Before beginning this section on Islam I had a brief understanding of the religion but there were still a lot of question marks. I knew that the God they worshiped was the same God as Judaism and Christianity but the major misconception I had was Muhammad’s role in the Religion. I put Muhammad and Jesus on the same plane, figuring that Muhammad was kind of like Islam’s Jesus. I didn’t realize that the two are actually very different.
Not being very religious myself I thought of Christianity and Islam as more or less the same religion with women having less rights in Islam. This is obviously incorrect as there are many differences between the two religions. I thought that Muhammad and Jesus were similar to each other and I thought that the Quran and the bible were also similar. I didn’t realize that the teachings in the Quran are the direct words of Allah and not written down years later like the bible. I am glad that I have been able to clear up some of my misconceptions about women and violence in Islam. Before taking this class I had only really heard of women not being able to drive in Saudi Arabia and the Jihad meaning holy war. I didn’t realize that women were actually fairly important in the early days of Islam or that Jihad does not translate literally to holy war and that Muhammad actually encouraged peace. I am glad that I have been able to clear up these misconceptions that I had about Islam and become more educated on the subject.
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Gillian, I think I have learned and realized these same things through our studying Islam. I like what you said about Muhammad encouraging peace. It's sad that a religion with such a pure beginning has become violent with the misuse of jihad.
ReplyDeleteMuhammad's role as a mediator of disputes and a promoter of unity is often overlooked as people focus on the military conflicts he engaged in against the Meccans and the creation of the empire that followed his death.
ReplyDeleteGillian, I had a few of the same miscinceptions myself about women having fewer freedoms with Islam. I have learned the same things about how they play an important role in the development and spead of the religion.
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