Sociology: The Islamic Worldview
Reading
Sire, J. W. (2009). “Chapter 10 A View From the Middle East: Islamic Theism.” In The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog. (5th ed.) Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 244–277.
Sire’s Worldview Questions Applied to Islam
- “The fundamental reality of Islam is God (Allah), described as monotheistic, infinite, personal, transcendent, immanent, omniscient, sovereign and good. Of these attributes Islam emphasizes his oneness, transcendence and sovereignty. There has been debate as to what extent the Qur’an should be included in the category of fundamental reality.” (p. 246).
- “God (Allah) created the universe ex nihilo, and all creatures are responsible to him. However, the world is a closed system insofar as nothing happens in the world outside of his divine decrees.” (p. 254).
- 3: “Human beings are the pinnacle of God’s creation. They have been given abilities of which other creatures, such as angels and jinn, are not capable. However, their high standing also brings with it the responsibility to live up to God’s standards.” (p. 257).
- 4: “Death is a time of transition between this life and our eternal state, which will consist of either paradise or hell.” (p. 260).
- 5: “Allah has endowed human beings with the capability of knowledge by means of reason and the senses. Thereby, they can also know God’s revelation. However, God’s sovereign decrees limit human knowledge.” (p. 262–263).
- 6: “Right and wrong are based on the teachings of the Qur’an, as amplified by the Hadith and interpreted by the schools of law, the shari’a.” (p. 267)
- 7: “Human history has significance in demonstrating the absolute sovereignty of God but, even more so, as the opportunity for people to demonstrate their submission to him.” (p. 269).
- 8: “A devout Muslim is grateful to Allah for providing the opportunity to serve him and will strive to follow the divine instructions in even the smallest part of life.” (p. 271).
Sire’s Worldview Questions
- What is prime reality-the really real?
- What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us?
- What is a human being?
- What happens to a person at death?
- Why is it possible to know anything at all?
- How do we know what is right and wrong?
- What is the meaning of human history?
- What personal, life-orienting core commitments are consistent with this worldview?
James W. Sire, The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog. (5th ed.) Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2009, 22–23.
Worldview Questions
- Origin: God created
- Meaning: To submit to Allah
- Morality: What Allah Commands
- Destiny: Paradise or hell determined by a judgement of works
- Logical consistency – Is the character of Allah coherent with perfect being theology, namely that God is all-good?
- Empirical adequacy – stands in opposition to Christian, Jewish, and Roman history with respect to the death of Jesus…
- Experiential relevance – i.e. the value of women?
How should a Muslim…
- Dress?
- Eat?
- Watch movies?
- Drink alcohol?
- Govern a country (make laws and do politics)?
- Care for the needy?
- View religion?
Arguments For
- Arguments for God’s existence.
- The truth and beauty of the Prophet Muhammad’s message.
- The coherence of the Qu’ran’s understanding of reality.
Arguments Against
- Arguments for Christianity
- Argument for Atheism
The Euthyphro Dilemma
- A) Does God will something because it is good,
- B) or is something good because God wills it?
If A) then the good is independent of God and, in fact then, moral values are not based in God.
If B) then good is arbitrary, since God could have commanded say deception.
What is the Muslim Worldview?
It is how Muslims view the world.
There is a narrative component (the main storyline: creation, disobedience, the prophets, judgement), a rational component (the core points of one’s theology: Monotheism, Angels, Holy Books, Prophets, Judgment), and a ritual/practical component (the five pillars: The Declaration of Faith, Prayers, Alms, Fasting, Pilgrimage).