Ishwa helper Reged: 03/03/02 Posts: 553

Re: Gita: The eternal song of Love and Ultimate Wisdom [Re: vinaire] #19092 - 08/07/02 04:38 AM Edit Reply Quote

Wherever I can, I'll help. I'll concentrate a little more on the historical developments in the texts. Basically, the islamic philosophy has four major religious traditions to rely upon (with different variations): 1. Jewish: Torah or Old testament 2. Christian: Old and especially New Testament 3. Zoroastrian: Zendavesta 4. "Pagan": similarities with Indian traditions The word Kafir may have been an adaptation from the 'Testament' tradition as they use the word 'heathen' and have not much sympathy for 'idol-worshippers'. This is a very strange point: Moses was instructed and guided by his father-in-law Yethro who was a 'pagan', and 'idolworshipper from the east'. In Mekkah, the strange thing is that the family of Muhammad were the temple priests of the temple full with idols. But he did abandon all 'pagan' tradition of his own family and adopted more 'Testament'-like features from the Roman Christians, who were also present in Arabia. So the first departure was with Muhammad. Then there was an intermediate period between Muhammad and Hadhrat (other spelling: hazrat) Uthman, the third Khalifah: 632: Death of the Holy Prophet. Election of Hadhrat Abu Bakr as the Khalifah. Usamah leads expedition to Syria. Battles of Zu Qissa and Abraq. Battles of Buzakha, Zafar and Naqra. Campaigns against Bani Tamim and Musailima, the Liar. 633: Campaigns in Bahrain, Oman, Mahrah Yemen, and Hadramaut. Raids in Iraq. Battles of Kazima, Mazar, Walaja, Ulleis, Hirah, Anbar, Ein at tamr, Daumatul Jandal and Firaz. 634: Battles of Basra, Damascus and Ajnadin. Death of Hadhrat Abu Bakr. Hadhrat Umar Farooq becomes the Caliph. Battles of Namaraq and Saqatia. 635: Battle of Bridge. Battle of Buwaib. Conquest of Damascus. Battle of Fahl. 636: Battle of Yermuk. Battle of Qadsiyia. Conquest of Madain. 637: Conquest of Syria. Fall of Jerusalem. Battle of Jalula. 638: Conquest of Jazirah. 639: Conquest of Khuizistan. Advance into Egypt. 640: Capture of the post of Caesaria in Syria. Conquest of Shustar and Jande Sabur in Persia. Battle of Babylon in Egypt. 641: Battle of Nihawand. Conquest Of Alexandria in Egypt. 642: Battle of Rayy in Persia. Conquest of Egypt. Foundation of Fustat. 643: Conquest of Azarbaijan and Tabaristan (Russia). 644: Conquest of Fars, Kerman, Sistan, Mekran and Kharan. Martyrdom of Hadhrat Umar. Hadhrat Uthman becomes the Caliph. 645: Campaigns in Fats. 646: Campaigns in Khurasan, Armenian and Asia Minor. 647: Campaigns in North Africa. Conquest of the island of Cypress. 648: Campaigns against the Byzantines. 651: Naval battle of the Masts against the Byzantines. 652: Discontentment and disaffection against the rule of Hadhrat Uthman. 656: Martyrdom of Hadrat Uthman (murdered). Hadrat Ali becomes the Caliph. Battle of the Camel. A lot of battles. Khalifah Uthman was responsible for the compilation of the Quran and its copying and dissemination-but despite this was overthrown and murdered. Khalifah Ali, the last of the Prophet's friends and companions to hold the office of Khalifah. Ali came to power amid the chaos after Uthman's death and spent the next five years fighting a bitter civil war to try to save the infant Muslim state. Why is he central to the split between Shia and Sunni Islam? So very tumultuous period in the very beginning, amidst wars the teachings had to be preserved. To fight variational readings, all the orally transmitted information was compiled in a standard work under the supervision of Uthman. Second to this comes the Sunnah or the biographical information on the life of Muhammad. Third is the Hadith. What's the difference between the last two? In M. M. Azami's Studies in Hadith Methodology and Literature, the following precise definition of a hadith is given, According to Muhaddithiin [scholars of hadith -ed.] it stands for 'what was transmitted on the authority of the Prophet, his deeds, sayings, tacit approval, or description of his sifaat (features) meaning his physical appearance. However, physical appearance of the Prophet is not included in the definition used by the jurists.' Thus hadith literature means the literature which consists of the narrations of the life of the Prophet and the things approved by him. However, the term was used sometimes in much broader sense to cover the narrations about the Companions [of the Prophet -ed.] and Successors [to the Companions -ed.] as well.