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Transcript
The Holy Koran: Cultural and Political Implications by Tefel Hall Origins Language Politics Art 570 – 632 C.E. Mecca The Kaaba Al-Uzza Sabean Moon Bull Moon and Venus Al-Lat Cave at Hera 630 Entering Mecca Koran = recitation Hadith = collections Classical Arabic Politics • Statesman • Soldier • Judge • Governor . . . charity, marriage, orphans, fasting, gambling, vanity, pilgrimages, infidelity, polygamy, incest, divorce, modesty, inheritances, prostitution, alcohol consumption, collecting interest, female dress . . . . Let’s get back to basics. A prostitute should get 100 lashes. A man should have no more than 4 wives. If your wife disobeys you, reprimand her, and if that doesn’t work, beat her. If you want to divorce your wife, say, “I divorce thee,” 3 times then wait 3 months. Let’s get back to basics. Love thy neighbor and follow the ten commandments. Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s. When the enemies of Jesus tried to trick him into saying that it was wrong to pay tribute to Caesar, Jesus cleverly evaded the question by saying, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s.” This book is a manual of moral government. A civilization which gives no weight in public life to faith, is incapable of achieving for mankind the happiness that men seek. Indeed, a civilization which so regards human life is bound to bring upon mankind all the calamities which have befallen our world in the recent centuries. - Muhammad Husayn Haykal (1888-1956) If a Christian nation fails, we look to its political and economic system for an explanation, but when a Muslim state fails, it is only because, as V. S. Naipaul put it, "men had failed the faith." Disaster in a Christian nation leads to a search for a new political form; disaster in a Muslim one leads to a reinvigoration of the faith. James Q. Wilson James Q. Wilson Bernard Lewis • Western imperialism • oil-driven foreign policies • prescribes harsh punishments for fornication, adultery, etc. • since these laws were prescribed by Muhammad himself, they’re not easily brushed aside • provides no basis for a separation of mosque and state Art No graven images! No pictures of humans or animals! Time Magazine, 16 April 2001 Key Points: • Arabic is the official language of Islam. • Islamic empires thrived under a common set of laws. • Koranic laws may be may be hindering efforts to modernize civil government. • Islamic art is decorative. The End