Islamic conception of God and the Human Being (week 6) Flashcards
What are the six objects of faith?
God, His angels, His books, His prophets, the Last Day, the measuring out; both its good and its evil.
What are the three principles of faith?
1) Tawhid - to recognise that God is one.
- God, angels, the measuring out.
2) prophecy
- scriptures, prophets
3) return (eschatology)
- the Last Day
What is faith (iman)? (3)
- a voicing with the tongue (speaking)
- an activity with the limbs (doing)
- a knowledge in the heart (knowing)
What are the three ways in which the heart is considered?
- as the centre of human awareness
- seat of knowledge (and intention)
- can be ‘purified’ (discussed in philosophical ethics and Sufism as a ‘mirror’ to be polished)
What are we considered to be born with?
An innate human nature that has a basic reformation of God - throughout your human life you forget this inborn nature of God.
Define iman
faith
define kufr
unbelief
define shukr
gratitude
define Kufr
ingratitude
What does tawhid mean?
to declare/affirm/recognise that God is one
What does shirk mean?
to associate others with God; to give God partners - polytheism or ‘idol-worship’ - deemed a grave sin
Where is there a statement of tawhid?
the first half of the Shahada
Why is tawhid important
it is the foundation of the Islamic faith and practice
What is the dynamic of God-human relationship like?
‘In the end, Gods mercy prevails over His wrath: I strike with My chastisement whom I will, but My mercy embraces all things (Q7:156)’
important to remember that God’s kinds and forgiveness is even stronger than any scolding. so in the end his mercy is more powerful and covers everything
What is Tanzih?
it is to declare incomparability
‘nothing Is like him’ (Q 42:11)
God inspired awe and fear in human beings and distances himself
What is tashibh
it is to declare comparability
‘he is with you wherever you are’ (Q 57:4)
God inspires affection and hope in human beings which draws humans near
Give a quote exploring the use of ‘beautiful names’ to refer to God
To God belong the most beautiful names (Q 7:180)
What are the aspects of God in terms of comparability (tashbih)?
merciful
gentle
beautiful
forgiving
life giving
manifest
however too much tashbih can lead to anthropomorphism
What are the aspects of God in terms of incompatibility (tanzih)?
wrathful
severe
majestic
vengeful
death-giving
hidden
however too much tanzih leads to the belief of God as inaccessible and inconceivable.
In reference to what is the creation of human beings described?
spirit: light
body: clay
light linking to tashbih and body linking to tanzih
Describe the hierarchy of creatures
angels
humans
animals
plants
minerals
where and how do human beings fit into this?
‘God created the angels from intelligence, the beasts from appetite, and human beings from both intelligence and appetite. When a person’s intelligence overcomes his appetite, he is higher than the angels, but when his appetite overcomes his intelligence, he is worse than the beasts’ (hadith)
What is so special about human beings among all creatures?
I am placing in the earth a vigerent (khalifa) (Q 2:30)
Human beings are created not only to be servants/worshippers (‘abd) but also vicegerents (khalifa) of God on earth (potential for fulfilling two roles)
What is another reason why humans are special among all creatures?
God taught Adam the names, all of them (Q 2:31)
» Humans were given the knowledge of all the names
What is a final way?
‘God created Adam in His form’ (a hadith, though its origin/authenticity is debated)
Humans were created in God’s form
Humans as microcosms
What is believed about how humans can come to know God?
through communication
- God sends them signs (or reminders)
In what ways does God communicate with humans?
- revelations
- prophets
- creation as a whole
- self-appellation (divine names and attributes mentioned in the Quran)
What is the Islamic pov of angels?
affirm the existence of them as part of Gods creation serving as divine agents, carrying out various roles
What do these roles involve?
protecting humans, delivering Gods messages, and performing diverse functions
Give an example of this:
the angel of Gabriel plays a crucial role in delivering divine revelations to the prophet
how do muslims view the day of judgement?
central theme of the Quran
