The last section of the Night
Journey talks about the observance of prayers and ends with “I have passed
my command and have lessened the burden of my worshippers.” This and the
entirety of Islam seem like very strict and structured legalism. Prayers are only five times a day, rather than
fifty? That is a burden and a chore, and if they do not follow the rules they
only have Hellfire to look forward to. That seems like such an awful way to
live—constantly in fear of breaking one of the rules or not being good enough
to get into heaven. The parts we read in the Qur’an support this legalistic
mentality because all who do not listen and repent are destroyed. There is very
little mercy, grace, or love. Islam says—if they don’t believe and get rid of
the idols then kill them. So much fear must rule the lives of these people, and
it saddens me. To think that Muhammad started off agreeing with Christianity and
Judaism only to part with it when it didn’t match up with his “visions;” I
wonder how much would’ve been different if he hadn’t rejected them. How different would the world be if Muhammad had chosen to follow Jesus? It’s an
interesting thought…
On that same note… the level of devotion of Muslims is
convicting to say the least. Allah is a god who demands absolute obedience and
repentance or death. We have Jesus who has died for our sins and simply asks
for us to follow Him. Yet so many of us are comfortable and content and take
the love of Christ for granted. I am so grateful that He is loving and does not
demand for us to keep the law without fault in order to somehow earn our way
into heaven. I would never make it. I think Islam should cause us to look closely
at our own level of devotion—how grateful do my actions say I am for the gift
of salvation?
P.S. commented on Preston's "Interests in Islam"
No comments:
Post a Comment