The Heart of Islam

A sermon delivered at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation (Blacksburg, VA), September 20, 2009, by the Reverend Christine Brownlie.

Muslims all over the world are rejoicing today. The long hard fast of Ramadan is over. This fast, which lasts for thirty days, requires that no food or drink be taken between sunrise and sunset. It is a grueling demand any time of year, but it is especially brutal during the hot summer months. Yet millions undertake this devotion despite the hardship.

The fast of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The others four are the recitation of the Shahadah: “There is no god but God, and Mohammed is His Prophet,” the daily five times of prayer, the pilgrimage to Mecca, paying the alms tax for the poor. Many Westerners consider these outward signs to be the “heart” of Islam. But Muslims would say that if these acts are done for show, or as out of a fear-driven sense of duty, then something vital is missing: the loving submission to the will of Allah. This loving submission is the heart of Islam.

These days, it is difficult to believe that Islam really has a heart. The image of Islam is becoming one of disregard for life, the brutal repression of women, and a love for violence that is repulsive to most of us. For many in the Western world, Islam is something to distrust and even fear. It is a religion for fanatics who want to rule the world and who will use whatever means they can to achieve that end. But is this a fair assessment? Let’s look at the roots of this faith and see if this picture is accurate.

The central human figure of Islam is Mohammed, whose name means, “Highly praised.” There were no miraculous signs at this birth — quite the opposite. His parents were poor nobodies. His father died before he was born — a misfortune that brought great hardship for mother and child. Mohammed’s mother died when the boy was six, which put him in the custody of his grandfather. This protector died two years later, leaving the child in the care of an uncle who put him to work as a shepherd. Despite these tragedies, the young Mohammed was not filled with bitterness or self-pity. Members of his family and clan praised the boy for his absolute honesty and unfailing concern for others. These special traits led many to the sense that he was destined for a special fate.

As a young man, he signed on as an apprentice to the caravan trade. He quickly became successful, and his reputation for skill and honesty brought him to the attention of a wealthy widow named Khadijah bint Khywaylid. She needed a reliable trader, and when she heard of Muhammad’s reputation, she decided to hire him to transport and sell some goods for her. This was not just a job, it was a test of his character and ability, and so she sent a servant along to observe his behavior. When the caravan returned, the servant came back to his mistress filled with admiration for the young Mohammed. After a short time Khadijah proposed marriage to him, and he agreed. Their union was marred by tragedies and trials. All six of their children died by the age of two, and Muhammad’s rise as a prophet brought unexpected turmoil and challenges to husband and wife. Even so, this marriage was an ever-present source of loving support for this prophet during the difficult times that were to come.

Throughout his life, Mohammed’s actions and speech were examples of simplicity and honesty. He was known for his great care and respect for women, men, and even children. He had a knack for resolving disputes in a way that brought people together in a time when quarrels quickly flared into violence and warfare. These qualities earned him the love and respect of everyone who knew him. Some hoped that he would take up the leadership of his clan. But Mohammed had no desire for worldly power or wealth. He was a spiritual seeker who often sought solitude in a cave near Mecca. He would spend as long as a month there, on a personal quest for truth.

Muslims believe that he found that truth when the Angel Gabriel appeared to him suddenly and commanded him to “Recite.”¹ Startled, Mohammed replied, “I am not one who recites.” Gabriel would not accept this response and, using physical force and strong words, repeated this command twice more and then disappeared. Mohammed was terrified and left his cave for home. Running as fast as he could, he burst into his home and threw himself into Khadijah’s lap crying “Cover me, cover me!” His wife and his friends comforted him, but they also warned him of the dangers that could befall him as a prophet. Despite his fears and the physical suffering that he would endure over the next 20 years as further revelations were given to him, he accepted his role as Allah’s chosen messenger.

The most important revelations he received were of the nature of Allah and the proper relationship between God and human beings. Islam teaches oneness, or unity of Allah the creator god. Allah longs to be in a loving and intimate relationship with those who believe in Him, as well as with all of creation. Those who believe in Allah and who faithfully keep the commandments given by Him will see heaven, while those who ignore these teachings will suffer for eternity in hell. The highest reward for a life well-lived is to spend eternity contemplating the God’s “infinitely bounteous face.”

The greatest danger for the follower of Islam is the lure of false gods, and these include the minor and very demanding “gods” of work, wealth, care of the family, and other activities that consume the attention of even the most faithful Muslim. The requirement of devotional prayer five times a day is intended to keep reminding the faithful of what is truly important in life. This sacred time breaks into the daily routine, always calling the faithful back to their connection to God.

For the faint-hearted to follow Islam was — and still is — a difficult spiritual path to maintain. In the earliest years, the men and women who followed this discipline were often ridiculed and attacked by those who did not accept Mohammed’s teachings, which were a stark contradiction to ancient tribal customs and practices. In the face of oppression and even death, some converts turned away from Islam. But Muhammad remained steadfast, finding comfort in a verse he received in a revelation that encouraged him in his trials.

“Therefore, do not obey the negators, but strive against them with the Quran with the utmost resistance”

The word for resistance is jihad, which comes from ja-ha-da or “making an effort.” The command that Mohammed received told him to use the Holy Scripture as his best weapon and surest defense against those who persecuted him. Muhammad remained steadfast in his faith, but some of his converts faltered in theirs when they were tortured or when loved ones were made to suffer for the convert's faith. There is a story of a young man who comes to the Prophet after being forced to recant Islam. He was deeply ashamed of his actions, but Muhammad assured him that he would be forgiven for this deed, as long as his heart remained firm in the conviction that Islam was the one true faith.

Jihad, in the sense of warfare, was to be carried out against only those who ridiculed Islam or persecuted Muslims. It’s said that Muhammad maintained strong ties with members of his family and those of different clans who did not accept his faith. He encouraged his followers to do likewise and to strengthen ties with non-Muslims as long as there was mutual respect and trust. The Quran speaks to this and encourages Muslims to deal kindly and justly with those who respect the faith and who “do not drive you out of your homes.” The Prophet treated even those who left the faith and converted to another religion with respect and kindness. It is said that he approached every one with an attitude of respect and loving kindness.

This attitude marked his relationships with women, including his wives and his daughter. He maintained a monogamous marriage with his first wife, and he often turned to her for advice and council. She maintained her own wealth and conducted her own successful business for many years.

His relationship with his daughter, Fatimah, is said to have been one of unusual respect and closeness. When she would come to see him, he would stand up and greet her publicly and with affection — much to the astonishment of those around him. The Prophet was often criticized for showing affection to his daughter and grandchildren. One biographer says that Mohammed believed that it was his role to teach his people good manner, kindness, gentleness, and respect for all — even those who were often looked down on in the culture of the day.

In the light of some of the horrors that we hear being perpetrated against women, I would share a story about an accusation of adultery that was made against Mohammed’s second wife, Aishia, whom he also loved deeply. While traveling with Muhammad, she realized that she had lost a precious necklace and left the entourage to look for it. She returned to the caravan some time later, escorted by a man. Rumors began to fly, and her enemies made the most of this situation, accusing Aishia of being involved in an improper relationship. She denied this accusation and held firmly to her claim of innocence. At first, Mohammed was suspicious and would have nothing to do with her for weeks until one day he received a revelation of her innocence. This revelation not only cleared Aishia of wrong-doing, but it also established very strict standards as to the evidence that could be used against either a woman or a man accused of improper behavior.

Biographers tell us that despite the seriousness of the charges against Aishia, she was never threatened with any sort of physical punishment. Some cite this as a living example of Muhammad’s own teaching that “The most perfect in faith amongst the believers is who is best in manner and kindest to his wife.”

Tariq Ramadan, an Islamic Scholar living in Great Britain, writes that

“The Messenger conveyed to women the twofold requirement of spiritual training and of asserting a femininity that is not imprisoned in the mirror of men’s gaze of alienated within unhealthy relationships of power and seduction. Their presence in society, the public space and in social, political, economic and even military actions was an objective fact that the Prophet not only never denied or rejected, but also clearly encouraged.”

What is the heart of Islam? It is first and foremost, submission to the will and commands of Allah as given in the Quran. If we take the biography of Muhammad’s own life seriously, then it seems that another sign of submission to the will of Allah is loving kindness to family and friends, honesty and respect to everyone we encounter, and a sincere effort to heal conflicts with others whenever possible. Violence is only a last resort to protect one self and other believers.

As I said earlier, it’s difficult to see these gentle loving qualities today. We might then ask, “Has Islam lost its heart?”

I have a couple of thoughts to share. The first is to say the obvious: The news media always focuses on the worst of humanity and human behavior. We almost never hear of acts of love, forgiveness, or simple kindness. (However, I’ve also been told that many Arab nations are still in the grip of ancient tribal customs that are often very harsh and brutal.)

The second is that I fear that most of the world’s religions have changed over the centuries, and not always for the better. In our own country, consumerism has taken over the lives of many Americans, and the humble teachings of the Prophets and Jesus regarding wealth and possessions have lost their power. We could say then that Christianity and Judaism have lost their heart as well.

Or maybe the books and the articles and speakers that assure us that Islam is really a peace-filled way of the spirit proclaiming truth and hope for a better life are really just offering us a very distorted view of this faith. Terry Grimes, a member of the Congregation, loaned me a lovely booklet that was widely distributed by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia after the attacks on the World Trade Center. In it I found a brief statement about the treatment of women in Islam that seems very modern and enlightened. Yet I know that Saudi Arabia is considered to be one of the most restrictive when it comes to women’s rights. How do I reconcile the reality with these claims? Of course, we know that women and children are the victims of abuse in every culture, so maybe there is something else at work.

Maybe it is we humans of every time and culture who lack heart, and so fail to follow the best leanings of any faith or philosophy that calls us to sacrifice and to show kindness toward others. We weak human spirits are distracted by fears, desires for security, recognition, and passing pleasures, so we forget the blessings we receive and what our heart truly longs for.

And what might that longing lead to? To answer that question, I offer the words of the poet known as Rumi, a member of the Sufi order of Islam:

“Today, like every day, we wake up empty and frightened.
Don’t open the door to the study and begin reading.
Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.”

May it be so!