Umma And Religion

Improved Essays
At the first several decades when the umma was established in Arabia, the society was less chaotic than before, but it was not stable enough. Due to the harsh natural environment, previously divided political and religious circumstances, and lack of discipline, there were still unstable factors that would do harm to the harmony of the newly formed society. There were robbers plundering food and money, licentious people indulgent in sex, discontented people planning to divide the umma and thus hold political power, Jews and Christians in the umma holding different beliefs (Mckay et al. 233). Disciplines and rules were imperative at such time. However, although it was necessary to restrict people’s desire and behavior, over suppression could …show more content…
Love was regarded as a divine obligation. Unlike Christian idea, there was no restriction of choosing lovers (The Ring of Dove, page). However, there should be neither monkery nor overindulgence in sex (Mckay et al. page). Fornication was also a sin (Qur’an, “A Code of Personal Behavior”, sura 17:22-39). Even at a special time, there were still restriction and freedom coexisting. For example, In the month of Ramadan, people could not have sex during the daytime, but when the night came, they were freed again (Qur’an, “Fasting”, …show more content…
Admittedly, it is encouraged to fight against the unbelievers. According to Muhammad’s teaching, “A party of my community shall not cease fighting for the Truth— they shall be triumphant over their opponents” (Hadith, “Struggle”, 116), but only one sentence is not enough to demonstrate that Islam is radical. Actually, people have such misconception is because the meaning of Jihad is distorted. It should not be interpreted as “holy war”, but “a struggle for Allah” (Smart and Hecht, 115). This struggle is not necessarily a fight with weapons, but a defense of their own belief. Muslims are taught “Do not be aggressive, for God does not like aggressors” (Qur’an 2:190, Cohen). Hence, it is known that the early Islam did not go to extremes. Instead, by being defensive but not aggressive, Muslims found the midpoint when protecting their

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