Islamic History in Perspective (week 10) Flashcards
What does the Hadith of Gabriel say about the Islamic approach to understanding history?
Then the man said, ‘Tell me about the Hour.’ The Prophet replied, ‘About that he who is questioned knows no more than the questioner.’
The man said, ‘Then tell me about its marks.’
He said, ‘The slave girl will give birth to her mistress, and you will see the barefoot, the naked, the destitute, and the shepherds vying with each other in building.’
What is the islamic approach to history
views events in human history as signs
what is the approach to people and prophets
reminders and warnings
God sends prophets and scriptures with guidance and warning, promise and threat about reward and punishment in the afterlife
Describe islam in transition
early islam -> medieval islam -> modern islam -> contemporary islam
what is the traditional perspective on history
decline under the end -> saviour
modern myth of ‘progress’
islam over history - pov of Gods
Existence of less obvious false gods - what does it mean to be a true monotheist?
islam over history - law
Antinomianism vs legalism, moral police, Sharia-enforcing nation states
islam over history - thinking
Obsession with the external (because it is easier to control and be checked by others) vs the internal
islam over history - pov of God
Overemphasis on tanzih - wrathful God to be obeyed and feared - or on tashbih - all-too-forgiving God
islam over history - what is questioned
Are all the four dimensions of religion present
(submission, faith, doing the beautiful and understanding history
what are the dimensions of religion
islam - god to be obeyed
iman - god to be understood and believed in
ihan - god to be loved
how do these link to how God is perceived
- Islam - God to be obeyed (fear; tanzih) jurisprudence
2.Iman - God to be understood and believed in - kalam and falsafa
- Ihsan - God to be loved (affection and intimacy; tashbih)
- sufism
