Astrology in Early Judaism and Islam

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Video Description (from Youtube)

Astrology and montheism have long had a complicated relationship. In this episode of Esoterica we explore the early interactions of Judaism and Islam with astrology from the nature of the stars and

planets, the role of astral forces in the Bible, Qur'an and Talmud, to the philosophical and legal interaction between astrological concepts and these two great monotheistic religions.

This episode is also a collaboration with Ms. Esmé L. K. Partridge, an undergraduate student of Religion at SOAS, University of London and an independent researcher and writer on Islamic studies, mysticism and the place of religious thought in modernity. Her latest publication on the mystical meaning of the moon according to Ibn Arabi can be found in Volume 68 of The Journal of The Muhyiddin Ibn Arabi Society, and her other essays and articles can be accessed via her website, www.esmelkpartridge.com. You can also find her on Twitter at @EsmeLKPartridge.

@13:02 it says Philo but that's actually from Josephus' The Jewish War - whoops!

Sources:

Tzvi Langermann - Hebrew Astronomy: Deep Soundings from a Rich Tradition

Malya Levin - Astrology in Rabbinic Judaism Source Sheet - https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/240083?lang=bi

Al-Kindi (9th Cent. CE), On The Proximate Agent Cause of Generation and
Corruption (Trans. Peter Adamson & Peter E. Pormann), The Philosophical Works of Al-Kindi, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 153-172
Al-Kindi (9th Cent. CE), On The Prostration of the Outermost Body (Trans.
Peter Adamson & Peter E. Pormann), The Philosophical Works of Al-Kindi, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 173-186
Al-Kindi (9th Cent. CE), On Rays, (Trans. Peter Adamson & Peter E.
Pormann), The Philosophical Works of Al-Kindi, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, pp. 217-244
Abu Ma’shar al-Balkhi, Kitab al-madkhal al-kabir ila ’ilm ahkam al-nujum
(The Great Introduction), ed. Richard Lemay, 9 vols. (Naples: Instituto
Universitario Orientale, 1995–6)
Al-Tabari (1326), Jami al-Bayan (30 vols in 12, Beirut: Dar al-Macrifa, 1992;
reprint of 1326 AH Bulaq Edition), Vol. 1
Abu Ma’shar al-Balkhi, Kitab al-madkhal al-kabir ila ’ilm ahkam al-nujum
(The Great Introduction), ed. Richard Lemay, 9 vols. (Naples: Instituto
Universitario Orientale, 1995–6)
Yahya J. Michot (2000), ‘Ibn Taymiyya On Astrology: Annotated Translation
Of Three Fatwas’ in: Journal of Islamic Studies, Volume 11, Issue 2, May
2000, pp. 147–208
John W. Livingston (1971), ‘Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah: A Fourteenth
Century Defense Against Astrological Divination and Alchemical
Transmutation’ in: Journal of the American Oriental Society, pp. 91-103
Robert G. Morrison (2009), ‘Discussions of Astrology in Early Tafsīr’ in
Journal of Qur’anic Studies, Vol. 11, No. 2, Edinburgh: Edinburgh
University Press
Teri Gee (2012), Strategies of Defending Astrology: a Continuing Tradition
(PhD Thesis, University of Toronto)
Liana Saif (2015), The Arabic Influences on Early Modern Occult
Philosophy, Palgrave

#astrology #judaism #islam

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Overview & Key Concepts

What is Astrology?

Astrology is the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial objects as a means for divining information about human affairs and

terrestrial events. Astrology has been dated to at least the 2nd millennium BCE, and has its roots in calendrical systems used to predict seasonal shifts and to interpret celestial cycles as signs of divine communications. Many cultures have attached importance to astronomical events, and some - such as the Indians, Chinese, and Maya - developed elaborate systems for predicting terrestrial events from celestial observations. Western astrology, one of the oldest astrological systems still in use, can trace its roots to 19th-17th century BCE Mesopotamia, from which it spread to Ancient Greece, Rome, the Arab world and eventually Central and Western Europe. Contemporary Western astrology is often associated with systems of horoscopes that purport to explain aspects of a person's personality and predict significant events in their lives based on the positions of celestial objects; the majority of professional astrologers rely on such systems.

What is Judaism?

Judaism encompasses the religion, philosophy, culture and way of life of the Jewish people. Judaism is a monotheistic religion, with the Torah as its

foundational text (part of the larger text known as the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible), and supplemental oral tradition represented by later texts such as the Midrash and the Talmud. Judaism is considered by religious Jews to be the expression of the covenantal relationship that God established with the Children of Israel.
<br><br>
Judaism includes a wide corpus of texts, practices, theological positions, and forms of organization. Within Judaism there are a variety of movements, most of which emerged from Rabbinic Judaism, which holds that God revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of both the Written and Oral Torah.
<br><br>
The Jews are an ethnoreligious group and include those born Jewish and converts to Judaism. In 2012, the world Jewish population was estimated at about 14 million, or roughly 0.2% of the total world population. About 42% of all Jews reside in Israel and about 42% reside in the United States and Canada, with most of the remainder living in Europe.

What is Islam?

Early Islam or the history of Islam is believed, by most historians to have originated with Muhammad's mission in Mecca and Medina at the start of the

7th century CE. Although Muslims regard this time as a return to the original faith passed down by the Abrahamic prophets, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus, with the submission (Islam) to the will of God. According to the traditional account, the Islamic prophet Muhammad began receiving what Muslims consider to be divine revelations in 610 CE, calling for submission to the one God, preparation for the imminent Last Judgement, and charity for the poor and needy.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.How did the Early Jewish-Christians practise their religion?

The Jewish-Christians practised three daily prayers, male circumcision, ritual washing for purity, fasting, attention to clean/unclean foods, giving charity and pilgrimage to a central temple.

2.Did Jesus claim to be 'King of the Jews'?

A placard where Jesus was accused of claiming to be 'King of the Jews' was nailed to his cross. Today this placard can be found at the Church of Santa Croce in Rome.

3.How was Jesus Jewish?

In many ways, Jesus was Jewish:

He did not preach a new religion He taught people to do the Will of God; not a new God
He never went to Church
He fully observed the Jewish Law
His followers continued attending and meeting at the Temple
His followers observed the dietary regulations of the Torah and continued the practise of circumcision

Therefore, the early Jewish-Christians did not give up Judaism, nor did Jesus every ask them to do so.

4.What did early Jewish-Christians think of Apostle Paul?

Paul's popularity was in decline between 55-66 CE because missionaries from the Church of Jerusalem publicly rejected his innovation and claim to be an Apostle.

5.Were the early Christians Jews?

Yes. Jesus himself and his immediate followers observed all Jewish law, customs and practise.

6.Did Saul kill the early Jewish-Christians?

Prior to becoming a Christian, Saul of Tarsus hated Christians. He made it his goal to capture, then bring Christians to public trial and execution.

1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
(Acts 8:1-3)

Saul believed that he was serving God by finding Christians, throwing them into prison, and even executing them when possible.

7.How did the Jews view Apostle Paul?

Paul's salvation theory was considered blasphemy by faithful Jews. The Jews knew Pauls teachings ridiculed all previous revelations from God as expressed through the Torah.

The Jews after all, were the one race of people in the world who were taught God was One, without form or substance, and did not bear the likeness of anything in the universe.

8.According to Apostle Paul, why did God give Jews the Torah?

Paul claimed God gave Jews the Torah so that they could be saved later on by believing in Jesus Christ. This was God's divine plan.

9.How did Apostle Paul differ with the Jewish Rabbis?

The Jewish Rabbis preached a person was saved so long as their intention was to remain within the covenant, and one truly repented and seek forgiveness for their sins.

Paul preached that every person was 'damned' until they was offered salvation. Mans problem was that he was 'in the flesh' in bondage to the Law, sold under Sin, enslaved by the fundamental spirits of the universe (ie. dead).

Paul preached the only cure was liberation from slavery and death by union with Christ, who had conquered death and sin.

10.How did the early Jewish-Christians view Jesus' resurrection?

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
(Acts 2:22-24)

The early Christians assumed Jesus had been raised by God, and not that he was God.

11.Who seperated Christianity from Judaism?

It was Paul's dramatic conversion to Christianity that resulted in the seperation of Christianity from Judaism. Within months of his disappearing, Jesus' teachings were changed.

12.Why Jews do not accept Jesus as the Messiah?

The Bible claims the Messiah will accomplish certain signs:

A. Build the Third Temple (Ezekiel 37:26-28).

B. Gather all Jews back to the Land of Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6).

C. Usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred, oppression, suffering and disease. As it says: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall man learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)

D. Spread universal knowledge of the God of Israel, which will unite humanity as one. As it says: "God will be King over all the world�on that day, God will be One and His Name will be One" (Zechariah 14:9).

The historical fact is that Jesus fulfilled none of these messianic prophecies.

Christians counter that Jesus will fulfill these in the Second Coming, but Jewish sources show that the Messiah will fulfill the prophecies outright, and no concept of a second coming exists.

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13.What does the Quran say about Jews and Christians?

The Jews say "The Christians have nothing [true] to stand on," and the Christians say, "The Jews have nothing to stand on," although they [both] recite the Scripture. Thus the polytheists speak the same as their words. But Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection concerning that over which they used to differ.
[Quran 2:113]

14.How was Apostle Paul viewed by the Jews?

15.Does the Quran tell Jews and Christians to refer to their Scriptures (Torah and Bible)?

When the Quran refers to the previous Scriptures (Torah, Gospel etc.), this is understood to mean the original revelations sent to Moses and Jesus, and not the 'corrupted' versions we have today

16.In the time of Jesus, what qualities would identify the Messiah, to the Jews?

A human empowered by God. Not a God-man, a person of the Godhead or part of a Triune God (Trinity)
From the lineage of Abraham (Gen. 22:18)
From the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10)
A descendant of David (2 Sam. 7:12)
A Lord under Yahweh, the God of Israel (Ps. 110:1)
From amongst their own people (Jer. 30:21)

17.How did the 1st century Jews view the Holy Spirit?

First century Jews believed the Holy Spirit was another name for God, similar to Yahweh, Elohim or El Shaddai - not a separate Person in the Trinity!

There is no record of Jesus ever trying to correct the Jews and prove the Holy Spirit was a third Person in the Trinity.

18.Jesus claimed to be God. The Jews must have understood this, as they accused him of blasphemy and were ready to stone him?

The Jews were mistaken. Jesus did not claim to be God, claim divinity or commit blasphemy. In the next verse (John 10:34), Jesus tells the Jews to read their own books, Psalm 82:6 where men in power, eminence, dignity, government, judges, magistrates, in high office posts are called Gods too. i.e. the term God does not literally mean GOD.

19.Why do Jews let the hair grow on the sides of there head?

In the Torah, God forbids the cutting of the hair on the sides and the beard

20.How did Jews view the Greek Bible (Septuagint)?

For the Jews, the Septuagint would always be a translation of the Hebrew bible.

21.In the time of Jesus, how were the Jews viewed by the Greeks?

Judaism was views as an inward looking, demoralized by centuries of Roman occupation, declining economic fortunes and ongoing emigration.

22.What is Islam?

23.Who is a Muslim?

24.Were all Prophets Muslim?

25.Do Muslims believe in Prophets?

A Muslim must believe, honour and respect each and every prophet of God

26.Why choose the name MuslimProphets.com?

All Prophets preached Monotheism. The worship of one God and forbade the worship of false diety. Therefore, all Prophets 'in-essence' are considered to be Muslim.

27.Does Islam promote extremism, terrorism and violence?

Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. This was the message of all the prophets and it is from God's way

28.Where can I learn more about Islam?

Their are many online sources of information, such as http://www.onereason.org

29.Do Muslims believe in the Bible?

And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous. [Quran 5:46]

Therefore Muslims believe their was a Gospel and it was revealed by God.

30.What is the basic teaching of Islam?

It is to make peace with God, which means to submit to and obey God completely

31.How did Islam come into the world?

The religion of Islam in its present form came to us through the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, who lived and preached in Arabia some 1400 years ago (born 571 CE, died 632 CE). However, the Holy Prophet taught that he was not bringing a completely new religion into the world, because the basic principles of Islam had also been preached by all the great founders of the various religions before him. Islam, therefore, did not begin with Muhammad, but was also the religion of Abraham, Moses, Jesus and every other prophet of God.

32.If all prophets taught Islam, what was so different about Muhammad?

The teachings delivered by previous prophets had gradually become lost, altered and obscured. God then sent Muhammad to:

* re-establish those original principles,
* preach other truths which had not been preached before, but were necessary now because mankind had advanced,
* to collect together the best of every religion into one faith.

So Muhammad appeared as the Last Prophet to give to the whole world one, perfect and ever-lasting, religion - Islam.

33.What do I have to do to become a Muslim?

A person becomes a Muslim by declaring in public an oath of: I bear witness that there is no god except Allah. And I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

34.What do Muslims believe?

The Muslim belief consists of 5 fundamentals:
1. God, Who possess the most perfect and excellent qualities.
2. Angels, who act upon the heart of each person, inspiring him to do good.
3. Prophets and Messengers of God, sent to all the nations of the world, who taught virtue by their own high moral example.
4. Books of God, which were revealed to all the nations through their respective prophets, containing guidance on how man should live and conduct himself.
5. Life after death, when each person shall become conscious of all the deeds, good or bad, he/she did in this life, and shall face the consequences.

35.What is the most important point Islam teaches about belief?

36.What is the basic teaching of Islam about God?

Islam teaches that there is one, and only one, God Who is the Creator and Controller of the entire universe. He is unique in every respect, and there is nothing which bears any likeness to Him. He is the Knower of all things, and has full power over the whole of creation. He does not stand in need of anything at all, while everything is totally dependent on Him. He possesses all the perfect qualities, and man should worship Him, and Him alone.

37.Does Islam give any arguments to prove the existence of God?

The Holy Quran gives three kinds of arguments on this point.

Firstly, it refers us to the physical world which shows great order and arrangement, works according to laws, and where everything has a set purpose in the whole scheme of things. There is also immense beauty in nature which attracts man's heart. Science is discovering more and more of these characteristics of the world all the time. So behind this highly purposeful and beautiful working of nature must be One, single Intelligence of great beauty and attraction.

Secondly, the Quran tells us about the close and deep connection between God and the inner nature of every person. There is an in-built desire in each and every person to search for something higher than oneself, and when in difficulties a person instinctively wants to call upon a Hidden Power to help him.

Thirdly, and most convincingly, Prophets and men of God appeared in every nation in the world and showed their people the reality of God through their teachings and works. Just as most of us learn about science not by making all the discoveries ourselves, but by accepting the work and evidence of those who devote themselves to the study of science, similarly the proof of the existence of God is provided by the lives of the great luminaries whom God sent all over the world for this very purpose.

38.Other religions also teach the existence of God. Is there any difference between their teaching and the Islamic concept of God?

The first major difference is that Islam teaches the absolute one-ness of God, with Whom no one can share in Divinity. No idol or heavenly object, nor any religious or spiritual teacher, can possess some Divine power or attribute.

Secondly, Islam teaches the highest conception of God, and does not accept any limitation to His power and knowledge, while other religions set limits to Him. For instance, Islam rejects the Hindu belief that God is not the Creator of matter and souls but exists alongside them. It also rejects the Christian doctrine that God is unable to forgive sins unless He punishes someone, and so He sent His 'son' to suffer the punishment for the sins of all humanity. Moreover, a son is needed to take the place of the father when the father dies, and clearly this cannot apply if God is perfect.

Thirdly, Islam refutes the idea that any human being, however great, was a 'manifestation' of God on earth, or a Divine incarnate.

39.Which prophets do Muslims have to believe in?

Muslims have to believe in all the prophets and messengers of God, equally, without distinction, wherever they may have appeared.

40.Since Muslims believe in all the Prophets equally, why is Muhammad special?

All Prophets were equally from God, and equally true, but the scope of their missions varied. The messengers before Muhammad were each given teachings limited to their respective nations, because in those times a nation did not have much to do with other nations.

Furthermore, the teachings of each Prophet applied for a limited period of time only, after which God would raise another Prophet to revise some of the teachings for the new circumstances.

The time came to unite all the nations upon a single religion so that mankind may live in peace as one nation. Muhammad, to whom God gave teachings for the whole world for all time to come fulfilled this purpose.

41.Do Muslims believe in scripture other than their own Quran?

Muslims believe the scripture given to other prophets including Moses, David and Jesus have some elements of truth in them. But the Quran is the final revelation from God and takes precedence over other scripture.

42.Is the Star and Crescent a symbol of Islam?

The crescent is not a symbol of Islam, but of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans are those tribes that moved to Turkey from east and middle Asia. They converted to Islam and built a huge Muslim Empire that ruled the whole Muslim world for centuries. When they took Islam as a religion they started using the lunar calendar, the calendar that was used by Muslims, Jews and early Christians. Even today, the flag of Turkey has a crescent on it. There was no crescent on any mosque built before the Ottomans era.

43.How are Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus considered Muslim Prophets, when Islam came 600-years after Jesus?

A Muslim is essentially a person who believes in one God.

All of the prophets of God preached the message of 'Monotheism' (they all called people to the worship of one God). Based on this fact, they are considered 'in-essence', in terms of their basic beliefs to be Muslim.

44.Can Muslims eat swine and pork?

45.Do Muslims believe in a God?

Yes, Muslims believe in Allah(God)

Muslims believe that Allah is the all-powerful Creator of a perfect, ordered universe.

He is transcendent and not a part of his creation. He is all-powerful, absolutely Just and He is First, Last, and Everlasting; He was when nothing was, and will be when nothing else remains. Also, There is no other entity in the entire universe worthy of worship besides Him.

This belief in God is how one becomes a Muslim and is similar to the first commandment of Christianity and Judaism: You shall have no other gods before Me.

The Quran presents this belief in Allah as:
Say He is Allah,the One,
Allah the Eternal,Absolute;
He does not beget,not nor is He begotten,
And there is none like Him.

Al-Ikhlas(1:1-4)

46.In Islam, can God become a Man?

God is perfect and He is all powerful. Both Muslims and Christians accept that this is true. The ontological term for this is that God is "immutable" or absolute in His perfect nature. In the Christian faith, God's incarnation is seen as a manifestation of His power, whereas in Islam it is seen as the changing of God's nature. If God is perfect, and God's nature changes, how can He be perfect?

It would have to mean that He was not perfect before and is now perfect, which would not make Him God or that He was perfect before and is now not perfect, which would also not make Him God.

If God is perfect, then there is no need for Him to become anything, so that He can grant us salvation. Since He's already perfect, loving and merciful, why would He need to change His nature to a weaker, human nature to grant us salvation? That's a contradiction. Therefore, when the Christian argues that God changing His nature makes Him perfect, this is not the case. They need to think before they speak. If God is perfect and you add something to His nature, does that mean He was not perfect before? Which means He was not a God before this addition?

If God is perfect and you add something to His nature, that would mean He lacked something before and thus could not be a God.

47.Does the Quran encourage violence against the disbelievers (non-Muslims)?

The historical context is that this Quran verse was revealed at the Battle of Badr, a battle in which the pagans of Makkah traveled over 200 miles to destroy the Muslims of Madinah. The Pagans of Makkah had an army of about 1000 while the Muslims were only 300 followers. Muhammad and his followers had suffered severe persecutions and torture for 13 years in the city of Makkah. Having fled from Makkah to the safety of Madinah, they found that they were once again threatened.

It is obvious from historical and textual context therefore that this Quran verse does not promote the killing of innocents.

48.Does Islam encourage violence?

No. Islam forbids violence. It allows for defensive war where if Muslims are attacked first, then they are allowed to fight back.

49.Why should non-Muslims pay the Jizya (tax)?

This Quran verse refers to the Jizya, a tax levied on non-Muslims living in an Islamic State. Also, Muslims would have to pay the Zakah (charity tax) to the Islamic State. It is universally agreed that any civilized government or system requires residents to financially contribute towards its running. In return, the state offers basic services such as education, security, welfare, protection, amenities etc.

50.Are Muslims told to kill polytheists in the Quran?

This Quran verse is often quoted out of context. The preceeding Quran verses inform us there was a war treaty between the Muslims and pagan Arabs, which the pagans of Arabia broke.

Therefore this verse applies to a very specific historical event and applied only to those who broke the agreement.

Naturally, in war violence is expected. If country A declares war with country B because a peace treaty was violated, then both countries will expect their soldiers to kill or be killed.

51.Can the Muslims have non-Muslim friends?

In this verse, the words �Awliya�- plural- or �wali� � singular- has been (badly) translated as �friends� or �friend�; however, the more appropriate translation would be a �guardian, protector, or advocate�. Muslims are to be advocates and protectors for each other. And friends with everyone.

Muhammad was kind to the pagans of Mecca and fought them only when they fought him. He made treaties with the Jews of Madinah and honored the treaties until they broke them. He received the Christians of Najran with kindness in Madinah. They argued with him about Islam, but he treated them with honor and respect.

Some translate this verse to mean that Muslim should not take the Jews and the Christians for friends who are exclusively friends of each other at the exclusion and detriment of the Muslims, as is seen in Zionism and the Islamophobic lobby.

52.Does the Quran encourage Muslims to kill non-Muslims?

This verse was revealed about the Battle of Badr. The pagans of Mecca travelled more than 200 miles to Madinah with an army of about 1000 to kill the Muslims who numbered around 300. The Prophet Muhammad and fellow Muslims had suffered severe persecution, torture and even murder of their brethren for 13 years in the city of Mecca at the hands of these very same pagans.

And once the Muslims had fled Mecca and found a sanctuary in the city of Madinah, they were followed by the pagans of Mecca. By this verse God gave the order to Muslims to fight to defend their lives and faith, as they had previously been forbidden from defending themselves.

53.Why should non-Muslims pay a Jizyah tax?

These verses are also historical in context. They are about the Battles of Mu'tah and Tabuk.

These verse were in reference to The Byzantine Empire instigating war against the Muslims. They murdered an ambassador of Muhammad who was carrying a message to the ruler of Busra. The Chosroe of Persia even ordered his commander in Yemen to kill Muhammad, and they mobilized their forces to fight the Prophet. The Muslims confronted them.

There are many people who misunderstand over the Jizyah (a tax on non-Muslims living under the protection of a Muslim authority) claiming it is discriminatory. But the truth is that Muslims are not exempt from taxes, they just go by a different term.

The tax collected from non-Muslims is only imposed on adult males. It exempts them from military service; affords them protection under the law; and freedom to practice their religion. And Muslim taxes go to welfare programs.

54.Can the Muslims be harsh to non-Muslims?

This verse is speaking about the hypocrites who were among the Muslims in the time of Muhammad. The 'unbelievers who are near you' were, in actuality, non-Muslims posing as Muslims who sought to corrupt the believing Muslims from within. The instruction was to fight them (here, 'fight' means to resist the hypocrites� skepticism, as we will see in the next verse) without preferential treatment for the social or economic standing.

55.Does the Quran encourage ill-treatment of non-Muslims?

The 'disbelievers' in this verse refers to those who persecuted and attacked the Muslims. This is not a verse directing Muslim to just go out and be awful to non-Muslims.

In fact there is a lot in the Quran and hadith collections that command Muslims to be compassionate and kind to all of God's creation. One such hadith states: Whoever is deprived of gentleness is deprived of all good. (Muslim, Abu Dawood)

It is also reported by Abu Dawood (a hadith collection) that Muhammad said, 'Beware! Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, or curtails their rights, or burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I (Muhammad) will complain against the person on the Day of Judgement.'

56.Why do Muslims say non-Muslims will go to Hell?

One of the basic teachings of Islam is that God does not have a favorable opinion of those who knowingly deny His right to be worshiped alone (as He alone is responsible for our creation, our sustenance, and our judgement) and reject any of His messengers.

This is not to say that there will be conveyor belts for each religion, and we just jump on and go to either Heaven or Hell according to what we call ourselves. Each person will be judged based on their understanding of God's message, as well as his or her capability and intentions to follow the path to God as best he or she could.

Muslims are not allowed to say that someone will go to hell just because they call themselves a Christian, Jew, or Polytheist. Muslims are not allowed to speak without knowledge. And each person's destination in the Hereafter is known only to God.

It is interesting to note that some people of different faiths insist on telling everyone who does not go to their specific place of worship that they will certainly be going to Hell (knowledge they do not have). But when they see this Quran verse, they are upset by it.

57.Why do Muslims sacrifice livestock (goat, sheep, cow etc.) on Eid Al-Adha?

The animal sacrifice is to honor the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice Ishmael, his eldest son, as an act of submission to God's command. At the point of sacrifice, God intervened and replaced his son with a ram (male sheep) which had been slaughtered instead.

Abraham had passed the test by his willingness to carry out God's command

58.Who seperated Christianity from Judaism?

It was Paul's dramatic conversion to Christianity that resulted in the seperation of Christianity from Judaism. Within months of his disappearing, Jesus' teachings were changed.

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