Holy Is As Holy Does

As the Newsweek  scandal over the false allegation of Koran-flushing fades into shades of deep purple and maroon under the eye of main-stream media, other colors have been reported as well.  One, I like to think, is a vernal green, as Muslims begin to view themselves not so much as the righteous victims of The Great Satan, but as believers who have to put their faith into action.  And sometimes, a refusal to react violently to every real or perceived slight.   Furthermore, is blind faith in the holiness of the Koran justified? 

Irshad Manji, in Times Online,  asks 'Why Don't We Muslims Grow Up?'

“What do you expect?” my critics will declare. “Abusing the Koran is like abusing basic human rights. If you’re a good Muslim, your very identity and dignity are bound up in revering the Koran. It’s the literal word of God. Unsullied. Untouched. Unedited. Unlike the other holy books.”

Sorry. That argument just doesn’t wash. One can appreciate the Koran’s inherent worth, as I do, while recognising that it contains ambiguities, inconsistencies, outright contradictions — and the possibility of human editing.

This is not simply a reform-minded Muslim speaking. This is Islamic tradition talking. For centuries, Islamic philosophers have been telling the story of the Satanic Verses. The Prophet Muhammad accepted them as authentic entries into the Koran. Later, he realised they deify heathen idols rather than God. So he belatedly rejected the verses, blaming them on a trick played by Satan. Which implies that the Prophet edited the Koran.

Let’s push this point further. Because pious Muslims emulate Muhammad’s life, those who compiled the Koran’s verses after his death might have followed his example of editing along the way. The compilers were, after all, only human — as human as Muhammad himself. Moreover, they collected the Koran’s verses from sundry surfaces such as bones, stones and bark. How did the passages get there? According to Islamic lore, the Prophet, an illiterate trader, could not personally record them. His companions served as second-hand scribes, often writing from memory.

Given so much human involvement, isn’t it possible that human errors infiltrated the process of pulling together the “authoritative” Koran?

In asking this question, I’m neither impugning the allegorical wisdom of the Koran nor inviting another fatwa on my life. I’m saying that Muslims have to get comfortable asking such questions. Riots in Afghanistan left at least 14 dead. Aid workers have been attacked; their offices burnt. How does this benefit the cause of dignity? Another question needs to be asked: is dignity the same as identity?

These days, it’s lazily assumed that if you challenge a group’s deeply held religious convictions, you’re undermining their dignity. That’s certainly how my questions will feel to most Muslims.

Comments

[KB]

Tanuki says:
"As the Newsweek scandal over the false allegation of Koran-flushing fades into shades of deep purple and maroon under the eye of main-stream media, other colors have been reported as well."

What's funny is that Tanuki doesn't even seem to consider the possibility that there was pressure put on Newsweek to retract what was probably an actual incident. I mean, why would they want or need to 'create' something like this after what had already happened with the prisoners? The treatment of the prisoners was far worse in my opinion?KB

"One, I like to think, is a vernal green, as Muslims begin to view themselves not so much as the righteous victims of The Great Satan"

Of which there is more than ample reason.KB

"but as believers who have to put their faith into action."

Yes, well, eventually when you're getting screwed long enough you act out. Kind of like some white guys I recall acting out by blowing off the kings and queens of England.KB

"And sometimes, a refusal to react violently to every real or perceived slight."

Mostly real.KB

"Furthermore, is blind faith in the holiness of the Koran justified?"

Is blind faith in anything justified? And I hope you're not inferring that blind faith in the Bible is somehow better, given it's followers long history of blood-letting.KB

"Irshad Manji, in Times Online, asks 'Why Don't We Muslims Grow Up?'"

Ahhh, just what the Muslims need, an Uncle Thomad. Why does Tanuki always look for the folks who are sell-outs to support his positions. He'd be looking for the blacks who were pro-slavery, the Palestinians who were pro-Israel, the American Indians who were pro-cowboy murderers, etc....Just what is it with thinking it's cool to support those who are basically traitors to their own?KB