Huston Smith Part 2

Chapter 4: The Standing Miracle
Question: Why is the Koran said to be a "standing miracle"?
Main Ideas:
1. "Blessings and peace be upon him"
2. The Koran is the most recited book in the world
3. 23 years of teachings by Muhammad is what formed into the Koran
4. "This is the scripture whereof there is no doubt"
5. Koran regulates evaluation of every event
Thesis Statement: The Koran is said to be a standing miracle because even with all of its comparisons, it continues to be a memorandum for the faithful, as well as a daily reminder for right doings.
Summary: Muhammad spoke the word of God for many years and over the course of about 23 years, his words were written down in what later became known as "The Koran". The Koran is known as the most recited book of the world, being recited and memorized by young children of all ages. This religious book of Muhammad's teachings continues to remind Muslims daily of the right thing to do and is a faithful memorandum for many. It provides definitions, as well as guarantees, and is "a road map" for good will. By reading the Koran, Muslims are able to meditate on different ideas and thoughts in private and deepen their understanding for the sense of divine glory.


Chapter 5: Basic Theological Concepts
Question: What are the basic concepts of Islam?
Main Ideas:
1. Basic theological concepts of Islam are surprisingly similar to Judaism and Christianity
2. Everything relates back to God
3. Muslims do not approve of portraying images of God in anyway
4. "Muslims fear Allah"
5. The Koran abounds in lyrical descriptions of the natural world
Thesis Statement: God, creation, the human self, and the Day of Judgment are known as the "chief theological pegs" of the Koran's teachings and Islam.
Summary: The religion of Islam is very similar to other religions when it comes to basic theological concepts. Muslims fear Allah, but in a good way as it stresses to them to always do the right thing. With this, everything in the world relates back to God, or Allah. The Koran is all about the lyrical descriptions of the natural world and implies that it is bad to portray images of God in any way. Muslims must surrender their wrong doings (Islam meaning surrender) and live a life of love and friendship. Muslims also face the responsibility of being the best person that they can be in order to "impress" Allah. This is also displayed in the Koran as it is "a book which emphasizes deed rather than idea".