this sense of the absoluteness of the divine, versus the notion of a person with whom one can argue, disagree, and even flee (jonah does all of this), reflects, perhaps, the difference between our current period where no one--jewish, christian, muslim, hindu, etc--portrays the divine as fallible, limited, much less silly, and the ancient period, before the freezing of dogma and text into holy absolutes, and notions of infallibility so absolute that they get written onto the human head of the church in rome as well.
that said, your friend's statement is not a sign of a good obedience, but a bad obedience, the worst of all obedience, the one that is automatic, thoughtless, ruthless. absolute.
ken
"Obey The Prophet, Even If He Tells You To Kill"
http://www.meforum.org/3394/qaradawi-murder
Qaradawi is familiar.
Nothing dramatic about the headline or the injunction in itself, considering the popular saying that "Obedience is the first law in heaven." Nor should it be anything strange to observe a Muslim or Muslims apparently obeying the Prophet of Islam even if he tells him or her to kill, since Islam is all about obeying Allah & his Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) – be that killing rational or irrational from the point of view of common human understanding.
But are the Boko Haram people presently acting on the basis of what they believe to be a divine command – is that what they believe they are doing or have been doing – and will continue to do?
Somehow, in reading through Raymond Ibrahim's article I thought of Oluwatoyin Adepoju transcendental pacifism and his suggestion that "Muslims need to emphasize the transcendence of Allah, rather than struggle to defend the creator of the universe by killing other people, a move that reinforces a widespread view of their religion as barbaric" - and the trajectory of that thesis which he continues here:
And of course it's impossible to have transcendental pacifism in mind and not think of Boko Haram and their current killing spree - their senseless, indiscriminate and wanton killing of fellow Nigerians in the name of what? In the name of who? Why? What do they plan for the coming Christmas ? That people should be afraid to assemble in the churches up North – should be in mortal dread of fulfilling the the urge to gather since it is written in their scriptures , " For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."? Should they lose confidence in those words, because of Boko Haram?
For those interested in pursuing the matter may I recommend Kenneth Cragg's "Yours to command" I read a long essay form in a journal in our Royal Library here in Stockholm in 1987 – the year that witnessed the birth of HAMAS
For the non-Muslim in particular I suggest Kenneth Cragg and not any of the numerous learned Sheikhs or any of the other Muslim Mwalimu, because the late Rev. Cragg offers the kind of philosophical scope and frames of reference that I'm sure would entrance or even charm Oluwtoyin Adepoju in particular.
The 9th Hadith in this link illustrates the complexity in obeying the commandment to kill – in this case a fellow Muslim - or someone full of inordinate pride ( one of the sure signs of eternal damnation) but with all the externals of being a super Muslim. However, a commandment from the Prophet of Islam to a Mumin – remains that a commandment to someone who has dedicated his life to obeying Allah & His Prophet.:
http://www.islamicacademy.org/html/Articles/English/Tableeghee%20Jma%27at-Ahadis.htm
I am not in a position to judge the people who are being critiqued here ( the Tabliq Jaamat) – I've met them here in Stockholm,, in Oslo, in Copenhagen and in London.
After reading that Hadith ( in a book entitled "Tablighi Jamaat Exposed "I asked my honourable Mandinka friend – a good friend the inevitable hypothetical question : "If the Prophet of Islam ordered you to kill me would you do so ?"
He answered: Immediately! If Muhammad( s.a.w.) told me to kill you, I'd slaughter you immediately!"
I told him,my dear friend, if Muhammad (Saw) told me to kill you, I'd plead for your life..First I would want to ascertain that he meant you and then Id still plead with him....
So, a man would according to degree of one's faith and trust and understanding...
Consider the Akeidah :
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-- kenneth w. harrow faculty excellence advocate distinguished professor of english michigan state university department of english 619 red cedar road room C-614 wells hall east lansing, mi 48824 ph. 517 803 8839 harrow@msu.edu
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