Lecture 7: Koran

Notes on Muhammad:

• Born in 570 CE, Muhammad lived a quiet life in Mecca until he was 40. Left an orphan, married a rich widow, a caravan driver. Was probably illiterate.
• Learned about Christianity and Judaism as a caravan driver. He respected both religions for their message of one God, but believed that both had been led astray, and that the message of God was much simpler than allowed by the religions. For example, Christians believed in one God who assumed three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• Arabia in the 6^th century was caught between two declining powers, Persia and the Roman empire. Each had its own monotheistic religion and prophet (Zarathrustra and Jesus, respectively). The religion of Arabia was based on animistic ideas. In Mecca, it was believed that the Great Black Stone had fallen from heaven and embodied the power of the gods. Various sects of Judaism and Christianity existed.
• At the age of 40, Muhammad experienced his first revelation from God. Though reluctant, the revelation compelled him to step forward and preach a message that there was only one God, a God who demanded ethical righteousness.
• Muhammad fled to Medina because of resistance to his message in Mecca. But he organized people in Medina into an army motivated by their belief that God chose them to spread His word. He ultimately became a military and political leader, galvanizing people under the banner of Islam.
• A prophet is one who speaks forth. Like other prophets (Socrates, Moses, Jesus), Muhammad presented the powerful message: Be true to yourself and search for your soul.

The Koran is the revelation of God to mankind, as presented to Muhammad. The basic message is simple but one of uncompromising monotheism, “There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet.” The Koran contains answers to every question brought up by the great themes:

• God is truth, mercy, and power. He demands complete submission and ethical conduct. He rewards the faithful and punishes those who reject his revelation.
• God has decreed everything from the beginning of time. The meaning in life is total submission to the will of God (Islam means “total submission”).
• There is absolute good and absolute evil; they are constantly at war with each other. The duty of those who submit to God is to spread the message, by sword, if necessary. To fight for the faith and, if necessary, die for it is one of the highest callings.