 4:59

Your guardian is only God, His Apostle, and the faithful who maintain the prayer and give the charity while bowing down. 5;55

O Apostle! Communicate that which has been sent down to you from your Lord, and if you do not, you will not have communicated His message, and God shall protect you from the people. Indeed God does not guide the faithless lot. 5:67


Webpage links

Caliphate

Imamate


Book Excerpts 



Doctrines of Islam 13 (Divine Justice and the Problem of Evil)

Qur'an

We will surely test you with somewhat of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth, lives, and fruits; and give good news to the patient, those who, when an affliction visits them, say, "Indeed we belong to God, and to Him do we indeed return." 2:155-156

Indeed God does not wrong anyone even to the extent of an atom's weight, and if it be a good deed He doubles its reward, and gives from Himself a great reward. 4:40

So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it. 99:7-8

He, who created death and life that He may test you to see which of you is best in conduct. And He is the All-mighty, the All-forgiving. 67:2

It is He who has made you successors on the earth, and raised some of you in rank above others so that He may test you in respect to what He has given you. 6:165

We dispersed them into communities around the earth: some of them were righteous, and some of them otherwise, and We tested them with good and bad times so that they may come back. 7:168

Indeed We have made whatever is on the earth an adornment for it that We may test them [to see] which of them is best in conduct. 18:7

Every soul shall taste death, and We will test you with good and ill by way of test. 21:35

There are indeed signs in this; and indeed We have been testing. 23:30

Indeed We created man from the drop of a mixed fluid so that We may test him. So We made him endowed with hearing and sight. 76:2

Webpage Links

God and Evil 

Attribution of Evil to God?

Divine Benevolence & the Existence of Evil in the Universe


Book Excerpts

Justice of God by S. Rizvi

Divine Justice Shelf in al-Islam.org

Doctrines of Islam 11 (Particular Prophethood - Prophet Muhammad)

Qur'an
Webpage links
Book Excerpts

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Doctrines of Islam 12 (Eschatology)

Qur'an 


Death

God takes the souls at the time of their death, and those who have not died in their sleep. Then He retains those for whom He has ordained death and releases the others until a specified time. There are indeed signs in that for a people who reflect. (39:42)

No soul may die except by God's leave, at an appointed time. 3:145

Every soul shall taste death, and you will indeed be paid your full rewards on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever is delivered from the Fire and admitted to paradise has certainly succeeded. The life of this world is nothing but the wares of delusion. 3:185

Wherever you may be, death shall overtake you, even if you were in fortified towers. 4:78

When death approaches anyone of you, Our messengers take him away and they do not neglect their duty. 6:61

Then the agony of death brings the truth: "This is what you used to shun!" 50:19

We have ordained death among you, and We are not to be outmaneuvered. 56:60

Say, "Indeed the death that you flee will indeed encounter you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the sensible and the Unseen, and He will inform you about what you used to do." 62:8

Spend from what We have provided you before death comes to any of you, whereat he will say, "My Lord, why did You not respite me for a short time so that I might have given charity and become one of the righteous!" But God shall never respite a soul when its time has come, and God is well aware of what you do. 63:10-11

Were you to see when the wrongdoers are in the throes of death, and the angels extend their hands saying: "Give up your souls! Today you shall be requited with a humiliating punishment because of what you used to attribute to God untruly, and for your being disdainful towards His signs." 6:93

Every soul shall taste death. Then you shall be brought back to Us. 29:57

Say, "You will be taken away by the angel of death, who has been charged with you. Then you will be brought back to your Lord." 32:11

No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it will die. Indeed God is all-knowing, all-aware. 31:34


Barzakh

When death comes to one of them, he says, "My Lord! Take me back, that I may act righteously in what I have left behind." By no means! These are mere words that he says. And ahead of them is a barrier (Barzakh) until the day they will be resurrected. 23:99-100

And do not call those who were slain in God's way "dead." Rather they are living, but you are not aware. 2:154

Do not suppose those who were slain in the way of God to be dead; rather they are living and provided for near their Lord, exulting in what God has given them out of His grace, and rejoicing for those who have not yet joined them from those left behind them that they will have no fear, nor will they grieve. 3:169-170


End of Times 

Certainly We wrote in the Psalms, after the Torah: "Indeed My righteous servants shall inherit the earth." 21:105



Day of Judgment

The day We shall roll up the sky, like the rolling of the scrolls for writings. We will bring it back as We began the first creation a promise binding on Us. That indeed We will do. 21:104

Do not suppose that God is oblivious to what the wrongdoers are doing. He is only granting them respite until the day when the eyes will be glazed, Scrambling with their heads upturned, there will be a fixed gaze in their eyes and their hearts will be vacant. Warn the people of the day when the punishment will overtake them, whereat the wrongdoers will say, "Our Lord! Respite us for a brief while so that we may respond to Your call, and follow the apostles." They will be told, " Did you not use to swear earlier that there would be no reverse for you." 14:42-44

So do not suppose that Allah will break His promise to His apostles. Indeed Allah is all-mighty, avenger. The day the earth is transformed into another earth and the heavens] as well [, and they are presented before Allah, the One, the All-paramount. On that day you will see the guilty bound together in chains, 14:47-49

Say, "It is God who gives you life, then He makes you die. Then He will gather you on the Day of Resurrection, in which there is no doubt. But most people do not know." 45:26

It is God who created you and then He provided for you, then He makes you die, then He will bring you to life. 30:40

So observe the effects of God's mercy: how He revives the earth after its death! Indeed He is the reviver of the dead, and He has power over all things. 30:50

It is He who gives life and brings death. So when He decides on a matter, He just says to it," Be!" and it is. 40:68

And when the Trumpet is blown, behold, there they will be, scrambling from their graves towards their Lord! 36:51

The day when the Caller calls to a dire thing, with a humbled look in their eyes, they will emerge from the graves as if they were scattered locusts. scrambling toward the summoner. The faithless will say, "This is a hard day!" 54:6-8

And if indeed you die or you are slain, certainly to God shall you be gathered together. 3:158

The day We shall set the mountains moving and you will see the earth in full view, We shall muster them, and We will not leave out anyone of them. 18:47

Among His signs is that you see the earth desolate; but when We send down water upon it, it stirs and swells. Indeed He who revives it is the reviver of the dead. Indeed He has power over all things. 41:39

When the sun is wound up, when the stars scatter, when the mountains are set moving, when the pregnant camels are neglected, when the wild beasts are mustered, when the seas are set afire, when the souls are assorted, when the girl buried-alive will be asked: for what sin she was killed. When the scrolls of the scriptures are unrolled, when the sky is stripped off, when hell is set ablaze, when paradise is brought near, then a soul shall know what it has readied for itself. 81:1-14

the day the Trumpet will be blown on that day We shall resurrect the guilty with blind eyes. They will whisper to one another: "You have stayed only for ten days." We know best what they will say, when the best of them in conduct will say, "You stayed only a day!" They question you concerning the mountains. Say, "My Lord will scatter them like dust." Then He will leave it a level plain. You will not see any crookedness or unevenness in it. On that day they will follow a summoner in whom there will be no deviousness. The voices will be muted before the All-beneficent, and you will hear nothing but a murmur. Intercession will not avail that day except from him whom the All-beneficent allows and approves of his word. He knows that which is before them and that which is behind them, but they cannot comprehend Him in their knowledge.  All faces shall be humbled before the Living One, the All-sustainer, and he will fail who bears the onus of wrongdoing. But whoever does righteous deeds, should he be faithful, shall neither fear any wrong nor detraction. 20:102-12

Webpage links


Day of Judgment (wikishia)



Barzakh (Wikishia)

Life in Barzakh (wikishia)
Book Excerpts 

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Doctrines of Islam 10 (General Prophethood)

Qur'an

We have indeed revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him, and as We revealed to Abraham and Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, Jesus and Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and We gave David the Psalms. 4:163

Say, "We have faith in God, and that which has been sent down to us, and that which was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus were given, and that which the prophets were given from their Lord; we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit." 2:136

Say, "We have faith in God, and in what has been sent down to us, and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus were given, and the prophets, from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him do we submit." 3:84

We sent down the Torah containing guidance and light. The prophets, who had submitted, judged by it for the Jews, and so did the rabbis and the scribes, as they were charged to preserve the Book of Allah and were witnesses to it. So do not fear the people, but fear Me, and do not sell My signs for a paltry gain. Those who do not judge by what Allah has sent down it is they who are the faithless. 5:44

Your Lord knows best whoever is in the heavens and the earth. Certainly We gave some prophets an advantage over others, and We gave David the Psalms. 17:55

Recall when We took a pledge from the prophets, and from you and from Noah and Abraham and Moses and Jesus son of Mary, and We took from them a solemn pledge. 33:7

Certainly We sent Our apostles with manifest proofs, and We sent down with them the Book and the Balance, so that mankind may maintain justice; and We sent down iron, in which there is great might and uses for mankind, and so that God may know those who help Him and His apostles in their absence. Indeed Allah is all-strong, all-mighty. 57:25

Then We sent Our apostles successively. Whenever there came to a nation its apostle, they impugned him, so We made them follow one another] to extinction [and We turned them into folktales. So away with the faithless lot! 23:44

Indeed We shall help Our apostles and those who have faith in the life of the world and on the day when the witnesses rise up 40:51

Mankind were a single community; then God sent the prophets as bearers of good news and as warners, and He sent down with them the Book with the truth, that it may judge between the people concerning that about which they differed, and none differed in it except those who had been given it, after the manifest proofs had come to them, out of envy among themselves. Then God guided those who had faith to the truth of what they differed in, by His will, and God guides whomever He wishes to a straight path. 2:213

Whoever obeys Allah and the Apostle they are with those whom Allah has blessed, including the prophets and the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous, and excellent companions are they! 4:69


Webpage Links

Book Excerpts 


Saturday, May 30, 2020

Doctrines of Islam 09 (Angelology and Creation)

Qur'an

Creation of Adam, Jealousy & Deception of Iblis and the Fall

When your Lord said to the angels,"Indeed I am going to set a viceroy on the earth," they said, "Will You set in it someone who will cause corruption in it, and shed blood, while we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your sanctity?" He said, "Indeed I know what you do not know."
And He taught Adam the Names, all of them; then presented them to the angels and said, "Tell me the names of these, if you are truthful."
They said, "Immaculate are You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed You are the All-knowing, the All-wise."
He said, "O Adam, inform them of their names," and when he had informed them of their names, He said, "Did I not tell you that I indeed know the Unseen in the heavens and the earth, and that I know whatever you disclose and whatever you were concealing?"
And when We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam," they prostrated, but not Iblis: he refused and acted arrogantly, and he was one of the faithless.
We said, "O Adam, dwell with your mate in paradise, and eat thereof freely whencesoever you wish; but do not approach this tree, lest you should be among the wrongdoers."
Then Satan caused them to stumble from it, and he dislodged them from what they were in; and We said, "Get down, being enemies of one another! On the earth shall be your abode and sustenance for a time." (2:30-36)

When We said to the angels, "Prostrate before Adam," they prostrated, but not Iblis. He was one of the jinn, so he transgressed against his Lord's command. Will you then take him and his offspring for guardians in My stead, though they are your enemies? How evil a substitute for the wrongdoers! (18:50)

He said, "O Iblis! What keeps you from prostrating before that which I have created with My [own] two hands? Are you arrogant, or are you [one] of the exalted ones?"
"I am better than him," he said. "You created me from fire and You created him from clay."
He said, "Begone hence, for you are indeed an outcast. And indeed My curse will be on you till the Day of Retribution.
He said "My Lord! Respite me till the day they will be resurrected."
Said He,"You are indeed among the reprieved, until the day of the known time"
He said, "By Your might, I will surely pervert them, except Your exclusive servants among them." (37:75-83)

Faith in Previous Apostles and Scriptures

The Apostle (Prophet Muhammad) has faith in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and all the faithful. Each of them has faith in Allah, His angels, His scriptures and His apostles. [They declare,] "We make no distinction between any of His apostles." And they say, "We hear and obey. Our Lord, forgive us, and toward You is the return." (2:285)

We have indeed revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him, and as We revealed to Abraham and Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, Jesus and Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and We gave David the Psalms. and apostles We have recounted to you earlier and apostles We have not recounted to you, and to Moses God spoke directly. apostles, as bearers of good news and warners, so that mankind may not have any argument against God, after the sending of the apostles; and God is all-mighty, all-wise. (4:163-165)

Indeed the faithful, the Jews, the Christians, and the Sabaeans those of them who have faith in God and the Last Day and act righteously they shall have their reward near their Lord, and they will have no fear, nor will they grieve. (2:62 & 5:69)

These are the apostles, some of whom We gave an advantage over others: of them are those to whom God spoke, and some of them He raised in rank, and We gave Jesus, son of Mary, manifest proofs and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. Had God wished, those who succeeded them would not have fought each other after the manifest proofs had come to them. But they differed. So there were among them those who had faith and there were among them those who were faithless, and had God wished, they would not have fought one another; but Allah does whatever He desires. 2:253

Piety is not to turn your faces to the east or the west; rather, piety is [personified by] those who have faith in God and the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets, and who give their wealth, for the love of Him, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveller and the beggar, and for [the freeing of] the slaves, and maintain the prayer and give the zakat, and those who fulfill their covenants, when they pledge themselves, and those who are patient in stress and distress, and in the heat of battle. They are the ones who are true [to their covenant], and it is they who are the God wary. 2:177

Webpage Links

Fall of Adam & Eve (in Wikishia) 
Adam
Eve

Iblis (in Wikishia)

Satan (in Wikishia)

Prophets (in Wikishia)

Q&As about Satan

Book Excerpts

the Fall of Adam in Torah and Qur'an (Comparison) by Amini

What is the Reality of Angels by Husaini

Concerning Apostles and Angels by al-Saduq

Is Man Superior to Angels? by Ayt. Makarem

Infallibility of Adam and the Fall by Hadavi

Divine Mission of the Prophets by Ayt. Makarem

Prophets and Scriptures by Rizvi

Doctrines of Islam 08 (Divine Names)

Qur'an

To God belong the Best Names, so supplicate Him by them, and abandon those who commit sacrilege in His names. Soon they shall be requited for what they used to do. 7:180

Say, "Invoke "Allah" or invoke "the All-beneficent." Whichever [of His Names] you may invoke, to Him belong the Best Names." Be neither loud in your prayer, nor murmur it, but follow a middle course between these. 17:110

God there is no god except Him to Him belong the Best Names. 20:8

He is God there is no god except Him Knower of the sensible and the Unseen, He is the All-beneficent, the All-merciful. He is God there is no god except Him the Sovereign, the All-holy, the All-benign, the Securer, the All-conserver, the All-mighty, the All-compeller, the All-magnanimous. exalted is God of any partners that they may ascribe to Him! He is God, the Creator, the Maker, the Former. To Him belong the Best Names. Whatever there is in the heavens glorifies Him and [whatever there is in] the earth, and He is the All-mighty, the All-wise. 52:22-24

He is the First and the Last, the Manifest and the Hidden, and He has knowledge of all things. 57:3


webpage links

Divine Names in Qur'an (List)

Divine Names (by: Zaidi)

Book Excerpts

The Image of God in the Qur'an. By Dr. M. Shomali & Dr. M. Heydarpour

Divine Names (with short explanations) by S.M Beheshti

The Attributes of God. by Gulpaygani

99 Names of God by al-Jibouri

Friday, May 1, 2020

Doctrines of Islam 07 (Ontological and Siddiqin Argument)

Outline
Qur'an
Webpages

Ontological Argument - Wikishia

Book Excerpts

Doctrines of Islam 06 (Cosmological & Ontological Arguments)

Outline

                                                              i.      Cosmological Argument
1.     Two different versions of this Argument in:
2.     Islamic Theology (Kalam Cosmological Argument)
3.      and Islamic Metaphysics (Necessity and Contingency)
4.     Origin of two different versions:
a.      Creation in time vs. Creation of time
b.     Creation Ex nihilo vs. Everlasting creation
5.     Necessity and Contingency
6.     Vicious Circle and Infinite Regress
Qur'an

O mankind! You are the ones who stand in need of God; and God, He is the All-sufficient, the All-laudable. 35:15
God is the All-sufficient, and you are all-needy. 47:38
Everyone in the heavens and the earth asks (needs) Him. 55:29

Webpage

Cosmological Argument - Stanford
Necessary Existence - Wikishia
Avicenna, Proof of the Necessary of Existence pdf

Ontological Argument - Wikishia

Book Excerpts
The Argument of Contingency by Rabbani G.

The argument of possibility (imkān) and necessity (wujūb) - Rabbani Golpaygani

Video


Monday, March 30, 2020

Doctrines of Islam Handout 05 (Argument based on Fitra)

Outline

                                                              i.      Argument based on Fitra (Human innate nature)
1.     Meaning of Fitra
2.     Division of Fitra
a.      Conative
                                                                                                                                      i.      Yearning for eternity
                                                                                                                                    ii.      Yearning for perfection
                                                                                                                                  iii.      Yearning for pleasure
                                                                                                                                  iv.      Yearning for comfort
                                                                                                                                    v.      Yearning for creativity and innovation
                                                                                                                                  vi.      Yearning for moral virtues
                                                                                                                                vii.      Love and devotion
                                                                                                                              viii.      All of these stem from self-love (conatus)?
b.     Cognitive
3.     Historical Precedents (tabula rasa and human inherit knowledge)
a.      Later philosophical treatment (Cartesian craftsman’s mark)
4.     Qur’an and Hadith formulation of the argument
5.     Different Versions of the argument by Muslim theologians
6.     Argument of the Sincere
7.     Argument from common consensus and its difference from Argument from Fitra
Related Verses in Qur'an

Their apostles said "Is there any doubt about God, the originator of the heavens and the earth?! He calls you to forgive you a part of your sins, and grants you respite until a specified time." They said "You are nothing but humans like us who desire to bar us from what our fathers used to worship. So bring us a manifest authority." 14:10

When distress befalls people, they supplicate their Lord, turning to Him in penitence. Then, when He lets them taste His mercy, behold, a part of them ascribe partners to their Lord. 30:33

Say "Who delivers you from the darkness of land and sea, [when] You invoke Him suppliantly and secretly: "If He delivers us from this, we will surely be among the grateful"?" Say "It is God who delivers you from them and from every agony, [but] then you ascribe partners [to Him].” 6:63-64

It is He who carries you across land and sea. When you are in the ships, and they sail with them with a favorable wind, rejoicing in it, there comes upon them a tempestuous wind and waves assail them from every side, and they think that they are besieged, they invoke God putting exclusive faith in Him "If You deliver us from this, we will surely be among the grateful.” But when He delivers them, behold, they commit violations on the earth unduly! O mankind! Your violations are only to your own detriment. [These are] the wares of the life of this world; then to Us will be your return, whereat We will inform you concerning what you used to do. 10:22-23

And when distress befalls you at sea, those whom you invoke besides Him are forsaken. But when He delivers you to land, you are disregardful [of Him] . And man is very ungrateful. 17:67

Thus did We show Abraham the dominions of the heavens and the earth, that he might be of those who possess certitude. When night darkened over him, he saw a star and said, "This is my Lord!" But when it set, he said, "I do not like those who set. Then, when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my Lord!" But when it set, he said, "Had my Lord not guided me, I would surely have been among the astray lot.”
Then, when he saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my Lord! This is bigger!" But when it set, he said, "O my people, indeed I disown what you take as [His] partners. Indeed I have turned my face toward Him who originated the heavens and the earth, as a Hanif, and I am not one of the polytheists.” 6:75-79

Book Excerpts



Shaykh Saduq on Fitra

Ayt. Tabatabae's formulation of the Argument of the Sincere by M. Legenhausen

Natural Disposition or Fitra by H. Qara'ati

Ayt. Mutahhari on Fitra

S. S. Akhtar Rizvi on Fitra

Rabbani Golpaygani on Argument based on Fitra
Webpage links


Doctrines of Islam Handout 04 (Teleological Argument)

Outline

a.      Arguments for the Existence of God
                                                              i.      Argument from Design/Teleological Argument
1.     Historical background
2.     Qur’an and Hadith (Tradition of Mufaddal and the story of lady with spinning machine)
3.     Definition of Order and Design and their relation to telos (goal or end)
4.     Mechanic and Organic design (the question of life)
5.     Problems of Teleological argument
a.      Mathematical possibility of accidental design and order (design by Chance)
c.      Evolution: Nature behind the design (not God)


Related verses from Qur'an

Indeed in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, and the ships that sail at sea with profit to men, and the water that God sends down from the sky with which He revives the earth after its death, and scatters therein every kind of animal and the changing of the winds, and the clouds disposed between the sky and the earth, are surely signs for a people who apply reason. 2:164
Indeed in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for those who possess intellects. Those who remember God … and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth [and say] "Our Lord, You have not created this in vain! Immaculate are You! Save us from the punishment of the Fire. 3:190-191
He created seven heavens in layers. You do not see any discordance in the creation of the All-beneficent. Look again! Do you see any flaw? 67:3
Our Lord is He who gave everything its creation and then guided it. 20:50
Among His signs are the creation of Heaven and Earth, as well as the diversity in your tongues and colors. In that are signs for those who know. 30:22
Splitter of the dawn, He has made the night for rest, and the sun and the moon for calculation. That is the ordaining of the All-mighty, the All-knowing. 6:96
It is He who made the sun a radiance and the moon a light, and ordained its phases that you might know the number of years and the calculation of time. God did not create all that except with reason. He elaborates the signs for a people who have knowledge. 10:5
God is the One Who has raised up the Heavens without any support you can see. Then He mounted on the Throne and regulated the sun and moon; each runs along on a specific course. He directs the matter; He manifests signs so that you may be convinced about meeting your Lord. 13:2


Book Excerpts

Existence of God in Mizan al-Hikma (Hadith Collection)

Order & Intellect by Ayt. Makarem Shirazi

Tradition of Mufaddal (Complete Translation)

‌Bibliographical Description of Tradition of Mufaddal

Hume's objections against the Teleological Argument

Webpage Links



Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Doctrines of Islam Handout 03 (Tawhid-Introduction)

Outline

a.      Introduction
                                                              i.      Tawhid or oneness of God: The most pivotal doctrinal belief in Islam
                                                            ii.      Contrast between Tawhid (Monotheism) and Shirk (polytheism): to Be discussed under the subsection of divine attribute of Oneness
 Contrast between Theism and Atheism : to be discussed under subsection for the Existence of God
                                                          iii.      Possibility of Knowing God, His Essence and His Attributes

Related Verses in Qur’an:

Say,"He is God, the One.
God is the All-embracing.
He neither begat, nor was begotten,
nor has He any equal." 112:1-4

God bears witness that there is no god except Him and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge maintainer of justice, there is no god but Him, the Almighty, the All-wise. 3:18

That is God, your Lord, there is no god except Him, the creator of all things; so worship Him. He watches over all things. 6:102

Indeed I am God there is no god except Me. So worship Me, and maintain the prayer for My remembrance. 20:14

Indeed your God is Allah. There is no god except Him. He embraces all things in [His] knowledge. 20:98

We did not send any apostle before you but We revealed to him that "There is no god except Me; so worship Me." 21:25

So exalted is God, the True Sovereign, there is no god except Him, the Lord of the Noble Throne. 23:116

He is God, there is no god except Him. All praise belongs to Him in this world and the Hereafter. All judgement belongs to Him, and to Him you will be brought back. 28:70

That is God, your Lord, the creator of all things, there is no god except Him. Then where do you stray? 40:62

There is no god except Him: He gives life and brings death, your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers. 44:8

He is God there is no god except Him Knower of the sensible and the Unseen, He is the All-beneficent, the All-merciful. 59:22

And do not invoke another god besides God; there is no god except Him. Everything is to perish except His Face. All judgement belongs to Him, and to Him you will be brought back. 28:88


Soon We shall show them Our signs in the horizons and in their own souls until it becomes clear to them that He is the Real. Is it not sufficient that your Lord is witness to all things? 41:53

Excerpts


Links







Thursday, March 19, 2020

Doctrines of Islam Course Handout - 02 (Main Divisions)

Main Kalami Schools

1- Sunni
    1-1-Mutazilite
Historical origin: Wasil b. Ata (early 2nd century) isolated himself after proposed “a sinner is not either Mu’min (as Murji’a would have said) not Kafir (as Khawarij would have said) but he is Fasiq.”
   
 1-2-Asharite
Historical origin: early 4th cent. Abu al-Hasan Ash'ari's attempt to reconcile between scriptualist elements and Mutazilite beliefs

2-Shia (Imami)
Historical Origin: Disagreement over the successorship to Prophet Muhammad (s) and religious-political authority after him.

Webpage Links

Doctrines of Islam Course Handout - 01 (Introduction)

Detailed Outline




a.      Where are we? (in the greater picture of studies of religion)
                                                              i.      Basic and general knowledge about any religion as a distinctive  phenomenon = Philosophy of Religion
                                                            ii.      Content of Religion = Theology, Religious Jurisprudence and spiritual preaching
                                                          iii.      Functions of religion = sociology, psychology, anthropology and mythology of religion
                                                          iv.      Nature of religion and religiosity = phenomenology of religion

                                                            v.      Comparative studies and history of religions  


1.     Kalam or Islamic Theology
a.      Meaning, subject, Methods and Goals
                                                              i.      Old definition
1.     Farabi: the ability to defend the right and falsify the wrong religious claims by speech and words
2.     Iji: the capability of demonstrating the right religious beliefs and refute wrong ones
3.     Taftazani: the knowledge of religious belief based on certain evidences
4.     Ibn Khaldun: to demonstrate religious beliefs based on rational arguments and refute the heretics
5.     Lahiji: a theoretical skill that enables one to prove religious beliefs
b.     Main themes:
                                                    

                                                              i.      Of Old Theology: existence of God, Divine attributes, God’s actions, Divine providence, freewill and predestination, problem of evil, prophetlogoy, angiology, eschatology
                                                            ii.      Modern Theology: definition of religion, expectations from religion, origin of religion, language of religion, religious pluralism, reason and religion, science and religion, ethics and religion, secular affairs and religion

a.      Historical Origins, Developments and Evolution
                                                              i.      Motives of early Muslims to pursue Kalam (internal elements = responsible for the emergence of Kalam as a whole)
1.     Holy text and its meaning
2.     Critical thinking
3.     Spiritual intuition
b.     Foreign influences on Islamic Kalam (external elements = responsible for the emergence of particular opinions)
                                                              i.      Social, political events
                                                            ii.      Relation and fusion with other traditions and cultures
1.     Greek, Hellenistic Philosophy
2.     Biblical Tradition
3.     Persian, Indian traces
a.      Sources of Kalam
                                                              i.      Qur’an
1.     The beliefs
2.     The methods of demonstration
3.     As an inspiration for new opinions
                                                            ii.      Hadith
1.     Explanation and interpretation of Qur’an
2.     Arguments narrated in Hadith
3.     Even the supplications and prayers
4.     Some beliefs are uniquely from Hadith, like Raj’a
b.     Mixed reactions to Kalam; Opposition to Kalam and its origins
                                                              i.      It is the source of conflict and disunity, but Qur’an invites to unity
                                                            ii.      Kalam is a bid’a or innovation in Religion
                                                          iii.      Similitude to foreign sciences like greek philosophy (specially that mostly Iranians -nonArabs- would engage in Kalam discussions)
1.     Kalam practitioners wrote books against atheist and Indian pagans and gained some popularity
                                                          iv.      Rational demonstrations were regarded as something against authority of revelation by some
                                                            v.      Rational arguments would be seen as downgrading the level of faith and certainty
                                                          vi.      If religion is perfected by the Prophet s, why do we need to talk about it anymore?
                                                        vii.      Arabs were not familiar with rational discourse         
                                                      viii.      Kalam is not bad in itself, but it is not recommended for general untrained minds. It’s like a medicine, sometimes for certain people
                                                          ix.      Doing Kalam is basically enjoying the ambiguous teachings and forgetting the solid teachings
                                                            x.      The literal connotation of some Qur’anic verses and Hadith that object to involvement in discussions and arguments

Webpage Links:

M. Mutahhari on Kalam

Kalam or Islamic Theology - Dar al-Ifta al-Missriyya

Kalam in MuslimPhilosophy