Sunday 3 March 2013

The Quran - Wisdom Further - The Ecumenical World


In being interested in ecumenical work for "a while", also with Nelson Mandelas blessing/marriage into three different religions, the Islam, the Judaism, and the Christian, I have obtained two Qurans, one by Rev. J. M. Rodwell, from the Gutenberg Project, and one with the sponsorship from Saudi-Arabia, by Dr. M.  T.-ud-D. Al-Hilali and Dr. M. M. Khan.

I consider the one by Dr. M. T.-ud-D. Al-Hilali and Dr. M. M. Khan, the best, its title is "[The Quran]" - "Interpretation of the [M]eaning of the Qur'an in the English Language".

I'll add a few notes on this as we go along, but let's start with some suggestions on improvements:

1. My opinion is that "Surah" is to be included, and that "Surah" = "Chapter" can be added as remark below the Surah-index.
2. One should /not/ distort the sequence of the Surahs, like in the version by Rodwell.

These two are the formal ones I have now. If I find more, I'll note it here.
The content and interpretation apart from the technical translation issues:

1. I also would like you to know, in the same breath, that the Quran is truly a friend. Even though it contains a toughie "man-to-man" message to the Torah-reading Jews (also Taurat), it's exactly this, "we are brothers in religion, of wisdom from the Heavenly powers, man!"

There's more too that has sympathy in it, because I think it looks inviting "to all the heavenly directions", and if the man, the Messenger from Allah would be here with us up to recently, if not NOW, then he would mention Buddhism and Hinduism too, I'm so sure!

But travellin' was hard back then and this fact may well have lead to various religious books developing own societies with own cultures and the rest... This probably spells out by the reading of the Quran and I think you know it!!!

2. (There are instances of the word, "Bahai" in the Quran.)

3. (the rest that I can come up with...)

Over the quarrel(?) with the U. S. Americans I side with the Muslims, that the Christian U. S. American side has lost in that the Muslims say that the Quran is correct too!!! I'm going to look into this, but as I've now declared the ecumenical work and I consider every (of the 9) religious work as important, there can be no doubt, every religion (9 to start) is important and is correct by its particular message, delivery from our ancestors, (usually/always) including the 4 components of ethics, meaning, description of infinity, description of how this infinity is achieved, a kind of metaphysical workings by this "super-power of [God, put in your name of Buddha and others]".

Happy reading to you too! Cheers!

Note: My text may be difficult and is not recommended for people who are impatient or who have general troubles with text of standard formatting, fx. 12 pt. and Arial. Please see Chicago Manual of Style.

15 comments:

  1. I also would like you to know, in the same breath, that the Quran is truly a friend. Even though it contains a toughie "man-to-man" message to the Torah-reading Jews (also Taurat), it's exactly this, "we are brothers in religion, of wisdom from the Heavenly powers, man!"

    There's more too that has sympathy in it, because I think it looks inviting "to all the heavenly directions", and if the man, the Messenger from Allah would be here with us up to recently, if not NOW, then he would mention Buddhism and Hinduism too, I'm so sure!

    But travellin' was hard back then and this fact may well have lead to various religious books developing own societies with own cultures and the rest... This probably spells out by the reading of the Quran and I think you know it!!!

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  2. The note, by myself, on religious Bible can also enter a new or better set-up, that a type of leadership in the World can be seen with a type of token Bible that has a special artwork to it, also in the jewelry sense, that under a new religious code, reinforced religious code, or re-established religious code... that respects/"respects" now should go to the holders of the Bible [or other religious work, like the Quran and Torah] and enter a strengthening of the religious code overall.

    From my Christian background, I also make the call that it's dubious to sell only the New Testament to people.

    Alternative needs to happen such as to sell a message, a popularised Bible "with the right message" as much as the children can obtain a children's Bible.

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  3. I also hold strong sympathies to the Shia Muslims, esp. from Turkey, in line with moderate Christians, that the celebration of God's miracle, the Human Being, now has turned to the Human Rights (UDHR, ECHR) and that we should keep up the good work for better legal systems still.

    That indeed, the Sharia label is a kind of hidden/dressed accusation from some social groups of the "West" for justifying attacks on poor people without the structures of modern society, clinging to the Holy Books of the Quran, waging Sharia laws as way to decency, worthy life, and toward Muslim Heaven (by the "70 raisins"-reference of souls in Heaven without the water of bodies from living people (appx. 70 % water). What we now respect as All Souls' Day.

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  4. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Souls%27_Day - "The official name of the celebration in the Roman Rite liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church is "The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed".[3] Another popular name in English is Feast of All Souls. In some other languages the celebration, not necessarily on the same date, is known as Day of the Dead."

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  5. Some key words to collect an ecumenical corpus yourself (with numbers), starting: Hinduism, Vedas (4), The Rig Veda, Buddhism (2), Theragatha, Canons, Bahai, (4(?)), Cheondoism, Scientology (starting with 8), Christianity (2, one for "Lutherism"/one for Catholic), Torah for Judaism, ...

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  6. Some urls for the Hinduist texts to go:
    http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/index.htm
    http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/wyv/index.htm
    http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/av/index.htm
    http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/tmu/index.htm
    http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/index.htm
    +
    (the others)

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  7. Media Europe, Muslims and Sharia Laws

    It must be noted that /Media/(-Europe) should stop the charicature descriptions of Sharia Laws by the article of Wikipedia (accessed recently in May, 2013) because it must be evident that the Muslim perception of Sharia Laws, also as common insistence, personal life, so on, by moderate and modern Muslim fx. from Turkey, are much the same as that of the moderate, modern Christian by the old reference to the Old Testament, "that we punish by eye for an eye", that we certainly do not do /today/. It's therefore /wrong/ by media to drag out the Sharia Laws from the most impoverished/suppressed parts of Muslim world where they have no access to courts and where pride goes high as much as intolerance of criminals go /low/, hence the amputation of hand from thieves! So media needs to update on its image it conveys to its (European) readers that now as we are more or less part and parcel with them in life, of which many Europeans have Muslim background, that the conclusion must be that they are /most/ apt with the modern notions of legal society and fall well in line with us here in Europe in the most modern, legal sense, no doubt!

    Conclusion: stop using the Sharia Laws against the Muslims (because for real, they are much like us, i.e., modern)!

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  8. The Sharia Laws description from Wikipedia. It's not like two words, no, it's from the god-d*mn whole Quran.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia_law .

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  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  10. The God of Christianity by other religions,

    Judaism:
    YHWH, Yaweh

    Islam:
    Allah

    Hinduism:
    Brahman

    Buddhism:
    Buddha
    - Tibetan Buddhism (Gelug): Buddha still.

    Sikhism:
    Ik Onkar

    Taoism/Kanji/Hiragana/Dao Giao/Hangul:
    Wu Xing
    - not the Five Phases, but rather the "Force"/"Might"/"Maker"/"Allmighty", "my fault of interpretation".
    Note: with the right ethics to by, not some "popular", corrupt version, often associated with white/black Yin-Yang.

    Jainism:
    Jiva
    - not the entirely only the energies, but the most grand Energy Might of all, again "my fault of interpretation".
    Note: with the right ethics to by, not some "popular", corrupt version, often associated with "two faces".

    Scientology:
    8th Dynamic, the God Dynamic - the link to Christianity by the Cross

    Suggestion for the Mormons: inside Christianity, inside Evangelical-Lutheran Church, inside Church of USA - The Church of [Mormons].

    Ecumenism "for all of us":
    We have now entered World Communion of Religiousness forever and with emotional awareness ("telepathy" to be cautious) this is just the best glitz EVER!

    The widest version of Ecumenism of all whitelist/decent Religions is to be recommended.

    Some premises:
    1. One is generous about the social issues, some people have troubles living in poor India and so on.

    2. One skips some details such as kosher kitchen and halal meat and stays with core ethics (of Humanism) and preserves the understanding of grandness that's nicely entailed in all these religions, God as creator of all in the Universe, possibility of Nirvana, a good nod to reincarnation.
    - The rest that's impossible to prove and most certainly not worthy to kill for or go harms way over is left to itself, inside the Holy Book only to tell about or at least out the discussion so that exchange and meeting can be peaceful and exemplary, as intended.

    3. One is open about one's own religion and displays openness the other way to, to learn other people's religions, not necessarily to shun one's own or try to be dominating, but merely to listen in and willing to peacefully impart from one's own Holy Book, whether the Bible, Torah, Quran or the others.

    Secularity and Ecumenism
    Secularity serves Ecumenism and by ecumenism, people acquire better ethics to one-another. God has many names and God is represented in all "whitelist" Religions, starting with YHWH, Allah, Buddha and Brahman...

    Ecumenism is a higher Value. God has many names.

    PS: The list is not considered exhaustive.
    PS2: Some religions above have been moved "back" to a kind of Original Source, the being we in Christianity refer to as God. This is to prevent a kind of "Cardinal Sin of Pride" and to suggest that there is a biggest whole above us to attach to, so to speak. Either way, it is personal to strong-minded people and I do not intend to "interrupt" their experience of their religion. Implicitly, I think this leads to a stronger sense of religion, not the other way. Please, compare with "joy" of Humanism.

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  11. Under Sikhism:
    Scripture
    Guru Granth Sahib
    Adi Granth Dasam Granth
    Sarbloh Granth Five Banis

    Agama is a term for scriptures in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism:
    Āgama (Buddhism)
    Āgama (Jainism)
    Āgama (Hinduism)

    - source: mostly Wikipedia, if not my own work.

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  12. Bahai:
    God/Allah/"Allmighty" (most generally, known as the first ecumenical religion in the World)

    ----
    Addition, under Bahai:
    Scripture
    Kitáb-i-Aqdas
    Kitáb-i-Íqán
    The Hidden Words
    The Seven Valleys

    Url: http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/b/HW/ .

    (That this falls in line with the above.)

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  13. No problem with Sharia Law. Please read on!

    Law of Moses (apart from the 10 Commandments) - Sharia Law
    See also Moderate/Modern Christians to ((Turkey:) Moderate/Modern) Shia Muslims!

    Sources of sharia law
    There are two sources of Sharia (understood as the divine law): the Quran and Sunnah. The Quran is viewed as the unalterable word of God. Much of the Quran exhorts Muslims to general moral values; only 80 verses of the Quran contain legal prescriptions.[63] The Sunnah is the life and example of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The Sunnah's importance as a source of Sharia, is confirmed by several verses of the Quran (e.g. [Quran 33:21]).[64] The Sunnah is primarily contained in the hadith or reports of Muhammad's sayings, his actions, his tacit approval of actions and his demeanor. While there is only one Quran, there are many compilations of hadith, with the most authentic ones forming during the sahih period (850 to 915 CE). The six acclaimed Sunni collections were compiled by (in order of decreasing importance) Muhammad al-Bukhari, Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Al-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah. The collections by al-Bukhari and Muslim, regarded the most authentic, contain about 7,000 and 12,000 hadiths respectively (although the majority of entries are repetitions). The hadiths have been evaluated on authenticity, usually by determining the reliability of the narrators that transmitted them.[65] For Shias, the Sunnah may also include anecdotes The Twelve Imams.[66]
    The process of interpreting the two primary sources of Islamic law is called fiqh (literally meaning "intelligence") or Islamic jurisprudence. While the above two sources are regarded as infallible, the fiqh standards may change in different contexts. Fiqh covers all aspects of law, including religious, civil, political, constitutional and procedural law.[67] Fiqh depends on 4 sources:[67]
    Interpretations of the Quran
    Interpretations of the Sunnah
    Ijma, consensus amongst scholars ("collective reasoning")
    Qiyas/Ijtihad analogical deduction ("individual reasoning")
    Amongst the sources unique to fiqh, i.e. ijma and qiyas/ijtihad, the former is preferred.[67] In Shi'a jurisprudence the fourth source may be expanded to include formal logic (mantiq).[68] Historically the fiqh also came to include comparative law,[66] local customs (urf)[69] and laws motivated by public interest, so long as they were allowed by the above four sources.[69] Because of the involvement of human interpretation, the fiqh is considered fallible, and thus not a part of Sharia (although scholars categorize it as Islamic law).[67]
    There exist five schools of thought of fiqh, all founded within the first four centuries of Islam. Four are Sunni Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali and one Shia: Ja'fari (followed by most Shia Muslims[70]) Many Islamic scholars today advocate renewed approaches to fiqh that don't necessarily follow the traditional five allegiances.[67] The Salafi movement attracts followers from various schools of fiqh, and is based on the Quran, Sunnah and the actions and sayings of the first three generations of Muslims.[71]
    Although there are many different interpretations of Sharia, and differing perspectives on each interpretation, there is consensus among Muslims that sharia is a reflection of God's will for humankind. Sharia must therefore be, in its purest sense, perfect and unchanging.[72] The evolution or refinement of sharia is an effort to reflect God's will more perfectly.[73]

    (...)

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  14. Topics of Islamic law include:
    Hygiene and purification laws, including the manner of cleansing, either wudhu or ghusl.
    Economic laws, including Zakāt, the annual almsgiving; Waqf, the religious endowment; the prohibition on interest or Riba; as well as inheritance laws.
    Dietary laws including Dhabihah, or ritual slaughter.
    Theological obligations, including the Hajj or pilgrimage, with its rituals such as Tawaf, Sa'yee and the Stoning of the Devil; salat, formal worship; Salat al-Janazah, the funeral prayer; and celebrating Eid al-Adha.
    Marital jurisprudence, including Nikah, the marriage contract; and divorce, known as Khula if initiated by a woman.
    Criminal jurisprudence, including Hudud, fixed punishments; Tazir, discretionary punishment; Qisas or retaliation; Diyya or blood money; and apostasy.
    Military jurisprudence, including Jihad, offensive and defensive; Hudna or truce; and rules regarding prisoners of war.
    Dress code, including hijab.
    Other topics include customs and behaviour, slavery and the status of non-Muslims.

    Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia

    Ours, of Christianity:
    Please, read, from that point in time, Exodus and Leviticus, being exactly parallel to the Sharia Laws!

    Book of Leviticus
    Structure
    (See Gordon Wenham, "The Book of Leviticus", and Frank Gorman, "Divine presence and community")[6][7]
    I. Laws on sacrifice (1:1–7:38)
    A. Instructions for the laity on bringing offerings (1:1–6:7)
    1–5. The types of offering: burnt, cereal, peace, purification, reparation (or sin) offerings (ch. 1–5)
    B. Instructions for the priests (6:1–7:38)
    1–6. The various offerings, with the addition of the priests' cereal offering (6:1–7:36)
    7. Summary (7:37–38)
    II. Institution of the priesthood (8:1–10:20)
    A. Ordination of Aaron and his sons (ch.
    B. Aaron makes the first sacrifices (ch. 9)
    C. Judgement on Nadab and Abihu (ch. 10)
    III. Uncleanliness and its treatment (11:1–16:24)
    A. Unclean animals (ch. 11)
    B. Uncleanliness caused by childbirth (ch. 12)
    C. Unclean diseases (ch. 13)
    D. Cleansing of diseases (ch. 14)
    E. Unclean discharges (ch. 15)
    F. Purification of the tabernacle from uncleanliness (ch. 16)
    IV. Prescriptions for practical holiness (the Holiness Code (chs. 17–26)
    A. Sacrifice and food (ch. 17)
    B. Sexual behaviour (ch. 18)
    C. Neighbourliness (ch.19)
    D. Grave crimes (ch. 20)
    E. Rules for priests (ch. 21)
    F. Rules for eating sacrifices (ch. 22)
    G. Festivals (ch.23)
    H. Rules for the tabernacle (ch. 24:1–9)
    I. Blasphemy (ch. 24:10–23)
    J. Sabbatical and Jubilee years (ch. 25)
    K. Exhortation to obey the law: blessing and curse (ch. 26)
    V. Redemption of votive gifts (ch. 27)

    Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testament and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Leviticus . (...)

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  15. One simple example:
    Leviticus 20:18
    18 "If a man has sexual relations with a woman during her monthly period, he has exposed the source of her flow, and she has also uncovered it. Both of them are to be cut off from their people."
    New International Version (NIV)

    Finally, note on the Abrahamic Religions, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Bahai. [End. 3/3.]

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