ch. 4 islam for idiots

Ch. 4 Islam for idiots

1.What is intriguing / interesting / insightful about the benefits of Islam forbidding the use of any representations of Allah? More about this later as well.

Islam like many other religions that have exclusions against portraying God. What Islam lacks in artwork pertaining to God they make up for it with their strong spiritual and intellectual beliefs and ideals.

2.How in some ways is the God of Islam similar to the Hindu concept of Bramha

Islam believes that there is only one God and he is the creator of all. This remind me of the view Christians have on God. Islam believes that there is only one God and he is the creator of all. This remind me of the view Christians have on God

3.What is the meaning of the phrase "La ilaha ill Allah" and what are some of the implications of this phrase? (What reasons do Muslims give for this steadfast belief?)

 It means: “There is no god other than God.” Muslims are also taught that He is not the God of a chosen people. This contradicts the Christian Trinity and the Jewish belief that God is sympathetic only to Jews. 

4. Why can't Muslims blame anyone or anything (such as Shaytan) at the time of their judgment? Muslims believe that all wrong-doing is their fault, therefore no one else can be blamed other than themselves. Shaytan although compared to the devil, has no real power but only the ability to make suggestions.

5. What, according Muslim beliefs, is the role of Jesus and how is he much like Adam? What then are the reasons they do not accept Jesus as the son of God or redeemer of sin?

Since Muslims believe there is no god but Allah then Jesus can’t share the power that Allah has. According to Muslims Jesus was considered to be a prophet similar to muhammed and Adam. His role is like Adam because both lacked a worldly father so both are considered to be examples of Allah’s power.

6.If Muslims are forbidden from depicting God in any way, how do they then conceptualize Allah?  Muslims focus on the spiritual qualities of God instead of a physical depiction of him

7.Why is "He" used to describe Allah if you cannot attribute physical traits to God?

He is used to describe Allah because it is not specific. ”He” is a very general masculine pronoun that has a lot of meanings.

8.Look at the last paragraph of the chapter - This is a great overview of the chapter. Understand this and you understand the chapter

Allah rules by himself alone and has no gender; And no human can is strong enough to see his full power that is why he doesn't show himself to men. We know what he is like only through the names he has in the Qu’ran. He doesn't pass sins on from one generation to the next. Allah is not distant from humans he is active in the lives of humans and is testing us in life to give us the chance to choose to surrender to him.