Muslim Covenant?

[anns82]

Considering in the Jewish and Christian faiths, God is pretty well known for establishing a specific covenant with His people, I was wondering about the Muslim understanding of covenant and if there is said to be one made with God and the Islamic people.

I also find this interesting because teaching marriage as a covenant, as opposed to a contract is very significant in it’s understanding. Sadly, the secular society looks at marriage as a contract, which I believe attributes to the high divorce rate. From what I have learned, it appears that the Muslim faith also identifies marriage as a contract.
Any thoughts are welcomed.

 

[Michael_Facist]

Considering in the Jewish and Christian faiths, God is pretty well known for establishing a specific covenant with His people, I was wondering about the Muslim understanding of covenant and if there is said to be one made with God and the Islamic people.

I also find this interesting because teaching marriage as a covenant, as opposed to a contract is very significant in it’s understanding. Sadly, the secular society looks at marriage as a contract, which I believe attributes to the high divorce rate. From what I have learned, it appears that the Muslim faith also identifies marriage as a contract.
Any thoughts are welcomed.

The muslim view of marriage is nothing more than just an approval for sex. I say this bluntly because muslim marriages can be ended very easily using something they call the TALAQ.

muslimsopenyoureyes.blogspot.com

.

 

[Sam_777]

Considering in the Jewish and Christian faiths, God is pretty well known for establishing a specific covenant with His people, I was wondering about the Muslim understanding of covenant and if there is said to be one made with God and the Islamic people.

There is no specific one, but Quran 13:25 mentioning a general one:
Ibn Abbas commentary:
*"(And those who break the covenant of Allah) those who refrain from the obligations of Allah (after ratifying it) after making it sacred, more firm and confirmed, (and sever that which Allah hath commanded should be joined) of ties with one’s kinsfolk as well as of belief in Muhammad (pbuh) and in the Qur’an, (and make mischief in the earth) through disbelief, idolatry, and calling to the worship of other than Allah: (theirs) the reward of those who are thus described (is the curse) Allah’s wrath in the life of this world (and theirs the ill abode) i.e. the Fire in the Hereafter."
*

وَالَّذِينَ يَنْقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ أُولَئِكَ لَهُمُ اللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ
​

the secular society looks at marriage as a contract, which I believe attributes to the high divorce rate. From what I have learned, it appears that the Muslim faith also identifies marriage as a contract.

Sadly yes, in Islam marriage is no more than a contract, even there are many types of it, such as:

1. Misyar marriage, (Arabic:زواج المسيار).
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2. Travel marriage, (Arabic:زواج المسفار).
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   3) Mutah marriage, (Arabic:زواج المتعة).
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3. Urfi marriage, (Arabic:الزواج العرفي).
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4. Exchange marriage, (Arabic:زواج البدل)
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5. Elders marriage, (Arabic:زواج الوناسة).
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6. Friends marriage, (Arabic:زواج الفرند).
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7. Summer marriage, (Arabic: الزواج الصيفي).

 

[anns82]

Thank you for the response; it is very interesting.

Correct me if I’m wrong (along with anyone more knowledgeable of the Jewish faith), but the Jewish people recalled their covenant through sacrifice in the temple. Christians recall their covenant through the Eucharist. **The Muslim faith, though said to have a relationship with the same God, does not have a specific enactment of their covenant? ** I could see saying that it is how they live their lives, but we are all called to live our faith, so it is not along the same lines as the other covenant relationships.
** Are both covenants of the Jewish and Christian covenant acts dismissed by Muslims as being man made, or do they think that God just decided not to bother with establishing something specific?
**

Is the pilgrimage to Mecca considered a part of the covenant, or is that identified as something else? (I would think it would be identified as such pretty specifically since it is in Jewish and Christian scriptures)

I find it interesting that there is the disconnect between God’s covenant and marriage as a contract. Through the parallel of the two relationships, we understand our relationship with God as loving sacrifice, as we see our relationship with our spouse as a loving sacrifice.
**
In the Muslim faith, is the motivation for God identified as being out of love, or is it just obeying His law?**

 

[Sam_777]

The Muslim faith, though said to have a relationship with the same God, does not have a specific enactment of their covenant?

We should remember that in the Bible there is no covenant between YHWH and Ishmael:

“Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety? And Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing! Then God said, "Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year. When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.” (Genesis 17:17-22).

Is the pilgrimage to Mecca considered a part of the covenant, or is that identified as something else?

Not at all, lots of Muslims did not do pilgrimage, because it’s a conditional pillar in Islam (if you can do it then okay, if not then there is no sin on you).

In the Muslim faith, is the motivation for God identified as being out of love, or is it just obeying His law?

Obeying Allah’s law and the love for Muhammed…

 

[Kadaveri]

Our covenant with God is our performing the five daily prayers.

 

[anns82]

Obeying Allah’s law and the love for Muhammed…

Your whole response is very interesting. This love/law distinction I find rather peculiar. When I read it to my husband, he commented that it appears Muslims are called to love something/someone created, but only obey God. I would find loving to be a higher calling than obeying - it requires a personal relationship and willing self-sacrifice. Obeying is simply a response to authority.

 

[anns82]

Our covenant with God is our performing the five daily prayers.

Thank you for your response - I am curious how this covenant is worded in the Koran or Hadith (sp?). I am wondering because it is specifically established in the Jewish and Christian faiths.

 

[Sam_777]

I would find loving to be a higher calling than obeying

I totally agree…

 

[famdigy]

Your whole response is very interesting. This love/law distinction I find rather peculiar. When I read it to my husband, he commented that it appears Muslims are called to love something/someone created, but only obey God. I would find loving to be a higher calling than obeying - it requires a personal relationship and willing self-sacrifice. Obeying is simply a response to authority.

The motivation to obey God is different from person to person. It’s true that some obey God in response to authority, but it’s also true some obey God out of love, fear, or duty.

 

[anns82]

The motivation to obey God is different from person to person. It’s true that some obey God in response to authority, but it’s also true some obey God out of love, fear, or duty.

So how does God want us to obey Him? Or does it not matter?

If God does not care if we obey simply because of His authority, rather than obey out of Love, why bother giving us Free Will? A person can obey the king because of the authority of the thrown - the will makes no difference because in the objective sense - submission is justice due to the nature of authority itself, not due to the free choice of the individual. Love, on the other hand, is not possible without free will. Is the distinction made between obeying out of love vs law in Muslim teaching?

 

[elwill]

So how does God want us to obey Him? Or does it not matter?

If God does not care if we obey simply because of His authority, rather than obey out of Love, why bother giving us Free Will? A person can obey the king because of the authority of the thrown - the will makes no difference because in the objective sense - submission is justice due to the nature of authority itself, not due to the free choice of the individual. Love, on the other hand, is not possible without free will. Is the distinction made between obeying out of love vs law in Muslim teaching?

7-56
And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope. Surely, Allah’s Mercy is (ever) near unto the good-doers.

islam is differ than christianity in understnading love of God
in islam it’s all about deeds and faith both of them
our love for God isn’t songs we sing and isn’t words we says
in islam , the more you love God the more you will obey and the more rightious you will be .
you love God , but do nothing for his favour , isn’t the love which God wants from us
so our bases of worship in islam measured by deeds and prayer , so we obey our God with fear and with love and hope to enter the paradise , both of them will help us to be more obdient and more sincere and more faithfull

 

[Kitsune633]

7-56
And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope. Surely, Allah’s Mercy is (ever) near unto the good-doers.

islam is differ than christianity in understnading love of God
in islam it’s all about deeds and faith both of them
our love for God isn’t songs we sing and isn’t words we says
in islam , the more you love God the more you will obey and the more rightious you will be .
you love God , but do nothing for his favour , isn’t the love which God wants from us
so our bases of worship in islam measured by deeds and prayer , so we obey our God with fear and with love and hope to enter the paradise , both of them will help us to be more obdient and more sincere and more faithfull

ElWill,

The Church Fathers mentioned that the Human Voice is perfect for praising God. Those songs are just not songs, they are hymns inspired by the Bible, you are in Egypt, surely you must of heard your local Copts sing something in Coptic or maybe in Arabic, they are praising God the Father/ Allah-al-Ab. Some Chrisitian Churches such as the Catholic Church along with the Eastern Churches along with the Greek and Oriental Orthodox teaches that good deeds and faith are the key to salvation. Good deeds are such as almsgiving and whatever falls into the category. Why should we fear God? God is all loving and merciful as your Qu’ran dictates but yet, to you Moslems, he’s a dictator who demands blood from Jews and Christians (You know what I am talking about, you’re in Egypt and I am sure you know of the persecutions of Copts). God loves everyone and so does Jesus Christ, regardless of being a Jew, Christian, or Moslem.