The Qur'an and Islam

This is information given at our family home evening last night. I had fun researching it.

      
The Qur’an

This is a quote from the back cover of Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s widely accepted 1934 translation: “The Qur’an is a complete and original compilation of the Final Revelation from God to mankind through the last Prophet, Muhammad. Peace be upon him. The Qur’an has essentially three qualities that make it universal. Firstly, it is a masterpiece of immense literary value. Secondly, though its message is a continuation of that contained in the earlier Revelations made to Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus, yet this message has a sense of fulfillment and originality that attracts toward it Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. Finally, it has a wealth of information --both worldly wisdom and intellectual conceptions--which provides the code of life for mankind.”

The Qur’an is approximately the same length as the Bible New Testament.  It was given to Muhammad through revelation in Arabic by the angel Gabriel over the period 610 to 623 c.e.d. Muslims believe that it was the greatest miracle for an untutored and illiterate prophet to bring forth a divine book of incomparable beauty, truth, power, and majesty.
The text seems to have no beginning, middle, or end, its non-linear structure being akin to a web or net.

The Qur’an is an oral tradition, not a written one. It is primarily the sound of the oral recitation (in Arabic) which is the distinguishing characteristic of Islam, the religion of the Muslims. It is considered a great honor to memorize the entire Qur’an and recite it correctly by heart. Many Muslim students work for years to attain this goal.

A devout Muslim will not open a volume of the Qur’an without first performing the ritual of cleansing and saying the words, “In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.”
                              
Islam

Islam has over one billion members in the year 2010. The ten countries with the largest Muslim populations are in order: Pakistan (96%), India (14%), Bangladesh (89%), Indonesia (56%), Turkey (97%), Iran (98%), Egypt (85%), Nigeria (42%), Algeria (96%), and Morocco (98%). The next ten countries are Afghanistan (99%), Iraq (97%), Ethiopia (34%), Sudan (71%), Saudi Arabia (93%), Yemen (99%), Uzbekistan (76%),  China (1.5%), Syria (92%), and Russia (10%). The majority of Muslims (75%) are not  Arabs. There are approximately the same number of Muslims in North America as Mormons (6 million). There are over 30 million Muslims in Europe, mainly emigrants from Africa during the 20th century.

Islam discourages or, in many cases, prohibits proselyting by non-Muslim groups and there are severe strictures against Muslims converting to other faiths.

The three holy cities of Islam are Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem. These are associated with Muhammad’s birth, burial, and ascension. The 2 major groups are Sunni (85%) and Shiite (15%). Iran is the center for the Shiites.

The five pillars of Islam are the following duties: witness of faith, ritual prayer 5 times a day, almsgiving (2.5% of personal wealth),  fasting during the month of Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The witness of faith is the declaration, “I witness that there is no God but Allah, and I witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”  The phrase, “In the name of Allah, Most  Merciful, Most Compassionate” is the opening phrase in every surah (chapter) of the Qur’an except the ninth. This brief invocation is ubiquitous in Muslim culture. It is recited during ritual prayers 5 times each day, uttered before eating food, printed at the top of government forms, and inscribed above gateways and portals of schools houses and office buildings. Incidentally, polygamy is allowed but not recommended by the Qur’an, four wives being the maximum. Alcohol consumption is prohibited.

Contemporary Islamic tradition clearly identifies Ishmael, not Isaac, as the son of Abraham who was to be sacrificed. The Grand Mosque and the Ka’aba in Mecca is the most sacred site in Islam. The visit to Mecca is the highest form of devotion for Muslims. Only Muslims are permitted to enter the area around the holy cites of Mecca and Medina. Part of the ritual activities is to circle the Ka’aba seven times. The black-draped cubicle contains the black stone and was, according to legend, first built by Abraham and his son Ishmael.
                                                      
The Islamic Movement

The push by Muslims to reform their societies according to Islamic principles of equity and justice is often referred to as the “Islamic Movement.” The slogan “Islam is the solution” has become ubiquitous in the Islamic world. The ultimate goal of all Islamists is the establishment of an Islamic state that applies Islamic laws and principles in every phase of public and private life including economics, politics, education, and family.

Trek Support

TREK SUPPORT not to be confused with TECH SUPPORT.  Ken and I helped out at the Corvallis Stake Trek July 21-24,  2010.  We transported kids, moved port-a-potties, and shuttled 24 vehicles.  Ken could become a great valet the way he packed in the vans, pickups, trailers, and sedans in nice rows. He also trailed the handcarts in order to give rides to the next camp for those trekkers who had pulled to their physical (or was it mental) limit. He also changed a tire and got two sick vehicles going again. 

The weather was perfect--clear and cool nights. Ken took lots of great photos including a midnight shot of the big dipper.  (See his blog when it gets posted.) The Trek route was from Sisters, Oregon up the Santiam Pass to 4700' elevation at Big Lake at the top.  It was extremely well planned and executed.  The kids had fun and were inspired with pioneer zeal. The trail was dusty as this picture shows. A boy I home teach, Keith Tarkwon is pushing the handcart.

It amazed me how much work goes into supporting this type of event.  The adults accompanying each "family" made it uplifting.  The youth helped make the handcarts, the girls were really authentic in their bonnets, dresses, and pantaloons.

Each day the cooking crew had to break camp and move to the next campsite.

The medical staff marched along with the trekkers. Two girls got heat exhaustion and one was sent home with the flu.

With 220 people in the two companies, we moved 8 portable toilets ahead of the group so they had facilities waiting. The water transport was another herculean task; a truck was making constant round trips to the Sisters' fire department to refill the 300 gallon tank. David Williams chronicled the events on video and photos along with interviews. We'll get copies after a fireside is held.

Wood Doll House

Would you say I have too much time on my hands when I spend my evenings making doll houses and furniture?  These were too cute to resist when I spotted the kits at the craft store.  I haven't found any dolls that fit yet.  I did make a John Deere tractor to park in front  to make it a turn of the last century Indiana corn farm.  Notice the bathroom is on the third floor!  I've got a couple more kits for the grandkids to put together.  Sydney is earning one with her piano playing rewards.

Hooding Steve Pilkerton

What a thrill to see my good friend and associate Steve Pilkerton awarded his Phd. He asked me to substitute for his major professor who was out of town. As part of the awarding of the doctorate he has a colored hood placed over his robe. I had to stand on tip toes to get it over his head. Since I also graduated with a Phd from OSU I  was already wearing my regalia.

The provost, Sabah Randawa, recognized me as we marched in front of the dignitaries and shouted out a "Hello Eldon!"

Pioneer Handcart Reenactment

My outfit consists of Ken's Wellington boots, Carl's wool Pendleton coat, Jim Hay's wool pants, my old Eddie Bauer wool hat, a canvas belt from Goodwill, and an extra large flannel shirt. The stomach and jowls are real. I forgot to take my glasses off, but no one seemd to notice as I stumbled up the stairs to the stage.  (Photo by Ken)

Harry Reich assembled the handcart from a kit.  Janeil and I are on the committee organizing a 3-day, 25-mile trek over Santiam pass this summer. Sheryl, Brenda, Neil, and their families have been involved in similar treks in past years.

Only 10 of the 250 pioneer companies were the very poor British Isles and Danish converts who used handcarts. Only 2 of these 10 hardcart companies got stranded on the Wyoming open country in early winter snows where about 200 of the 1000 people perished. The remaining 60,000 pioneers mainly came by oxen-powered covered wagons, including the Olsens and the Fugals.

The handcart company our stake is mimicking had no fatalities! 

Gerald Lund has written a historical fiction novel called "Fire of the Covenant" detailing the daily struggles of a couple of the families in the Martin and Willie companies. The daily ration of flour was supposed to be 16 ounces for men, 12 for women, and 8 for children. Before the rescue wagons coming from Salt Lake were able to find them, the rations were down to a few ounces per person.

We had a great pioneer heritage. 

Tinstafl

TINSTAFL means there is no such thing as a free lunch. It is an engineering philosophy that says a perpetual energy machine doesn't exist. Another variation is, "If it seems too good to be true then it is too good to be true." As an example, you may have received a "check" from Readers Digest saying that you've won a million dollars (almost). In small letters at the bottom is printed "not negotiable".

Well the grinches in the top floors of the Readers Digest management building have sunk to new lows. In July a letter came saying my subscription was running out. They offered me a huge reduction in the cover cost and in addition they would send a year's subscription to a friend. But wait, that is not all. If I paid immediately they would send it to a second friend as well. I mailed in my $10.00 They cashed the check the next day. A month later I get a similar offer for $14.00 this time. Having forgotten my previous transaction I send in the $14.00 plus the names of two friends. I have now exhausted my entire supply of friends' names and still have not got an issuse from Readers Digest. It is now October and I get the offer in the mail again. I tried sneaking the envelope to the mail but was caught by my sweet wife. Janeil says, "Didn't you already renew?" I looked up the check register and sure enough there were cashed checks for July and August.

Janeil contacted Readers Digest and asked them what was going on. They replied immediately by e-mail. They explained that they had indeed cashed the two checks. However the offer was for the new friends subscriptions, not for renewing mine. For the reduced price of $10.00 I could get mine renewed. Since I still had the latest October offer in my hands I carefully read it to see where I had missed the friends versus me renewal. It sure looked to me like it was me that was renewing. I answered the e-mail telling them they could kiss me goodbye as a subscriber. They replied asking me if I would like to take a customer satisfaction survey. I took the survey. I'll bet I get a package containing 12 steak knives and a bill for $25.00 as a result.

Another rip off is their book club. They send you 4 novels for 99 cents. Afterward you get novels periodically by mail for $25 each. Trying to stop this flow of novels is like paddling upstream without a paddle. It is nearly impossible to stop.

On their sweepstakes offers of a million dollars: If you multiply the chance of winning which is 1 in 25,000,000 then you get an "expected return" of a quarter. The long run return after subtracting the cost of the stamp is a loss of 19 cents. In addition you have licked a nasty envelope seal, wasted time walking to the mail box, and spent sleepless nights waiting for the winners' van to show up in your driveway with cameras whirling.

TINSTAFL has once again been proved. Whatever you do don't let them get your credit card number or your new mailing address is likely to be the county jail where you will be awaiting trial on mail fraud, unpaid bills, and obscene phone calls.

If you have ever wondered where all of the investment bankers are hiding out waiting to cash their big bonus checks you might want to search through the back halls of the Readers Digest executive rest rooms.

Touring, temple, and reunion in Utah

Friday, the last full day of our vacation, was an amazing day.

We started the day parking outside the new Church History Building. Carl showed us around. The building is massive. Lots of people said hi to Carl.

Afterward we went to the Temple Square Visitor Center. It was crawling with friendly senior couples and cute sister missionaries. Carl forewarned us about the professional pan handlers asking for change.

We then drove to the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple for a session. We got an 11:oo o'clock reservation. It had 55 people on the session which required a half dozen folding chairs in addition to the permanent seats. It's a beautiful temple decorated in fall colors.

We then drove down to Pleasant Grove. We spent some time finding grave sites of ancestors in the PG cemetery, some by accident and some by asking at the office. For example, Albert and Jenav are buried 6 rows west of the flag pole. There is a petrified rock at the end of their row. We ran across Leroy Young and also Sam White by accident.




We had a terrific Asian stir fry which included vegetables from Gail's garden. She had reserved the church building next door for our reunion. We had a wonderful time rekindling old memories from our dear missionaries. We especially liked the short program which included talks by Janeil and me, singing the mission song, and watching the DVD "Called to Serve." Spontaneous testimony bearing started in which they expressed love and gratitude for us being there to take care of them. One Elder (Edwards) drove round trip from Shelby, Idaho with his wife and baby just for the reunion. Several of the Elders had worked in the office with us so we knew them better than most. Another reunion, the sixth, is planned again for next year, same place because it was easy to find. Most of the missionaries have graduated from college (BYU or Uof U) and/or are married, so they no longer live in the Utah valley. Face book was used to advertise the time and location.

It was an amazing day.