God’s new favorites; Persian, Arabic & UrduAllah’s Satanic Exes: Have you thought of al-Lāt and al-‘Uzzá and Manāt, the third, the other? (Sura 53, 19-20)
Weren’t al-lat, al-Uzza and Manat supposed to be Allah’s daughters? I vaguely recall this from “The Satanic Verses”.
The story goes that the Meccans were willing to accept Islam if they could keep worshiping their goddesses. The Prophet (pbuh) was initially tempted to give them this concession, but then realized that it would violate the unity of Allah. Therefore these verses were claimed to have come from Satan.
Tauheed or the unity of Allah is one of the most basic beliefs in Islam.
I feel the “Satanic Verses” story is interesting. From a certain perspective, the Prophet (pbuh) can be seen as a canny leader trying to accommodate the practices of a certain tribe in order to bring them into the faith. Later, he may have realized it was not worth it, so he abrogated those verses. This of course presumes that the Quran was written by human beings and not divinely revealed.
I think a lot of Orthodox Muslims don’t believe this story because it goes against prophetic infallibility.
“I thought the prophet of Islam was meant to be human not to be worshipped”
This is where there is a 180 degrees divergence between words and deeds. Acc to Muslims , Mohammed was only a man who happened to get god’s messages . Mohammed’s non-divinity is in no doubt – at a theoretical level. Practically Prophet Mohammed is the ideal man in Islamic praxis with all the consequences we have seen in many countries. Muslims are unable to separate Mohammed’s message and personality and unable to concede he was a product of his place and time. In contrast, Jesus is a divine figure in Christianity , in face without Jesus’ divinity Christianity would collapse. OTOH, Jesus has been a fair game in western christian countries nowadays.
Putting pbuh after man’s name (Mohammed) or his spiritual office (Prophet) , who died 1400 years ago, who is only a human being, is this not a form of worship ? That is what strikes a non-Muslims and perhaps some Muslims too.
“God’s new favorites” have never been Persian, Arabic & Urdu. The photo appears to be some kind of irrelevant statues.
When Prophet Muhammad was sent, Kabaa were full of idols that were alleged to be gods, so Allah the Most Exalted said:
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ اللَّاتَ وَالْعُزَّىٰ – وَمَنَاةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَىٰ – أَلَكُمُ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الْأُنثَىٰ – تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَىٰ – إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ الْهُدَىٰ
«Have you then considered al-Lāt, and al-‘Uzzā (two idols of the pagan Arabs)? And Manaat (another idol of the pagan Arabs), the other third? Is it for you the males and for Him the females? That indeed is a division most unfair! They are but names which you have named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the Guidance from their Lord!» [Sūrah an-Najm (53):19-23]
[…] of Iran or Islam since that would necessarily fray any potential allies in Urdu speakers who are sensitive about such heritages. Instead the joint focus should always be on rolling back the Coloniser’s influence and […]
A theological question if I might. If Mohammed pbuh recited the Satanic Verses as part of the Koran and then removed them, does this mean that he is not infallible?
It’s a mark of respect. Many of us don’t even refer to our parents by their first names. You can imagine the level of respect there is for the Prophet of God.
Many Hindus don’t say “Ram” or “Krishna” but rather Sriram and Srikrishna. It’s sort of the same deal.
Interesting. But i would say shree/Sri is not specific to Gods. Its just a honorary thing done to lot of folks. Even sometimes to strangers. Its just like suffix “-Ji” is used in North India to someone’s name
Tons of Hindus say Rama or Krishna or Radha too. Including in songs.
Kabir, this is something that non muslims do not understand. Why only for Mohammed pbuh? Why not for Fatimah, Ali, Hassan, Hussein, Jesus, Mary, John the Baptist, Enoch, Moses, Abraham, Elijah, Elisha, Samuel, David, Daniel, Lot and so many others. [Not using Arab names for ease of communication with those who do not know Arab names.]
All prophets and imams are treated with respect. Orthodox Muslims never say “Ali” but always Hazrat Ali. Shia always say Imam Hussain and never “Hussain”
In Sufi and Irfan songs sometimes Ali’s name is stated by itself. But you are right that Hazrat Ali and Imam Ali are often said.
Ali was the greatest of the great, sweetest of the sweet, the spark of holiness itself. Wherever he walked became sanctified. Always in Samadhi was he. Loved by Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, Sufi, twelver, sixer and Sunni alike. In the world but not of it. Auliya, Pir and Fafir was he. May his example inspire us this day and forever more. Inshallah until all dissolves.
Saurav
6 years ago
There is also a theory propagated by Romila Thapar(Indian historian) that actually one idol of the Goddess (i think Manāt) was hidden and taken away to Somnath and that was used by Ghazni as raison d’etre to attack Somnath to destroy the infidel idol.
Saurav
6 years ago
“Ur Imam Hussein tweet was so harsh lol; he is my direct ancestor after all”
Whats with all this bullshit about “Husseini brahmins”? Indian delusion knows no bounds
Weren’t al-lat, al-Uzza and Manat supposed to be Allah’s daughters? I vaguely recall this from “The Satanic Verses”.
The story goes that the Meccans were willing to accept Islam if they could keep worshiping their goddesses. The Prophet (pbuh) was initially tempted to give them this concession, but then realized that it would violate the unity of Allah. Therefore these verses were claimed to have come from Satan.
Usually deities are pretty incestuous.
It would have been better if the Satanic Verses would have stayed; a big problem with any religion is this need for “perfection.”
Tauheed or the unity of Allah is one of the most basic beliefs in Islam.
I feel the “Satanic Verses” story is interesting. From a certain perspective, the Prophet (pbuh) can be seen as a canny leader trying to accommodate the practices of a certain tribe in order to bring them into the faith. Later, he may have realized it was not worth it, so he abrogated those verses. This of course presumes that the Quran was written by human beings and not divinely revealed.
I think a lot of Orthodox Muslims don’t believe this story because it goes against prophetic infallibility.
Yes Divine infallibility is dangerous – God changes his mind constantly..
Congrats for becoming god’s spokesman.
Quite the promotion..
I thought the prophet of Islam was meant to be human not to be worshipped?
How can god and prophet both be infallible? My understanding was that only allah is meant to be al-‘alim (i.e. omniscient).
(Cannot be infallible without omniscience)
Ur Imam Hussein tweet was so harsh lol; he is my direct ancestor after all 🙂
“I thought the prophet of Islam was meant to be human not to be worshipped”
This is where there is a 180 degrees divergence between words and deeds. Acc to Muslims , Mohammed was only a man who happened to get god’s messages . Mohammed’s non-divinity is in no doubt – at a theoretical level. Practically Prophet Mohammed is the ideal man in Islamic praxis with all the consequences we have seen in many countries. Muslims are unable to separate Mohammed’s message and personality and unable to concede he was a product of his place and time. In contrast, Jesus is a divine figure in Christianity , in face without Jesus’ divinity Christianity would collapse. OTOH, Jesus has been a fair game in western christian countries nowadays.
The Prophet (pbuh) is not supposed to be worshiped. That is correct.
The Quran is supposed to be the direct word of God. So I guess that is why the idea of “Satanic Verses” is problematic.
Yes but God can be wrong..
“Prophet (pbuh) is not supposed to be worshiped.”
Putting pbuh after man’s name (Mohammed) or his spiritual office (Prophet) , who died 1400 years ago, who is only a human being, is this not a form of worship ? That is what strikes a non-Muslims and perhaps some Muslims too.
Above is why it was referred to as Mohammedanism by the Brits for the longest.
Let’s say, Milad un Nabi is Mohammedanism. Eid is Islam.
“God’s new favorites” have never been Persian, Arabic & Urdu. The photo appears to be some kind of irrelevant statues.
When Prophet Muhammad was sent, Kabaa were full of idols that were alleged to be gods, so Allah the Most Exalted said:
أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ اللَّاتَ وَالْعُزَّىٰ – وَمَنَاةَ الثَّالِثَةَ الْأُخْرَىٰ – أَلَكُمُ الذَّكَرُ وَلَهُ الْأُنثَىٰ – تِلْكَ إِذًا قِسْمَةٌ ضِيزَىٰ – إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنفُسُ ۖ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مِّن رَّبِّهِمُ الْهُدَىٰ
«Have you then considered al-Lāt, and al-‘Uzzā (two idols of the pagan Arabs)? And Manaat (another idol of the pagan Arabs), the other third? Is it for you the males and for Him the females? That indeed is a division most unfair! They are but names which you have named, you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them the Guidance from their Lord!» [Sūrah an-Najm (53):19-23]
I’m being subversive invoking Western High Culture..
[…] of Iran or Islam since that would necessarily fray any potential allies in Urdu speakers who are sensitive about such heritages. Instead the joint focus should always be on rolling back the Coloniser’s influence and […]
A theological question if I might. If Mohammed pbuh recited the Satanic Verses as part of the Koran and then removed them, does this mean that he is not infallible?
Zack, yay bahoot haraam hey.
We should only watch halal things (not ginns):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngo-fAkOsE4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJuHykVKvdQ
#thicc
What’s the reasoning behind “PBUH”? I mean he is the prophet of God right, Why wont there be peace upon him? If not on him then upon whom it would be?
It’s a mark of respect. Many of us don’t even refer to our parents by their first names. You can imagine the level of respect there is for the Prophet of God.
Many Hindus don’t say “Ram” or “Krishna” but rather Sriram and Srikrishna. It’s sort of the same deal.
Interesting. But i would say shree/Sri is not specific to Gods. Its just a honorary thing done to lot of folks. Even sometimes to strangers. Its just like suffix “-Ji” is used in North India to someone’s name
Saurav is right.
Tons of Hindus say Rama or Krishna or Radha too. Including in songs.
Kabir, this is something that non muslims do not understand. Why only for Mohammed pbuh? Why not for Fatimah, Ali, Hassan, Hussein, Jesus, Mary, John the Baptist, Enoch, Moses, Abraham, Elijah, Elisha, Samuel, David, Daniel, Lot and so many others. [Not using Arab names for ease of communication with those who do not know Arab names.]
All prophets and imams are treated with respect. Orthodox Muslims never say “Ali” but always Hazrat Ali. Shia always say Imam Hussain and never “Hussain”
(breaking my rule of ignoring you just this once)
In Sufi and Irfan songs sometimes Ali’s name is stated by itself. But you are right that Hazrat Ali and Imam Ali are often said.
Ali was the greatest of the great, sweetest of the sweet, the spark of holiness itself. Wherever he walked became sanctified. Always in Samadhi was he. Loved by Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, Sufi, twelver, sixer and Sunni alike. In the world but not of it. Auliya, Pir and Fafir was he. May his example inspire us this day and forever more. Inshallah until all dissolves.
There is also a theory propagated by Romila Thapar(Indian historian) that actually one idol of the Goddess (i think Manāt) was hidden and taken away to Somnath and that was used by Ghazni as raison d’etre to attack Somnath to destroy the infidel idol.
“Ur Imam Hussein tweet was so harsh lol; he is my direct ancestor after all”
Whats with all this bullshit about “Husseini brahmins”? Indian delusion knows no bounds
https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/hussaini-brahmins-hindus-muslims-muharram-mohyal-brahmins-5367234/