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QUOTABLE QUOTES about ISLAM
from the works of Manfred Davidmann
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Quotes
Throughout his whole life as Prophet he (Mohammed) struggled against the powerful Meccan family which dominated Mecca, against the Quraysh. They first opposed and then persecuted him and his followers for 10 years, and then he fought them for another 10 years till he won and then he died.
So we need to know just what Mohammed taught which upset the elite so thoroughly and persistently. So what did Mohammed teach which caused him and his followers to be so harshly opposed and so actively persecuted? It is this which I will be exploring in ... .
Religion teaches what should be done and what must not be done, and at times what must be done, in the light of God's will that people behave like human beings towards each other and have a good life by following rules of behaviour revealed by God.
And arguments started about the source and extent of 'divine right', about the extent to which clerics ought to be taking part in or controlling secular (social) decision-taking in the name of religion. ...
Since then we see continuous confrontations and struggle between secular and religious hierarchies and figureheads, between state (government) and religious authorities, about what should and should not be done, about what must and must not be done, about who should be making these and similar decisions. About the personal role, authority, pay, standard of living and quality of life of the decision-takers.
The core argument being debated during the early period of Abbasid rule was the question of whether the Koran was 'created' or 'uncreated'. An apparently vague and hypothetical theological question. But far from it. People were persecuted and suffered on both sides, the outcome shaped Muslim belief and practice to this day and illustrates the conflicts and confrontations we see today between Muslim rulers and Muslim clerics.
Al-Bukhari's collection 'Sahih al-Bukhari' contains different versions of the two main traditions as well as other related subsidiary traditions. To understand what took place we need to look at the main traditions and their differing versions, need to become aware of what they are in fact stating. The outcome is an unexpected, surprising and fascinating insight into what Mohammed revealed and taught.
Relevant Current and Associated Works
| Relevant current and associated reports by Manfred Davidmann: | ||
| Title | Description | |
| Prophet Mohammed's Struggle for a Better Life for All | Mohammed's struggle for recognition of his mission and message against the powerful Meccan ruling elite. They opposed and then persecuted him and his followers for ten years, following which he fought them for ten years till he won and then he died. | |
| Text, Language, Dialect and Interpretation of the Koran | How the written Arabic language developed from the time of Mohammed and how the Koran was assembled. How recorded letters and symbols were used to state the meaning of words. Compares 'readings' and interpretations. | |
| The Divine Right to Rule | The struggle for power and control over the Muslim community after Mohammed died and how Muslim belief and practice evolved under the caliphs. These events and struggles formed Sunnism and Shiism, shaped the Koran and Muslim belief and practice. | |
| Compiling the Koran: Hadiths (Traditions) State the Underlying Reality | Zaid bin Thabit compiled the Koran, Caliph Uthman had an official version prepared. Mohammed taught that people (believers) should have a good life, the ruling elite considered that people should serve willingly. | |
| Uthman's Rearrangement of the Chronological (as revealed) Koran's Chapters | Chapters (suras) marked by 'abbreviated letters' show how the sequence of the Koran's chapters was changed. The effects of the changes on the record of Mohammed's preaching and teaching are described as are the doctrines of 'Abrogation' and 'Consensus'. | |
| Prophet Mohammed's Word of Allah and the Voice of the Ruling Elite | Mohammed's social teachings are stated from chapters (suras) singled out by 'Abbreviated Letters', statements of revelation from compassionate and caring Allah. It seems that some self-seeking doctrines were added later by the ruling elite of that time. | |
| Muslims and Jews | Includes a comprehensive summary table of the struggles of the Muslims while Mohammed was alive, including their conflicts with the Jewish Medinan clans. The conclusions are directly relevant to understanding present tensions and conflicts within Islam. | |
Relevant Subject Index Pages and Site Overview
- General Management (Middle, Senior and Top Level)
- Motivation
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- Economics
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The Site Overview page has links to all individual Subject Index Pages which between them list the works by Manfred Davidmann which are available on the Internet, with short descriptions and links for downloading.
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Copyright © 2004 Manfred Davidmann
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History
01/08/04 Compiled
24/08/04 To Website