This week’s reading was certainly an interesting one.  I looked at the readings in a couple different ways: how the Quran compares to Plato and Aristotle’s views on what makes a good person, an enlightened person, and how the Islamic view of Allah compares with the Christian view of God the Father.

Firstly, Platonic and Aristotelian tradition and the Quran have this idea of the ideal person, something unattainable that all of man should strive for; however, the ways in which to achieve it differ greatly.  Plato and Aristotle placed knowledge over all other things, and if a man has knowledge and strives for knowledge then he is virtuous, good, and the best version of himself.  However, the Quran says that men are to measure themselves by their deeds; should a man do something unlawful, he must make up for his sin by participating in acts of charity.  The Quran’s view of virtue is strikingly different because of the idea of the scales: to get to heaven, to experience paradise, a person’s good deeds must outweigh their bad.  That is, in addition to maintaining the five pillars of Islam.  The Quran explicitly states that in order to be a good person, one must “prove [their] faith in God and His Apostle.”  While in the Muslim faith there is great respect that comes with being able to know the Quran, the importance of having knowledge does not even hold a candle to the importance of acts, of works.

Shifting gears to how the Islamic Allah compares to the Christian God–because I assume that is what you are most interested in anyways–the main aspect that separates them is the nature of God’s relationship with people.  In the Christian faith–in my faith–it is the belief that God is actively pursuing a deep relationship with every individual regardless of their transgressions.  A great example of this is found in Romans 8:38-39 which states: “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God.”  The way in which God is active and loving as well as gracious to forgive are foundational to the character of the Christian God.  The Islamic Allah is, in contrast, a rather cold entity that resides outside of this world, overlooking people and “is fully aware of all that you do”.  The Quran does state quite a few times that “God is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace” which seems to agree with the Christian idea of God.  However, it all comes down to the relationship aspect.  Allah is gracious to forgive, but never forgets whereas the Christian God “blots out your transgressions … and remembers your sins no more” (Isa. 43:25).  Personally, this is why I can never understand the appeal of Islam.  Why serve a god that forgives but remembers all of my sins?  Why have to work to maintain my virtue and always worry about being good enough to outweigh my bad deeds?  Is it not better and more freeing to serve a God that welcomes all people, that loves me regardless of my selfish nature?

Is living for rules and weighted “goods” really living at all?