One view on what Sharia is (and isn't)

[Ms. Toad]

Last edited Fri Jan 20, 2012, 11:43 AM - Edit history (1)

I hope you'll forgive a link to what may be really basic to the rest of you.

I know embarrassingly little about Islam - other than that I recognize bigotry when I see it in the wider world and here on DU, and it makes me angry when we tolerate it. I guess not wanting to embarrass myself when I speak out against the bigotry I see is as good a motivation to better educate myself as any.

I ran across this very helpful (to me) piece on Sharia (done in response to Newt Gingrich's suggestion that Sharia was a threat to our existence).

http://soundcloud.com/theciviccommons/what-exactly-is-sharia

ETA: Part of what I found really useful were the concrete examples near the end about the interplay between the Quran, prophets, and ishtihad on items not explicitly addressed in the Quran beer consumption and mortgages (and banking in general). It put the rigidity and "stuck in the past" understanding, which seems to form the basis or fear for many in a very different context.

[Violet_Crumble]

1. Thanks for posting that, Ms Toad...

I've only got a really basic grasp of Islam which was gained when I was studying Middle East politics, but have gotten interested in finding out more since I encountered anti-Muslim bigotry here at DU, so I'm pretty much in the same boat as you...

[Alameda]

2. You have found an excellent explanation of what sharia is.

[Ms. Toad]

3. It is connected to the series I have been participating in -

sponsored by NOCMES.org and the Civic Commons. The interviewer is a friend of mine. I'll pass the compliment on.

The featured speaker last night is the one on the NOCMES website - she and two other people formed the panel for last night. (The interviewer on that tape was also the interviewer last night.)

[Alameda]

4. I wish more Muslims participated in such events.

I have heard too many say they only read the Quran, which should not be read without the others. One should consider, how many Christians really think about it. I was having a conversation with someone the other night about Roman Catholics and how many actually believe in, or prescribe to the basic doctrines. Islam has the same thing. Many were born into families and societies that practice Islam, but they don't delve too much into the fine points.

I have heard too many Muslims say the Quran says this or that, only to check it up and find out they did not know what they were talking about. There is a problem with the Salafi school taking over since Saudi Arabia gained the dollars to spread it's word.

[Ms. Toad]

5. It is the same with most religions.

Perhaps half, or maybe 2/3 of the 65 or so participants were Muslim.

The disconnect between faith and culture is a problem everywhere - accepting the effort it takes to make faith an integral part of your life is challenging with all the secular distractions, so faith starts to become a cultural identification rather than a spiritual one. And - then the challenge comes in with the Salafi school, or in the Christian realm the religious right. Too often, the zealots have done nothing but read the bible (or the Quran) - and it becomes hard for those of us who would be more thoughtful about it to respond because we have lost (or never had) the tools for that kind of rigorous discussion of faith.