I haven't talked about a whole lot of other religions besides Christianity, so I thought today would be a great day to talk a little about Islam! Today is Lailat al Miraj, the Islamic holiday celebrating the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey from Mecca to Jerusalem where he met with the former Prophets while ascending the Seven Heavens, referenced in the 17th sura of the Qur'an.1 The angel Gabriel comes to Muhammad with the Buraq, a mythical winged horse who is known for carrying other Prophets. Muhammad rides to Jerusalem, where he ascends into the Seven Heavens with Gabriel guiding him. In the First Heaven he sees Adam looking at the good and bad souls of his descendants. In the Second Heaven he sees Jesus and John the Baptist.2 In the Third Heaven he sees Joseph son of Jacob (the man from Genesis with the colorful coat, not Jesus' earthly father). In the Fourth Heaven he sees Enoch.3 In the Fifth Heaven he sees Moses' brother, Aaron. In the Sixth Heaven he sees Moses. In the Seventh Heaven he sees Abraham. Gabriel then takes him into Paradise, where he talks with Allah about the great importance of daily prayer.
On his way back to Mecca, Moses asks Muhammad how many times a day are the people to pray. Muhammad answers with 50. Moses tells Muhammad to go back to Allah to ask for that number to be reduced.4 Muhammad agrees, and after going again to Allah he returns, telling Moses the number has been reduced to 10 times a day. Moses again said that this number was too high, and so again Muhammad returned to Allah. When he returns he tells Moses that the number has been reduced to 5 times a day. Moses again says that this is too many, but Muhammad says that he would be to embarrassed to go back again.
This myth (I'm using the term to mean a sacred story, not implying falsity) works to explain the Islamic practice of salat, or daily prayer, which is supposed to be done five times a day. Before each prayer, one should clean his hands, face, mouth, nose, teeth, and feet. Prayer should be done by positioning oneself facing Mecca and bowing on one's knees all the way to the ground. Of course, this rule is only applicable to those who are physically capable.
While I am not a Muslim, I think this practice is pretty cool. It's a way of frequently reminding themselves that following God means submitting to God and his will, a reminder that many of us need all too often. Praying five times a day may be more than I practice, but I can appreciate the commitment and humility that comes with practicing the salat.
1. Islam's Seven Heavens
The Seven Heavens in the Islamic worldview are not levels of the paradise most Westerners think about when they hear "heaven". Instead, they are realms in which Prophets and angels dwell. The paradise where people go to dwell for eternity with Allah is called "Paradise", and its gates are located in the Seventh Heaven.
2. Jesus as a Prophet
In the Islamic tradition, Jesus is regarded as a holy Prophet, but not as God himself, unlike what is taught in the Gospel of John. He is found in the Seven Heavens along with many other Prophets.
3. Enoch
Enoch is mentioned in Genesis as a descendant of Adam through Seth and a great-grandfather of Noah. While he is vaguely described as a righteous man in Genesis and briefly referenced in Hebrews, he is the leading character in the ancient Jewish work titled The Book of Enoch, which is accepted as canon by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
4. Moses Challenging God
While this may be surprising to some readers that Moses disagrees with Allah's commandment regarding the amount of times to pray each day and changes Allah's mind, it seems to be part of their relationship. We see this in the Torah as well in Exodus 32.9-14:
While I am not a Muslim, I think this practice is pretty cool. It's a way of frequently reminding themselves that following God means submitting to God and his will, a reminder that many of us need all too often. Praying five times a day may be more than I practice, but I can appreciate the commitment and humility that comes with practicing the salat.
1. Islam's Seven Heavens
The Seven Heavens in the Islamic worldview are not levels of the paradise most Westerners think about when they hear "heaven". Instead, they are realms in which Prophets and angels dwell. The paradise where people go to dwell for eternity with Allah is called "Paradise", and its gates are located in the Seventh Heaven.
2. Jesus as a Prophet
In the Islamic tradition, Jesus is regarded as a holy Prophet, but not as God himself, unlike what is taught in the Gospel of John. He is found in the Seven Heavens along with many other Prophets.
3. Enoch
Enoch is mentioned in Genesis as a descendant of Adam through Seth and a great-grandfather of Noah. While he is vaguely described as a righteous man in Genesis and briefly referenced in Hebrews, he is the leading character in the ancient Jewish work titled The Book of Enoch, which is accepted as canon by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
4. Moses Challenging God
While this may be surprising to some readers that Moses disagrees with Allah's commandment regarding the amount of times to pray each day and changes Allah's mind, it seems to be part of their relationship. We see this in the Torah as well in Exodus 32.9-14:
The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.” Then Moses entreated the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.
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