The Second Day of Advent: Thomas Jefferson's Take on the Quran

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My friend Hamza sent me this article about Thomas Jefferson's interest in the Quran.  Since I am a little ahead on my reading of the Quran, I thought I'd focus on this article for some insight into the history of how our nation's leaders, over 200 hundred years ago, valued the Quran for many reasons.  The article denotes how Jefferson had his own copy of the Quran, read many articles about the Quran, studied the Quran's legal system, and even learned Arabic.  The Quran served as a vital resource for Jefferson's contribution to the foundation of our legal system.  The article even highlights the call for peace found in the Quran, which contributed to Jefferson's view of war. In Jefferson's famous bill on religious freedom he wrote, 

All attempts to influence the mind "by temporal punishments, or burthens, or by civil incapacitations, tend only to beget habits of hypoc- risy and meanness, and are a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion."  Where the preamble declares that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed, by in-serting the word "Jesus Christ," so that it should read, "a departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion." The insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to compre- hend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo, and infidel of every denomina- tion. 
A champion of religious freedom, Jefferson was willing to let fellow Americans practice whatever religion they chose, Islam included. 

While Jefferson respected the Quran, Arabic, and Islam, he still struggled with its claim of infallibility.  Jefferson believed in finding truth through examining a wide range of sources and utilizing reason to ascertain and compile the best qualities from the variety of documents.  I tend to agree with Jefferson on this one.  Even with the Bible and Christianity forming a foundation of my values, I examine many different sources to best compile my worldview.  Hence, this study of the Quran for Advent.

Is the infallibility of the Quran something that is widely held among Muslims?  What other sources do Muslims hold as authoritative?  How much diversity exists within the Muslim community regarding varying methods of reading Quran?

Posted via email from Advent with Islam: A Presbyterian Chaplain's Journey with the Quran

The First Sunday in Advent: Surah's 2-4

In the Christian tradition, today is the first Sunday in Advent.  It is the first day in the Christian calendar, the day when we begin looking forward to Christ's birth in Bethlehem. 

Since it is the Sunday after Thanksgiving, my wife and I were in Pickerington, Ohio, where I grew up.  We celebrated this first Sunday in Advent at Prince of Peace Presbyterian Church.  I was confirmed in this church.  I was ordained an elder in this church.  And I was supported through seminary in this church.  What a gift it was to be able to celebrate this first day of the Advent season.  As we lit the candle of the Advent wreath, a ritual to countdown the Sundays of Advent in preparation for Christmas, we recited the words, "Living God, come to our world.  When you hide your face, help us, to trust your promises and wait in hope."  Then Pastor Jeff gave the children Advent Calendars to count down the time to Christ's birth. 

After the service, my wife and I began the four hour journey back to Michigan.  On the way, I read through Surah 4 which was 63 pages in total.  As we came through Toledo, I got a wonderful picture of the large Mosque rising out of the cornfields.  Moving from the Christian Advent service to reading the Quran and seeing the Mosque illustrated, for me in my personal spiritual life, the crux of my project to read the Quran for Advent.  It is to wrestle with the complexities of interfaith relations and the diverse reality of our religious landscape.  It is also to raise awareness of interfaith cooperation, to engage in conversation among members of the faiths, and hopefully, motivate all of us to be open and connect with our neighbors. Once we deeply share in each other's lives and religious identities, then maybe, we can work together to improve our communities.

So what were my thoughts, questions, and observations of my first 63 pages of the Quran?

Well, there are many.  First, I was surprised at my familiarity of the stories and characters.  The Quran references Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mary (among others) multiple times in the first chapter.  I felt a deep connection to the Quran immediately as I related to the stories shared by Christianity and Judaism.  I've read that Jesus is mentioned around 25 times in the Quran, while Mohammed, PBUH, is mentioned only 4 times.  Along the same lines, the Quran repeatedly expresses that all of the prophets of Allah are seen as equals.  I wonder if we may have closer, more amicable relationships among Christians and Muslims if most Christians knew Jesus is seen as an equal to Mohammed, PBUH, in Islam.  And further I wonder how things would be, if Christians knew that we shared so many stories and traditions and believed in the same God.

The next characteristics of the Quran that struck me is its literary form.  While I know I am reading a translation of the Quran, where much is lost, it seemed that Allah was speaking directly to the reader and the community, refering to Allah's self in the form of the royal 'We" and also in third person.  Much of the literary form seemed to be sort of "stream of consciousness" not being organized by theme or chronology.  Also, it consisted much of decrees and commands and wisdom straight from Allah.  Even when a prophet or event was referenced, it is refenced in the context of the present meaning in relationship to Allah's instruction concerning faith and righteousness.  It seems to vary from the literary structure where the narration of events or stories, as found in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, are expressed in first person and the event itself is experienced by the reader at the time of reading.  I wonder if this characteristic of the Quran comes from its quality of Allah's words being spoken directly through the Prophet Mohammed, PBUH.

I also read that some of the Quran is interpreted literally and some allegorically.  How does the reader make this distinction.  

Also, how much of the historical context is needed to understand these passages more fully (I assume the historical context is totally necessary). 

Finally, after reading Surah 4 titled "The Women," it is apparent the Quran supports a patriarchal culture (as the Bible does).  Are there feminist Muslim scholars that reinterpret parts of the Quran?  Are there translations of the Quran that use inclusive language (it seems the Quran is directly addressed to men, and only secondarily addressed to women through the men)?  What about the idea that men should get twice the amount of inheritance than the woman in the family, is this taken literally in the present day?  These observations are viewed through the lens of a progressive Christian where the feminist voice is valued and heard (not that it isn't in the Muslim community).  I'd love to get some feedback on this.

In summary, the Quran is dense with ideas and material and stories and history.  Its almost overwhelming.  But I feel more connected to my Muslim friends and I am excited about building my knowledge of their faith and connecting with them on a deeper level!  

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Posted via email from Advent with Islam: A Presbyterian Chaplain's Journey with the Quran

Surah Al-Fatiha and a visit to the Coldwater American Muslim Society

I was so excited to get started meeting my Muslim neighbors that I drove to the American Muslim Society in Coldwater, Michigan (about 15 miles away).  I also decided to read the first Surah in the Quran, which is short, but very important (it's recited many times a day in daily prayer).  Getting a head start was probably smart considering the next few Surah of the Quran are very lengthy.

When I arrived at the American Muslim Society, I struck up conversation with a young man named Hussein.  I introduced myself and said that I was interested in connecting with the community there and learning more about it. The Muslim community there has its own Islamic school, grocery store, and Masjid.  Hussein said that most of the families are orignially from Yemen.  I asked how many people are active in the Mosque.  He said that I just missed Friday prayer at noon where there were over 300 people in attendance.  

Wow.  300 people!  That's more than 3 times the regular attendance of my wife's church in the area.  Especially in a town of around 12,000 people, that size of a Muslim community is astounding...and telling of our increasingly diverse religious landscape in America.  

Hussein's father, Ali, introduced himself and gave me the contact information of the manager of the Mosque named Musa.  Musa knows best the history of the community and could help me with my project of reading the Quran.  I also asked if it would be ok to join them for Friday prayer in the following weeks and they said I was always welcome and to come anytime.  I thanked them both and told them I looked forward to seeing them again.

Even though it was a spur of the moment visit, it turned out to be extremely worthwhile.  I felt very welcomed by the community, even though I'm sure they wondered why this strange Christian arrived unannounced and asked so many questions.  While I was there, Islamic school was in session and about 10 kids were outside playing and walking down the streets.  Some of the women or girls wore hijabs and it seemed like only the older women wore burqas which covered their whole body.  I didn't get a chance to talk to any women, but I was aware that the cultural customs may be sensitive, especially of an outsider, talking to women of the community.  That's something I can ask Musa in the future.  

Then I drove home and opened the Quran.  The first Surah reads as follows...

Surah #1: Al-Fatiha (The Opener)

In the name of Allah the most beneficent the most merciful 

All praise is due to Allah 

The most benificent the most merciful 

The lord of the day of Judgement 

Thee alone we worship thee alone we seek for help 

Guide us to the right path 

The path of those upon whom thou has bestowed favors. Not of those who thou has cursed once not of those whom have gone astray.

While I know this Surah is very important and is recited many times (anywhere from 17-49 times, I have read, each time to complete a Raka'ah) in the daily prayer life of a Muslim, I would love to hear more information about the first Surah from my Muslim friends reading this blog (Ala, Hamza, Zair, Hithem, Sidra, Reem...I'm counting on you!).

When I read this 7 verse Surah, I couldn't help to be reminded of the Jewish Shema (Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One) or the Christian Great Commandment or Lord's Prayer.  I just had a sense, in these short verses of the Surah, so much meaning and faith and love and devotion is contained.  I wonder if this Surah serves as a foundation of one's religious life as a Muslim and connects the individual with the community and with God, due to its powerful words and common, daily usage.  I know the Lord's prayer does that for the Christian world.  

And further, I found the language, the attributes of Allah, and the petitions to be very familiar coming from a Christian perspective.  The beliefs expressed in this first Surah are shared with the Judeo-Christian community.  While I know there are very distinct differences among the Abrahamic faiths, which is good and beautiful, I find this Surah could and should be a point where we can come together, acknowledging we share much (possibly more than we differ) as Jews, Christians, and Muslims.  We share the worship of one God (Yes. Even though we, Christians, believe that Jesus is God, the doctrine of the Trinity affirms our monotheism.  Speaking of which, this was one of the most common questions I recieved from Muslims during my interfaith dialogue presentations--How can Christians be monotheists if they believe in God and Jesus as divine?)  We share the devotion to this God and the hopes that our God will guide us down the right path in this difficult life.  We share the hopes that our God is just and that there will be some benefit to trying to lead a good life, even if it is just knowing that God is always with us.  We share the belief that our God is merciful and will love us even in our darkest moments.  

Again, I celebrate our differences and do not wish to diminish them...but we share so much in beliefs and tradition as Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Hopefully, soon, we will be able to share more in each others' lives.  

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Posted via email from Advent with Islam: A Presbyterian Chaplain's Journey with the Quran

Advent With Islam: Reading the Quran in 29 Days

My name Jake Hofmeister. I'm a Presbyterian Church (USA) pastor, hospital chaplain, and interfaith activist.  I've recently moved to Michigan, where my wife is pastor of First Presbyterian, Jonesville.  Jonesville is a small village of a couple thousand people, surrounded mostly by cornfields and lakes. It's about an hour drive to any sizable metropolitan area.  I was disappointed about moving to a small town because, stereotypically, rural areas in America lack diversity.  While many are homogeneous in southern Michigan, I was surprised to find a diversity I was not expecting...religious diversity.  

On the drive up to Michigan through Ohio, I passed a very large Islamic Community Center in Toledo with the minarets towering over the cornfields.  In the Detroit Metro Airport, there is a multi faith prayer room complete with a Quran and directions pointing to Mecca.  Dearborn Michigan, an hour away, has the highest percentage of Arab Muslims of any other area in America.  Even in rural Coldwater, Michigan only 17 miles away from our small town, there is one of the largest Muslim communities outside of metro Detroit, complete with a Masjid.  Muslims are my neighbors, they are my friends, and they are my community.  

So as I begin my new life in Michigan with my Muslim neighbors and I begin my new call as hospital chaplain in Kalamazoo where colleagues, patients, and their families are Muslim, I have decided that I need to connect with them more deeply.  

In Christianity, we are approaching a very special time in the life of the church--Advent.  Advent is derivative of the Latin adventus, meaning "coming".  It is the time where we anticipate the incarnation of Jesus at Christmas.  And for me, the incarnation of Jesus represents God's radical love, openness, and compassion being made real in the world.  

So during this Advent season, I aim to make real God's radical love, openness, and compassion by reading the 114 Surah of the Quran, that's about four "chapters" a day.  But, I won't stop there.  I will visit the local Mosques, speak with my Muslim friends, and try to raise awareness of Islam and advocate for interfaith cooperation.  I do this to stand in solidarity with my Muslim sisters and brothers who have been suffering in a post 9/11 atmosphere of prejudice.  I do this also to be better able to understand and minister to my Muslim patients as a hospital chaplain.  I do this, too, as a personal journey in hopes to deepen my own spiritual life.

So starting this Sunday, I will be reading 4 Surahs a day through Christmas.  I will be blogging about my experience daily.  I hope to travel to Coldwater, to Dearborn, and to other communities to connect with Muslims, talk about this project, and to stand in solidarity with them.  I will also be attending my wife's church and participating in the season of Advent from the Christian perspective.  Hopefully, some deep insights will emerge from this juxtaposition. 

My first blog post will be the first Sunday in Advent, Nov. 28.  Until then, I will be in conversation with my friends and neighbors about the background and techniques to best read and understand the Quran, especially coming from a non-Muslim perspective.  I'm counting on you Hamza and Zair!

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Posted via email from Chaplain Jake Hofmeister