8-30-2015 Presentation

with humility & intellectual modesty & minimum bias

AGENDA Time Topic 3:00 World before 600 AD Pre-Islamic Arabia Period of Revelation 610 to 632 Spread of Islam during 1st Four Khalifas 4:00 Break 4:10 Umayyads & Abbasids Message of the Koran 5:00 Wrap up & discussion

Human journey a quest for knowledge 20:114 "O my Lord! advance me in knowledge."

2 Today

Stars 300 M

Galaxies 1 B

13 B Years

51:47 We constructed the universe with power, and We are expanding it.

Sun 25K light years from the center Yellow paints area where Space Telescope Kepler is looking for habitable planets.

100K Light Years

Creation of Time – 5 B years ago

21:33. It is He who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon; each floating in an orbit.

Cosmic time 4.5 B years to form the earth

40:57. Certainly the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of humanity, but most people do not know.

Plate Tectonics

200 Million years

Arabian Peninsular

Geologic Time 100 million years ago

13:3. And it is He who spread the earth, and placed in it mountains and rivers. And He placed in it two kinds of every fruit. He causes the night to overlap the day. In that are signs for people who reflect.

Carbon14 good up to 50K years Potassium Argon up to 3B years

Parchment radiocarbon dated to between 568 and 645

Evolution of writing 1. Clay tablets 2. Papyrus (from plant) 3. Parchment (sheep, goat) 4. Paper (from pulp)

Geologic Time in millions of years

21:30. Do the disbelievers not see that the heavens and the earth were one mass, and We tore them apart? And We made from water every living thing. Will they not believe?

Biological Big Bang 500 M years ago

Age of Reptiles

Fossil Fuels

Rock Strata a Record in Time

Birth and Death of Stars

2.8 Billion Years

Too hot for life

36:38. And the sun runs towards its destination.

Planet resides in the its solar system, about 500 light-years from Earth. 4 companion planets orbit it, a star half the size of our sun.

The star is classified as red dwarf

Habitable Planet Like Earth

3.6 million years

Laetoli Footprints

From bipedal to walking on the moon

Navigation stars with Arabic names

36: 40. The sun is not to overtake the moon, nor is the night to outpace the day. Each floats in an orbit.

Written History starts at 3000 BC with invention of writing

3000 BC 0 AD 2000 AD 10000 BC

3000 years 2000 years

Stone Age 2.5 M to 3000 BC

5000 BC

Human Time in thousands of years

Oldest 2.5 M years old

30,000 years old.

Bhimbetka

18,500 years ago

Altamira

Cave Paintings

Development requires settlement

River valley civilizations

Indus

Yellow

Nile & Tigris & Euphrates

Invention of the plow, wheel, writing (to count the crops), and pots (to store food)

Rosetta Stone Cuneiform Pottery: alphabet of Archaeologists

"Priest King" statue

2500 – 1500 BC

Indus Valley Civilization

6250-5400 BC Chatal Huyuk -32 acres

reliably carbon dated to 6,500 B.C

Permanent Settlements

Fertile Crescent

Alexander

Cyrus Assyrian Babylon Sargon

Nile Valley

Alexander

0

Caesar Cyrus Assyrian

Monotheism a recent belief

Indus Valley

Harrappan Civilization

Aryan Invasion

Asoka

0 3000 BC 2000 BC 1000 BC

Alexander

Chandra Gupta Maurya

326

558 Zoroaster in Persia 563-483 Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) 551-479 Confucius 550 -520 Lao-Tzu 540-468 Mahavira (teacher) 459 Socrates 400 Plato 350 Aristotle

800-600 Upanishads in India

1200-800 Vedas in India – no founder

1375 Akhenaton introduces monotheism in Egypt 1790 Code of Hammurabi 1800 Egyptian belief in afterlife

Ten Commandments. Jewish prophets, or spiritual leaders, preached a code of ethics, or moral standards of behavior

Epicureanism Epicurus 324-270 BC free the body from pain and free the mind from fear avoid excess no life after death so no fear. Stoicism Zeno 336-260 BC Universe controlled by a universal law: virtue of duty reason & courage

Abraham lived 1812 BCE to 1637 BCE Moses corresponding to 1391–1271 BCE

Big Bang of Religion Pre history Animism, paganism, no textbooks

Biblical Account of Abraham’s Journey (non historic)

Gods Of Babylon

Noah

1000 BC 0 AD 3000 BC

Moses Jesus

Abraham

2000 BC

Biblical Prophets

Isaac

Jacob (Israel) Joseph

Ishmael Hagar

27 Prophets in the Koran 1. Musa (176 times) - Moses is mentioned most often in the Koran. 2. Ibrahim (69 times) – Abraham - Surah 3. Isa (25 times) 'Al-Masih'(11 times) and Ibn Maryam(23 times) – Jesus - Surah on Marium 4. Yaqub (16 times) Isra'il is also mentioned about 43 times - Jacob 5. Nuh (48 times) – Noah - Surah 6. Yusuf (27 times) – Joseph - Surah 7. Adam (25 times) - Adam 8. Lut (27 times) - Lot 9. Hud (25 times) – Surah 10. Harun (20 times) - Aaron 11. Sulayman (17 times) - Solomon 12. Ishaq (17 times) - Issac 13. Dawud (16 times) - David 14. Ismail (12 times) - Ishmael 15. Shuayb (10 times) 16. Saleh (9 times) 17. Zakariyya (7 times) 18. Yahya (5 times) - John 19. Muhammad (5 times: 3:144, 33:40, 47:2, 48:29 and Ahmed in 61:6) - Surah 20. Al-Yasa' (6:86 and 38:48) - Elisha 21. Ayub (4:163, 6:84, 21:83, 38:41) - Job 22. Dhul-Kifl (21:85, 38:48) - Ezekiel 23. Ilyas (6:85, 37:123 and maybe 37:130) - Elijah 24. Idris (19:56, 21:85) - Enoh 25. Uzayr (9:30) - 26. Yunus (4:163, 6:86, 10:98, 37:139) – Jonah - Surah 27. Luqman (31:12,31:13) - Surah

1000 500 500 1000 0

Holy Books

Judaism Christianity Islam

Taoism Zoroastrianism

Sikhism Mormon

Bahai

Hinduism

35

Growth by conversion per year is insignificant

2.2B

1.6B

1.1B

.5B Less than 0.12%

Less than 0.06%

Sikhs 23,738,500

Jews 14,824,000

Spiritists 13,732,600

Daoists (Taoists) 8,429,100

Baha’is 7,337,000

Confucianists 6,516,790

Jains 5,276,500

Shintoists 2,772,000

Zoroastrians 178,580

-2760 -2750 to -1500 -2600 to -2480 -1700 to -1400 -1550 -1530 to -323

-1250 -530 to -460 -500 to 164 -477 to -438 -214 -200 to 200

-100 to 300 -15 to 14 70 to 82 118 to 126 315

-2760

Peoples that had come and gone before 600

World before 600 AD

39 with humility & intellectual modesty & minimum bias

AGENDA Time Topic 3:00 World before 600 AD Pre-Islamic Arabia Period of Revelation 610 to 632 Spread of Islam during 1st Four Khalifas 4:00 Break 4:10 Umayyads & Abbasids Message of the Koran 5:00 Wrap up & discussion

Pre Islamic Arabia around 570 AD

Khyber

Tabuk

Hunayn

Harshe Vardhan 606-647 Heung Tsang 629

Taxila Purushapura

Christian Kingdoms of Abyssinia

Byzantine – Christianity state religion Sassanian – Zoroastrianism state religion

Harshe Vardhan (post Gupta – mostly Buddhism & Hinduism)

Tribes of Arabia in 570 AD

Constantine - Edict of Milan - then Justinian

18

2 ft 5

in h

igh

102 ft 6 in diameter

Sasanian king Khosrow I (531–579)

44

Scriptural religions: divinely inspired with revealed scripture: Christianity (state religion), Judaism & Zoroastrianism (state religion) Non-scriptural religions Animism/Polytheism Sanctuaries & Shrines

Shrines served Arab tribes who did not believe in monotheism.

False Gods 1. Al-Lat (53:19) 2. Al-Uzza (53:19) ... 3. Manat (53:20) 4. Wadd (71:23) 5. Suwa (71:23) 6. Yaghuth (71:23) 7. Yauq (71:23) 8. Nasr (71:23) 9. Baal (37:125)

Historian’s problem of documentation and interpretation

Jesus Christ 3 ½ years of preaching

Sifting through archaeological and historical records No hard evidence exists Everything we know about him was written by people who never actually met him Earliest letters describing him were written by Paul who converted after his death Gospels were composed decades later Christianity transformed from a small Jewish sect to a world religion

Born 6 or 4 BC In Bethlehem

Raised in Nazareth

began his public teaching and display of miracles 3.5 years

Cousin John the Baptist, baptizes him in the Jordan River Going into the wilderness for forty days

Jesus as the risen Christ (Greek for Messiah)

What the Gospels say about Jesus … a lot

Matthew 17:1-13 17 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

The Nicene Creed I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.

30. The Jews said, "Ezra is the son of God," and the Christians said, "The Messiah is the son of God." These are their statements, out of their mouths. They emulate the statements of those who blasphemed before. May God assail them! How deceived they are!

50 with humility & intellectual modesty & minimum bias

AGENDA Time Topic 3:00 World before 600 AD Pre-Islamic Arabia Period of Revelation 610 to 632 Spread of Islam during 1st Four Khalifas 4:00 Break 4:10 Umayyads & Abbasids Message of the Koran 5:00 Wrap up & discussion

Abbasids (300 years) Baghdad 750-1050

Umayyads (100 years) Damascus 660 to 750

History of Islam - history of the Quraish

Hamza Abu Talib Abu Lahab

Ali

570 to 632

1 2 3 4 5

Banu Abd-Shams Banu Hashim

Yazid

Profile of the Last Messenger of Allah

570 Born in Mecca - father Abdullah died before his birth Halima raised him in the desert till he was 6 576 Mother Aminah died when he was 6 Under care of grandfather Abd Al-Muttalib till he was 8 578 Under care of uncle Abu Talib till he was 50 595 Married Khatija when he was 25 she was 40 610 Cave of Hira start of revelation 613 Public preaching (615 followers migrate to Ethiopia) 620 Abu Talib died and so did Khatija 622 Hijra to Yatrib later renamed Medina at age 52 632 Passed away at age 62

Muslim Sources

Trader till he was 40

Messenger from 40 to 62

Muslim City State & community in Medina

622 Start of a Muslim community (ummah) 623 Raids on Meccan caravans – Nakhla raid. Qibla change. Jumah 624 Badr - Expulsion of the Bani Qainuqa from Medina 625 Uhad - Banū Naḍīr banished to Khayber 626 Expedition of Banu Mustaliq 627 Khandaq - Qurayẓah men executed women & children enslaved 628 Treaty of Hudaybiyya with Meccans - Khayber and jizyah enacted 629 Umrah to Mecca, raid into Christian lands at Muta 630 Conquest of Mecca, cleanse the Kaaba. Hunain, Aswad retained. 631 Return to Medina and expedition to Tabuk 632 Pilgrimage and farewell sermon to Mecca, death in Medina

Muslim Sources

55 with humility & intellectual modesty & minimum bias

AGENDA Time Topic 3:00 World before 600 AD Pre-Islamic Arabia Period of Revelation 610 to 632 Spread of Islam during 1st Four Khalifas 4:00 Break 4:10 Umayyads & Abbasids Message of the Koran 5:00 Wrap up & discussion

Muhammad is no more than a messenger. Messengers have passed on before him. If he dies or gets killed, will you turn on your heels?

Abu Bakr 632 AD

Khalifat rasul allah

Khulafa Rashidun (Rightly Guided Caliphs – Sunni view - 632 to 661) Abu Bakr al-Ṣiddiq born 573 (632-4) “Khalifat rasul allah”- father in law

Wars of Ridda apostasy and breakaway of tribes False prophets defeated: Musailama, Tulaiha Asadi, Laqait and Aswad Ansi

Umar ibn Al-Khattab Al-Faruq born 581 (634-44) “Amir al-muminin” – father in law Expanded empire ruling the whole Sasanian Empire and 2/3 of the Byzantine Empire (Iran, Egypt, Palestine) – Yarmouk, Qadisiya, true religion believers

Uthman ibn Affan born 577 (644-56) – son in law Migrated to Abyssinia (modern Ethiopia) in 614–615 Produced official edition of Koran in 650 Favored relatives, mostly late converts to Islam Revolt against him, killed.

Ali born 600 chosen in Medina (656 to 661) – son in law and cousin Muawiya (in Syria) opposes him – first civil war of Quraish tribe 656-661 Aisha, Talha, Zubayr oppose him:

Defeated by Ali at the Battle of the Camel (656) Battle of Siffin: Ali vs Muawiya (657); arbitration Kharijites secede from Ali / reject both Ali and Muawiya

Defeated by Ali at Nahrawand (658) Spends most of his reign in conflict with other Muslims, moved the capital from

Medina to Kufa Assassinated by Khariji (661)

First Four Caliphs – All relatives (30 years)

58

Expansion by the First Four Caliphs

Abu Bakr

Usman

Omer

Usman

Omer

59 with humility & intellectual modesty & minimum bias

AGENDA Time Topic 3:00 World before 600 AD Pre-Islamic Arabia Period of Revelation 610 to 632 Spread of Islam during 1st Four Khalifas 4:00 Break 4:10 Umayyads & Abbasids Message of the Koran 5:00 Wrap up & discussion

Muawiya (661-80) , Abu Sufyan’s son becomes the sole Caliph. Hasan’s abdication. “Khalifat allah” Moves capital to Damascus models his government’ along Byzantine Empire lines Designated son Yazid as successor: beginning of hereditary “monarchy”.

Yazid (680-3) second civil war Husain rebelled, killed at Karbala (680) – 20 years after death of Ali

Marwan (684-5) Abd al-Malik (685-705) made Arabic the common language – emphasis on Islam

Dome of the Rock caliphate reached its peak 691 Walid I (705-15) Great Mosque Of Damascus – 711 Sind to Samarkand to Spain Sulayman (715-7) Umar II b. ‘Abd al-‘Aziz (717-20) Yazid II (720-24) Hisham (724-43) Muslim advance into France halted at Poitiers (732) Walid II (743-4) Yazid III (744) Ibrahim (744) Marwan II (744-50) after 750 core of revolution was shia

The Umayyad Dynasty 660-750 (90 years)

Expansion under the Umayyads

Majority was conquered in the first 30 years - great expansion was military and political, not religious; conversion to Islam was discouraged as it reduced taxes on non-Muslims.

705 691

Umayyads Advance

Umayyads Advance

62

684–691

706 to 715

706 to 715

884 - 879

The Abbasids 750-1050 (300 years)

The Abbasid dynasty descended from uncle, uncle Abbas (566–653 CE). Moved capital to Baghdad after taking over from the Umayyads in 750 CE Increasing inclusion of non-Arab Muslims in the ummah. A new version of sunni caliphate Forced to cede control over Al-Andalus and Maghreb to the Umayyads, Morocco to the Idrisid dynasty, Ifriqiya to the Aghlabids, and Egypt to the Shi'ite Caliphate of the Fatimids. Baghdad became a center of science, culture, philosophy and invention during the Golden Age of Islam. Written collections of Hadith (sayings of the Prophet) are compiled 800 AD Political power of the caliphs ended with the rise of the Buyids and the Seljuq Turks. This period of cultural fruition ended in 1258 with the sack of Baghdad by the Mongols under Hulagu Khan. The Abbasid line of rulers, and Muslim culture in general, re-centered themselves in the Mamluk capital of Cairo in 1261. Though lacking in political power, the dynasty continued to claim authority in religious matters until after the Ottoman conquest of Egypt (1517).

No Expansion under the Abbasids

Up to Aral Sea

Lose Spain and Morocco

1338 to 1390

End of Arab Caliphate

908 First Fatimid caliph in Tunisia

928 Umayyad Abd ar-Rahman III declares himself caliph in Cordoba

945 The Buyids (Persian) invade Baghdad and take power from caliph

1055 Seljuk Turks take Baghdad; Abbasids now only nominal rulers.

Loss of area

Loss of area

Succession leads to Sects

Nation of Islam

Druze

73

with humility & intellectual modesty & minimum bias

AGENDA Time Topic 3:00 World before 600 AD Pre-Islamic Arabia Period of Revelation 610 to 632 Spread of Islam during 1st Four Khalifas 4:00 Break 4:10 Umayyads & Abbasids Message of the Koran 5:00 Wrap up & discussion

Is focused on the next world

The Clot Mecca 1

The Pen Mecca 2

The Mantled One Mecca 3

The Clothed One Mecca 4

The Opening Mecca 5

The Flame Mecca 6

The Cessation Mecca 7

The Most High Mecca 8

The Night Mecca 9

The Dawn Mecca 10

The Early Hours Mecca 11

The Expansion Mecca 12

Time Mecca 13

The Assaulters Mecca 14

Abundance Mecca 15

Worldly Gain Mecca 16

The Daily Necessaries Mecca 17

The Unbelievers Mecca 18

The Elephant Mecca 19

The Daybreak Mecca 20

Mankind Mecca 21

Purity (of Faith) Mecca 22

The Star Mecca 23

He Frowned Mecca 24

The Majesty Mecca 25

The Sun Mecca 26

The Constellations Mecca 27

The Fig Mecca 28

The Quraish Mecca 29

The Terrible Calamity Mecca 30

The Resurrection Mecca 31

The Slanderer Mecca 32

The Emissaries Mecca 33

Qaf Mecca 34

The City Mecca 35

The Night-Comer Mecca 36

The Moon Mecca 37

Sad Mecca 38

The Elevated Places Mecca 39

The Jinn Mecca 40

Ya Sin Mecca 41

The Criterion Mecca 42

The Creator Mecca 43

Mary Mecca 44

Ta Ha Mecca 45

That Which is Coming Mecca 46

The Poets Mecca 47

The Ant Mecca 48

The Narrative Mecca 49

The Israelites Mecca 50

Jonah Mecca 51

Hud Mecca 52

Joseph Mecca 53

The Rock Mecca 54

The Cattle Mecca 55

The Rangers Mecca 56

Lukman Mecca 57

Sheba Mecca 58

The Companies Mecca 59

The Forgiving One Mecca 60

Ha Mim Mecca 61

The Counsel Mecca 62

The Embellishment Mecca 63

The Evident Smoke Mecca 64

The Kneeling Mecca 65

The Sandhills Mecca 66

The Scatterers Mecca 67

The Overwhelming Calamity Mecca 68

The Cave Mecca 69

The Bee Mecca 70

Noah Mecca 71

Abraham Mecca 72

The Prophets Mecca 73

The Believers Mecca 74

The Adoration Mecca 75

The Mountain Mecca 76

The Kingdom Mecca 77

The Inevitable Mecca 78

The Ladders Mecca 79

The Tidings Mecca 80

Those Who Pulled Out Mecca 81

The Cleaving Asunder Mecca 82

The Rending Mecca 83

The Romans Mecca 84

The Spider Mecca 85

The Defrauders Mecca 86

Meccan Suras = 86 – 60% - 6K ayats

The Cow Madina 87

The Spoils of War Madina 88

The Family of 'Imran Madina 89

The Allies Madina 90

She Who is Tested Madina 91

Women Madina 92

The Shaking Madina 93

The Iron Madina 94

Muhammad Madina 95

The Thunder Madina 96

The Merciful Madina 97

The Time Madina 98

The Divorce Madina 99

The Proof Madina 100

The Exile Madina 101

The Light Madina 102

The Pilgrimage Madina 103

The Hypocrites Madina 104

She Who Pleaded Madina 105

The Chambers Madina 106

The Prohibition Madina 107

The Cheating Madina 108

The Ranks Madina 109

The Day of Congregation Madina 110

The Victory Madina 111

The Table Madina 112

Repentance Madina 113

The Help Madina 114

Madinan Suras =28 – 40%

Eternal word of God – message transmitted through the angel Gabriel Revelation started in 610 and lasted 22 years (12 in Mecca & 10 in Medina)

Belief in oneness & omnipotence of God – creator of the world and everything in it Worship of one god and rejection of idol worship and false gods or partners Regular prayer, almsgiving and chartable treatment of poor, widows and orphans Guidelines for righteous living Humility in all one’s affairs Observance of modesty in dress and interaction (no ostentation) Need to actively work for good and stand up against evil Injunctions, pilgrimage, fasting, forgiveness and mercy of God Warning that only through devotion to one God (Allah) and through righteous observance of the revealed religion can humans attain salvation in afterlife Last judgment Those who live righteously will go to heaven and those who don’t would go to hellfire Stories of earlier prophets who brought God’s message and served as models of righteous conduct Text is addressed to “believers” O you who believe…

Koran - recitation

Components of the Koran

45%

25%

15%

7%

8% Belief

Day of Judgement

Story of prophets

God

Guidelines / Prohibitions

Genesis from the Bible

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. ….Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Koran 38. We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six days, and no fatigue touched Us.

Adam in the Koran He created him from dust, then said to him, "Be," and he was. It is He who gives life and death; and when He decides on a thing, He just says to it, "Be," and it comes to be 39: 6. He created you from one person, then made from it its mate, and brought down livestock for you-eight kinds in pairs. 50. We said to the angels, "Bow down to Adam." So they bowed down, except for Satan. He was of the jinn, and he defied the command of his Lord. Will you take him and his offspring as lords instead of Me, when they are an enemy to you? Evil is the exchange for the wrongdoers.

Fall of Man in the Bible Eve is tempted by the serpent to eat from the tree of knowledge (right or wrong). God evicts them. To Adam God says “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

No Original Sin In Islam Koran only mentions Adam by name and calls it a Garden (not of Eden) Satan shows Adam the tree of immortality (or one that would make him an angel) They taste the tree and their bodies become visible to them Adam disobeyed God and was expelled to earth where he would live and die But God pardoned him and told him to wait for guidance from me, follow it and don’t go astray 25. He said, "In it you will live, and in it you will die, and from it you will be brought out.“ 38. We said, "Go down from it, all of you. Yet whenever guidance comes to you from Me, then whoever follows My guidance-they have nothing to fear, nor shall they grieve.

Torah (Old Testament) Names Adam’s sons Abel & Cain. Adam also has another son Seth. In Seth’s descendents is Noah. Farmer Cain kills shepherd Abel after his animal offering to God is not accepted. And his fruit offering is rejected. God cursed Cain

Koran on First Murder Adam has 2 sons (unnamed) One son’s offering is accepted by God and the other’s isn’t The soul of the one whose offering was not accepted prompts him to kill his brother God sent a raven to show him burial (burial rites not explained in Koran)

Genesis 9:21-25 21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.

22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.

23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.

24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.

25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

Noah in Bible

Whenever I called them to Your forgiveness, they thrust their fingers into their ears, and wrapped themselves in their garments, and insisted, and became more and more arrogant.

23. And they said, "Do not give up your gods; do not give up Wadd, nor Souwa, nor Yaghoos, and Yaooq, and Nassr.

26. Noah said, "My Lord, do not leave of the unbelievers a single dweller on earth. 27. If You leave them, they will mislead your servants, and will breed only wicked unbelievers. 64. But they called him a liar. So We saved him and those with him in the Ark, and We drowned those who rejected Our revelations. They were blind people.

27. So We inspired him: "Build the Ark under Our observation and by Our inspiration. And when Our decree comes to pass, and the oven boils over, load into it two pairs of every kind, together with your family, except those of them against whom the word has already been pronounced. And do not speak to me concerning those who did wrong; for they are to be drowned."

Noah in the Koran

Biblical Abraham chosen by God

Biblical story is one of prejudice, exile and suffering

Genesis 22:1-19 22 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Ibrahim the Hanif - Khalil Allah God chose Adam, Noah, Abraham … Azar his father worshipped idols - tries to convince him Demolished the statues except the biggest one They tried to burn him but God cooled the fire Leaves his father and his people Miracle birth of Isaac Built the Kaaba with Ishamel in Bekka’ ; Station of Abraham Pilgrimage 4 birds story illustration of God giving life after death Dream of son’s sacrifice Ishmael cooperates – not mentioned by name

False Gods 1. Al-Lat (53:19) 2. Al-Uzza (53:19) ... 3. Manat (53:20)

Moses in the Bible

Exodus 3:2-4 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

Moses most mentioned in the Koran

28:30. When he reached it, he was called from the right side of the valley, at the Blessed Spot, from the bush: "O Moses, it is I, God, the Lord of the Worlds. 31. Throw down your staff." And when he saw it wiggling, as if it were possessed, he turned his back to flee, and did not look back. "O Moses, come forward, and do not fear, you are perfectly safe. 32. Put your hand inside your pocket, and it will come out white, without blemish. And press your arm to your side, against fear. These are two proofs from your Lord, to Pharaoh and his dignitaries. They are truly sinful people."

And to Ad their brother Hud The story of Hud is mentioned several times in the Quran 46:21-26, 7:65-72, 11:50-60, and 26:123-140. The 11th Surah is named after him Ad people's wealth ultimately proved to be their failure, as they became arrogant and forsook God and began to adopt idols for worship. The wind which carries the grievous punishment! It will destroy everything at the bidding of its Lord. " So in the morning there was nothing but their empty dwellings to be seen.”

Koran makes no reference to the location of Ad Denied God’s warning

People of Lut brother Lut 7:80-84; 11:63-83; 15:57-77; 25:160-175; 25: 54-58; 29: 26, 28-35; 37: 133-138; 51:31-37; 54: 33-39; 66:10. Nephew of Abraham. He migrated with Abraham to Canaan People of Lut - men had sex with men No explicit ban on sexual orientation Wife left behind (like Noah’s)

And to Thamud their brother Saleh The life of the Prophet Saleh is described in passages of the Quran: 7:73-78,11:61-68, 26:141-159, and 27:45-53.

He is mentioned nine times throughout the Koran and his people are frequently referenced as a wicked community who, because of their sins, were ultimately destroyed. Once again, the people of Thamud, deviated from the right path and started to worship idols, and once again, Allah the Most Merciful decided to send them a prophet from amongst themselves to guide them back to the right path. This prophet was Prophet Saleh. A terrible earthquake came by night preceded by a mighty blast in the sky. The explosion struck their community and, in a matter of minutes, the people were buried in the ruins of their own homes

To Median their brother Shuaib He is mentioned in the Quran a total of 11 times Parallel with other prophets The prophet would be sent to his community; the community would pay no attention to his warning and would instead threaten him with punishment; God would ask him to leave his community and his people would be subsequently destroyed by a mighty earthquake Koran does not have a timeline Madian – Moses also went there

No compulsion in religion Simple No need for violence Self defense Sakina – spirit of peace Righteousness Renewal vs reform - simplicity Compassion All religions say the same thing (except manmade items: Infallibility, Hate speech) Surah 1 verse 256. Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things. God does not weigh a person down with a load the person cannot bear – Surah 1 verse 286. On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. Islam also has a short cut or a shorter straight path – if you do not commit big sins the small ones are overlooked ! Surah 53 verse 32. Those who avoid great sins and shameful deeds, only (falling into) small faults,- verily thy Lord is ample in forgiveness. Surah 4 verse 31. If ye (but) eschew the most heinous of the things which ye are forbidden to do, We shall expel out of you all the evil in you, and admit you to a gate of great honor.

He speaks to us through the Koran

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reaI6BpKi-c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reaI6BpKi-c

So where are you going?

Indeed

All these people are dead

Polytheists/Animists

Day of Judgment

Trumpet will be blown twice – all relationships end Natural convulsion, tombs strewn around People will rise up from their graves (resurrected) in a twinkling of the eye Assigned angel and driver will arrive to take souls and escort them (envoys never fail – will reclaim you) 1. If you have been good they will take your soul gently 2. If you have been bad they will take it violently

Those who did good – their faces radiant - laughing Those who did bad – faces blackened and blind - remorseful Book of deeds: Sijjeen for sins Elliyeen for good deeds

Day of Judgment – scales are just

Your hands will speak and you r feet will testify – mouth will be sealed No secret remains hidden

Fully compensated

Atom’s weight of good & evil

9:72 God promises the believers men and women 9:23 Everlasting Gardens which they will enter, along with their righteous parents, spouses, and their descendents How excellent is the Final Home

What will get you into heaven?

5 pillars obviously Good deeds cancel bad deeds Avoid major prohibitions (few listed)

prohibitions on food & drink, gambling usury, inheritance, prohibited relationships, and property of orphans

Simple Message of the Koran Follow the straight path so we weigh the scales • Humility - respect for people and differences in beliefs • Non materialism – non attachment to possessions – temporary life • No hoarding • Wealth and possessions shared zeenat of dunya • No Anger – but forgiveness • No Pride – but humility and simplicity • No Deceitfulness – but openness • No Greed – but contentment Prayer should be focused on the hereafter and break the attachment to worldly dunya – free one’s soul - Fasting – self control and clear the mind of clutter Social welfare with means and in person Pilgrimage Happiness 62:10. And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah. and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper.

Middle Path Moderation

104

with humility & intellectual modesty & minimum bias

AGENDA Time Topic 3:00 World before 600 AD Pre-Islamic Arabia Period of Revelation 610 to 632 Spread of Islam during 1st Four Khalifas 4:00 Break 4:10 Umayyads & Abbasids Message of the Koran 5:00 Wrap up & discussion