tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897777321980654953.post2664363989159738556..comments2023-09-27T20:16:53.217-07:00Comments on Qur'an and Jive: First Sermon: A Sympathetic ReadingJohn Shuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00798753206614838161noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897777321980654953.post-91265821880732416832009-01-11T17:45:00.000-08:002009-01-11T17:45:00.000-08:00If you appreciate Sufism, you might be interested ...If you appreciate Sufism, you might be interested in this book which explores commonalities between Sufism and Orthodox Christianity:<BR/><BR/>Paths to the Heart: Sufism and the Christian East<BR/><BR/>http://www.worldwisdom.com/public/products/details.aspx?ID=82Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17612999135177842776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897777321980654953.post-89441361303463031762009-01-06T20:28:00.000-08:002009-01-06T20:28:00.000-08:00Gender---In the Quran God/Allah/Creator is referre...Gender---In the Quran God/Allah/Creator is referred in the male gender---however most muslims understand that God is not a "he" (or a she) and the use of masculine gender is simply due to the limitations of (human)language.<BR/>Likewise--Nafs/soul might be referred to in the feminine gender---but it is also because of language limitations.kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05417233769650767575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897777321980654953.post-43800613233173529672009-01-06T20:19:00.000-08:002009-01-06T20:19:00.000-08:00Islam has a range of interpretations. Though I am ...Islam has a range of interpretations. Though I am not a Sufi---I like the thoughts of some early Sufi philosophers and writers.<BR/>In verse 48 (of Surah 2) "Then guard yourselves against a day when one soul shall not avail another, Nor shall intercession be accepted for her...." The word soul is translated from the arabic "Nafs" (Hebrew(Torah)=Nefesh), The Quran talks of 3 levels of Nafs. The Nafs is our "self"/Consiousness/soul. "We" are not our bodies. This concept is important because it is tied in with "Judgement day"---that is "We" inhabit the body.<BR/>( buddhism -- the "soul" is called "atman" we reach our highest spiritual level at "enlightenment" or nirvana)<BR/>Soul in Judaism and Islam (simplified)<BR/>In Judaism, Nefesh has 2 levels, Yetzer Hatov (higher level)and Yezter Hara (egoic/animal)and the highest level of soul is called Neshama.<BR/>In the Quran it is 3 levels, Nafs Ammara,(egoic/animal) Nafs Lawwama,(higher level) and the highest level is called Nafs Mutmainna.<BR/><BR/>Heaven/Paradise<BR/>The arabic word "jannah" means "garden" and is what Christians call "heaven" as in heaven and hell. The word "heaven" in some Quran translations refers to sky or universe.kathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05417233769650767575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897777321980654953.post-91055852234574942092009-01-06T08:45:00.000-08:002009-01-06T08:45:00.000-08:00Maithri!Thank you for the comment and the link. I...Maithri!<BR/><BR/>Thank you for the comment and the link. I will check out the webpage. I so appreciate the Sufis!John Shuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00798753206614838161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897777321980654953.post-44402510792686453162009-01-05T22:27:00.000-08:002009-01-05T22:27:00.000-08:00A wonderful idea! The world needs more of this dia...A wonderful idea! The world needs more of this dialogue and understanding. <BR/><BR/>May I suggest a wonderful blog www.darvish.wordpress.com... written by my friend Brother Irving Karchmar, a darvish of the Nimatullahi Sufi order... a mystical branch of Islam.<BR/><BR/>Winged peace to you and yours,<BR/><BR/>MaithriMaithrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17039947095595430108noreply@blogger.com