SD-9: If golf was in the Qur'an, there would have been a devotion written on that. Not so. Therefore we continue with "The Feast"
Here we are given information on what are the things that can be eaten. But that is not all. I find that the number of prohibitions increase. We are offered all sorts of ways that one is to clean one's self. Again, this is probably very important in the societies of that day - but I found myself questioning the meaning for today. Much time is spent on a retelling - from a certain perspective - the story of Moses people and a bit of Mary's son. Though each are held up highly, they all have fallen. And yet - and I may be miss reading this - as Jews or Christians live according to their teachings, they are not considered 'other.' They are faithful. That makes so much sense if there is the strong belief that there is one God only. Here is a piece I drew into questions simply from a theological point of view as a Christian.
We sent Jesus, son of Mary, in their footsteps, to confirm the Torah that had been sent before him: We gave him the Gospel with guidance, light, and confirmation of the Torah already revealed - a guide and lesson for those who take heed of God. So let the followers of the Gospel judge according to what God has sent down in it. Those who do not judge according to what God has revealed are lawbreakers.
Several comments are needed here. Jesus 'announced the Good News (gospel). The announcement was his life. Mere teaching is nothing. Life - word in the flesh - is the story we tell as Christians. Yes, it was the same word that is brought forth in the Torah and yet, it is once again taken out of the context of ritualization and sacrifice. There is no longer a holy place - there is a holy people known by their lives of forgiveness. Now if that was the case (people known by their radical forgiveness) it seems as though the Qur'an respects and honors such people - the same is with those who are followers of Moses. Faithfulness to the one God - is essential and worthy of honor and respect. I may have this wrong -but it sure feels like that. When it reads: you who believe, if any of you go back on your faith, God will soon replace you with people He loves and who love Him, people who are humble towards the believers, hared on the disbelievers -
Faithfulness and the life that comes from such faithfulness is vital. I do not hear that to mean mere ritual - but life. Ritual cannot be humble - a living faith can be.
Connection: Forgive me if you already understand the Qur'an and find my remarks odd and way off. That is why I wanted to read and comment as an outsider and as one who clings to my God as the source of life. In and through all of Scripture, I am very dismissive of the 'ancient' and 'tribal' rules that are sometimes made to be more prominent than the liberation and beauty of faithfulness that literally is a light of new life to the world.
Blessed are you, God of Mercy, for you welcome all who call on your name for guidance through life and the power to turn to a new way of being known as your beloved people each day. Praise to you, Our God. Amen.
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