Religious Mythology
From an early age our religious education constitutes of a mix of banal religious routines, lofty tales of prophetic tradition and conquests and heady Islamic mythology. Therefore, it is not surprising that from an early age we simply cannot tell the difference between factual history and bogus mythology. Especially since mythology is so much more fascinating than dog-eared religious routines and boring history.
As we grow older, this strange mix of religious ingredients can concoct images of God, angels and prophets that only someone such as Tolkien can create. This is not surprising since great authors of fantasy usually derive a lot of inspiration from ancient mythological stories giving our own beliefs that extra touch of Hollywood magic right inside our brain.
Few among us actually think about the difference between factual religious history and Islamic lore. Both have their origins in traditions of ancient Arab tribes so it is easy to confuse one for the other. But our religious beliefs are strengthened by this very belief in mythology (or folklore, as the case maybe) more than anything else – especially at young age when our minds are impressionable.
Many of us even in our adulthood take Islamic mythology very seriously. And why not? They made for good story time episodes when we were young and no one told us they were just mere stories and they are also popular in the comical (but very seriously taken) prophet's Seerat on Voice of Maldives every Ramadan. We are never confused or puzzled by the stories, creatures and beings of these fables simply because if god ordained it thus any silly thing is possible.
Some of the beings and creatures found in Islamic mythology show absolutely no sign of originality. One such being is al Buraq – the winged horse-like creature that is said to have transported the prophet to heaven. In its described form, having a human face, wings, and shaped like a horse, it seems to have been heavily borrowed from the features of Shedu of Babylonian legend – which is several centuries older.
We are all familiar with Dajjal, the deciever. He is supposed to be a man who will appear prior to the end of the world. According to several hadiths Dajjal is short, one eyed (shaped like a grape), will be able to split a person in half and bring him back to life (Chris Angel does the same today and the victim is alive even in split state!). In addition to this, he will try to deceive ignorant and stupid Muslims into thinking that heaven is hell and hell is heaven. Thousands of Muslims will fall for the trap despite the pre-warning in Hadith (go figure!).
Although there is no mention of Dajjal in Quran it does mention the Yajuj and Majuj. The Yajuj and Majuj are two fearsome tribes who will ravage the earth just before the end of the world. It is said, in a story described in the Quran, that a man named Zul Qarnain (some argue this to be Alexander the Great or Cyrus the Great) had erected a great wall enclosing the people of Yajuj and Majuj between two mountains. They try (even to this day) to dig through the wall but find each morning that the wall is restored, as it were, to its original state. This, it seems, will be the plight and curse of the Yajuj and Majuj people, until just before the world ends or someone spots them on Google Earth. Who wouldn’t be raging mad having to spend millenniums in that situation?
Some of the angels as described in popular Islamic myths are bizarre and appear to have been created in the mind of a creative child. For instance, the angel of death Azrael (or commonly known as malakulmauth), is said to have 4 heads and 4,000 wings and his body is formed by as many eyes and tongues as there are living human beings. Imagine 6 billion eyes and tongues! Ew! That's not all. Some descriptions of him depict his cosmic size: he stands with one foot in the 7th heaven and the other on the Sirat al-Jahim (Siraathu magu) that divides heaven and hell. This is, of course, assuming that the distance between the said locations are cosmic in size.
There are many, many more beings and creatures and stories of future and past in Islamic mythology. And there is no doubt that many of these silly creations are not just lore for the vast majority of Muslims. This is not surprising as it is hard to draw a solid line defining the distinction between what is considered fact and what is myth given the source material. For some, as it is for me, common sense leaves them feeling skeptical about the tales. For others, there is no questioning religion whatsoever. For them, there exists no line separating myth and fact in religion.
I think the latter may be right even from a skeptic's point of view.
Frozen Solid | December 13, 2007 8:19 AM | Reply
If anybody want to learn a religion and what it is about they shouldn't listen to what people say. It is always better to go by the book. For Islam it would be The holy Quran and the sunnah ie teachings of the prophet which are proven authentic.
The exaggerated explanation and description of burag and malakulmauth are not written in the any of the book i mentioned but on personal literature. if you listen to the so called israa miuraaj story there are much more exaggerated description which we find hard to believe given the extreme cases. but if we really analyze the story we know its not the truth. no mention of those descriptions are in quran or in the authentic hadheeths.
M | December 13, 2007 9:29 AM | Reply
Why do Angels need wings if they may be spending most of their time outside Earth's atmosphere in a vacuum? Does more wings mean better speed? Can a bird flap its wing to propel itself at the speed of light? If Angels are made of light, then why do they need wings at all? Do they follow rectilinear propagation? Can we reflect back malakulmauth with a mirror?
And then there is Dhajjal. Supposedly man's greatest trial ever. Yet does not even get a mention anywhere in Quran. Why? Why? Why?
I suppose all the mythologies are nothing more than just mythologies as they are not taken from any holy scriptures, but from those "extra" books that people write up as add-ons to the scriptures.
Oh, and did I mention that it's almost time for Christmas? Dust off those books on Santa Claus... and you might even get presents in your socks.
kess | December 13, 2007 8:23 PM | Reply
One that irritates me is the story of Mahudhee. The supposed saviour of mankind, which is primarily a Shia myth, which has influenced Sunnis as well, including Maldivians. There are some Maldivians who believe in this myth, even though there is no factual basis for this in Hadhees or the Quran. I don't know how these religions gumballs could provide any basis for his return.
Suhail | December 14, 2007 12:19 AM | Reply
Simon, you never mention the TV Maldives' most popular series of these days, "Mohamed The Prophet of Allah". Mostly myths and imaginations that has no basis, but being used to feed the new generation the lies and confuse them, as the kids of these days have no interst in anything that is not visual. By having such a name people have a tendency to believe there cannot be any lies in it, whilst the reality is otherwise. By naming such fiction using our Prophet's name is only a disgrace and an insult.
Our prophet's name was presumably disgraced when some Sudanese kids named a teddy bear; Mohamed, and the British teacher in charge of the kids were imprisoned for insulting Islam. This is how ridiculous and fanatical; we, Muslims have become. If this trend is allowed to go on for any longer, we will soon find a day where people will be imprisoned for misspelling Mohamed and will be banned from writing Allah's name except in Arabic script. There is already an unwritten law in Maldives that says, we are not supposed to write Allah in Dhivehi script.
Simon | December 14, 2007 12:45 AM | Reply
Suhail,
That's because I never watch TVM. This does not mean I listen to VOM either. I don't.
Mohamed Hilmy | December 14, 2007 2:36 PM | Reply
Simon
I notice that when you post intellectually engaging material on religious matters, you post a cautionery alert for viewer discretion. I can understand why you may have to do it but haven't we reached the stage in Maldives where issues on both sides of the religious divide (conservative and liberal) can be dicussed openely without fear of insulting some one or recrimination? Is it not time we expect and call for that kind of tolerance and accepting behaviour from every one?
Simon | December 14, 2007 2:55 PM | Reply
Hilmy,
Yes, I agree with you.
I cannot remember when exactly I put there - the notice is printed automatically if a post is tagged "religion".
Over time I've just ignored it and so, essentially, forgot it was there. Now, thanks to you, I shall remove it.
Suhail | December 16, 2007 6:04 PM | Reply
Kess,
In Islam, it is always the blame game, what Sunnis do not like they say they are the myths of Shia and likewise Shias blame the Sunnis for what they do not like.
Now contemporary scholars have invented a new blame game. According to them, the Ahaadheeth that they do not like were fabrications by the Persian Ulemmas like Bukhari, Tirmizi and Imam Muslim.
If none of the above helps to justify our uncivil behaviour we blame the West and their allies, and finally as a last resource to justify our bahaviour, we even blame Allah, saying this is what Allah and his Prophet teach us.
executioner | December 18, 2007 1:37 PM | Reply
Simon i totally agree with you,I have been a great fan of your blog, your thoughts are quite like mine, great post man keep em coming.
Dante | December 19, 2007 12:17 AM | Reply
'Suhail' your comments seems to be the roots of simon's articles;retrospective venules which lay the foundation to, and which consolidate the indoctrinations of the articles, it would seem, by design..
Despite relentless attempts to educate simon, it seems his addiction to Islamophobia/theophobia is terminal, barring the traces of whitewashing...
Noted, the crux of the article seems fair enough in presenting it argument, but only if one assumes his article ends where he says it ends..
I note with in-exculpable glee, your ending-
"Now contemporary scholars have invented a new blame game. According to them, the Ahaadheeth that they do not like were fabrications by the Persian Ulemmas like Bukhari, Tirmizi and Imam Muslim."
The conclusion being definably simon- God is a figment of our imagination, a pathological manifestation of the human psyche..and religion is it's greatest proof, or rather the greatest disprover of God!
[The arguments of science which demonstrate 'God-centers' in the brain; the collection of neurons within the brain which respond to meditation, prayer etc as epileptiform pathologies, is tantamount to saying for example that the electrical response of the 'satiety center' when one eats is also a pathology...simply put]
The school of atheism kids, like most schools of theology, in trying to undefine or define God; and the failure of either does not de-exit God...not by a long shot
Suhail | December 19, 2007 1:21 PM | Reply
Dante, it is not in my interest to prove or disprove God's existence. We already witnessed God's unique Divinity without really witnessing, by saying "Ashhadhu an Laailaaha Illa Allah".
thadu | December 22, 2007 5:16 AM | Reply
ahh!
and there would start another talk which would turn into a debate and then into a fight and then into a war! over such myths and beliefs! people tend to prove themselves senile when it comes to such and such beliefs, thus never care to or perhaps believe it as a sin even to try find the truth about such stories!
FuzenTenshi | December 28, 2007 11:58 AM | Reply
Hmmm..
Creation vs Evolution..
Aggression or violence arising from such a discussion only proves that one or both parties cannot justify their views or cannot stand to have their beliefs confronted n questioned..
Jus one thing tht came to my mind;
If you are to believe only the Holy Scriptures and not 'stories fabricated by these evangelists of sort'.. U disregard these 'phantasms' created by these people.. But believe the book itself.. Wat abt the stories in the book itself?
Mind u, there are a couple of unearthly stories in the books themselves..
U then believe, GOD in his magnificence, can do some of these things but not these others like isra n miuraj?
Its all a bit of the glass half full isnt it?
Dhivehin bunanyaa; mee foakey mee foakey nooney dho mibunevenee?
Dnt u think?
Austin | December 31, 2007 1:48 PM | Reply
Interesting blog.Much groping in the dark, but hi5 for the effort at least...comments are also quite insightful
For a small island state, you guys are surely making a mark- from global warming to sun kissed sandy beaches to now Islamic Extremism and atheisio-secularist pundits...and political turmoil..guess globalisation has stripped the Maldives of the innocence I knew when i used to visit in the 90s.
Seems to be a lot of confusion with regards to the Quran as the last in a sequel divine messages to Man; & the garment that this Islam has since come to wear through what could be called it's Islamic heritage/History/Culture..and Islamic scholars and anti-Islamic forces have been more than happy to utilize this apparent collusion
In the states, where the power of the clergy is near nil, the perception of what is Islam is quite different from what is known in the streets of middle eastern countries of today or perhaps even the Maldives, or even from the rantings of the media..it is what drives Islam as the fastest growing religion here in America and in Europe, where the *threat* of Islamisation has become an election issue, for example in France & the Scandinavian countries..
Those who want to corner men of faith by saying "show God to us if you speak the truth" or something to that effect, can find no answers, no scientific *validation* to His existence..but if one wants to shed off his skin of arrogance and embrace Belief, the truth is not far off for those of want..
And the efforts of either forces on either will continue, as it always have.
Qur'an VS traditions- for which on January 31, 1990, Dr.Rashad Khalifa gave his life:
http://submission.org/miracle/history.html
"Over it are Nineteen.And We have set none but angels as Guardians of the Fire; and We have fixed their number only as a trial for Unbelievers,- in order that the People of the Book may arrive at certainty, and the Believers may increase in Faith,- and that no doubts may be left for the People of the Book and the Believers, and that those in whose hearts is a disease and the Unbelievers may say, "What symbol doth God intend by this?" Thus doth God leave to stray whom He pleaseth, and guide whom He pleaseth: and none can know the forces of thy Lord, except He and this is no other than a warning to mankind."74:30-31
I wish all of you find what you seek )
maumoon | January 10, 2008 3:22 AM | Reply
I found what’s bothering you and your friends “Random Reflexions” simply
By reading your thoughts I understand that you need to think a lot hard about the Purpose of Life or I might have to read Haveeru News about “some guy just jumped of the roof cus he had Random thoughts. I don’t think you asked your self about the Purpose of Life? So take my advice and stop thinking about things you have no power of. No matter how hard you try you can change the fact that Islam is the Religion and you must obey Allah and His Prophet Muhammed (saw) if you want save your self from the Hell Fire and since you are His Slave there is no other way then obeying Allah’s commands. So repent now before it’s too late…
ayya | January 10, 2008 3:30 AM | Reply
Correction You missed the “T”( can't)
I found what’s bothering you and your friends “Random Reflexions” simply
By reading your thoughts I understand that you need to think a lot hard about the Purpose of Life or I might have to read Haveeru News about “some guy just jumped of the roof cus he had Random thoughts. I don’t think you asked your self about the Purpose of Life? So take my advice and stop thinking about things you have no power of. No matter how hard you try you cant change the fact that Islam is the Religion and you must obey Allah and His Prophet Muhammed (saw) if you want save your self from the Hell Fire and since you are His Slave there is no other way then obeying Allah’s commands. So repent now before it’s too late…
Simon Shareef he's right You should repent..
dilmaah | January 14, 2008 8:26 AM | Reply
Thi thanun emme visneney Austin ah, especially being a foriegner. You guys should seriously consider what he had to say.
And Simon, if you have so much spare time to wonder about the existence of GOD & FAITH, maybe you should spend it wisely, read the translation of the Holy Qur'an and maybe you will get the answers... and maybe not.... i hope you do.
"Thus doth God leave to stray whom He pleaseth, and guide whom He pleaseth: and none can know the forces of thy Lord, except He and this is no other than a warning to mankind."
Simon | January 14, 2008 4:25 PM | Reply
Dilmah,
Thank you for noting that unlike many others I actually have the spare time to think about god and faith. Most people I know go about their daily lives without a clue, thinking that somehow foreigners, by virtue of them being especially foreign, have got it all right.
Abraham | January 19, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply
Simon and his filthy gang of islamhaters...did it ever occur to simons childish stupid,little brain with barely an ounce of brain tissue that there exists things that we cant comprehend through our senses...
Abraham,
Yes, indeed. We cannot comprehend certain things through our senses. For example, we cannot comprehend, by mere observation alone, how much brain tissue I have in my brain. An ounce, a kilo, a raathaa? A lot of speculation, as you can see.
This is why modern science has come up with such tools as the CT scan. To allow us to comprehend - or in other words, to translate those stimuli that we cannot comprehend through our senses into those that we can.
But there are certain things we CAN comprehend, or to put it more accurately, we can observe and deduce. For instance, if barely an ounce of "brain tissue" can author the above post (and the hundreds of posts on this blog) then how many tons of "brain tissue" did it take for you to author that comment?
dhilma | May 5, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply
You, Simon, can only be described as a delirious lunatic.
Simon | May 7, 2008 8:07 AM | Reply
Better being a delirious lunatic than an unthinking puppet.
Fuzentenshi | May 10, 2008 4:59 AM | Reply
Delirious Lunatic... Hmm interesting..
I would think that might be one of the terms that was used to describe people like Copernicus and Galileo at one time for proposing that Earth was not the center of the solar system and that it wasnt flat (relatively)..
Infact Galileo was strictly punished for proclaiming that, by the Christian Church.. Although the idea had been there from the times of Aristotle in Ancient Greece..
All hail paradigms of thought and accurse the free thinkers!
Delirious indeed..
ali | May 22, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply
you have certainly crossed the point at which muslims would normally consider one of their own. Bt you don't care about that i guess. Here's the thing, i would like to ask you this question. Have you ever been to a funeral?- perhaps some one from your family had passed away, just before your eyes. The very essense of truth is that every one will die. Including you.. and you shall one day face the touchable, hearable, hard evidence that what you so sarcastically reffering to as islamic mythology. And i assure you that Life is true, death is true, Allah is true, The Quran is true, The prophets are True, the Satan is True and the angles are true- And you shall be questioned by an angle when you are dead. So try to find a lonely and silent place and start reflecting on your life and what will become at the exact point you die and how this whole article you wrote would not be so funny then.
Simon | May 23, 2008 8:57 AM | Reply
Ali,
No doubt, people like you keep the spirit of mythology alive and well to this day. When you said you wanted to ask me a question I thought I was going to be inundated by logically sound, evidentially rich facts.
Instead, you just wanted to demonstrate how much dark matter has replaced your gray matter. Blind faith is nothing to be proud of.
I'll tell you this: if I die and find out all this were true, I'd still laugh and make fun of them.
newbie | June 8, 2008 12:43 PM | Reply
I feel that rather than being open minded, you are being closed minded.
Even I don't believe everything I hear, I don't believe the descriptions of the Angels and Demons are accurate. But I believe they exist because it has been mentioned in the Quran. But I'm not going to deny that Malakulmauth is the angel of death who I will meet one day.
The Quran is original, reading the verses, the translation, I know that interpreting it is no easy job. But there are facts written in the Quran, universal truths that people were unaware of. Nothing in the Quran has ever been disproven by skeptics (argued maybe, but not disproven). This is the reason that (most) muslims have strong faith.
The questions arise with the different interpretations of the book and the islamic stories that have unreliable sources.
What I want to say is. Its disappointing that you would close your mind to the existence of God, Angels and Demons, and our Prophets.
"I'll tell you this: if I die and find out all this were true, I'd still laugh and make fun of them."
Do I detect a hint of doubt yet complete denial of the possibility that the Quran's depiction of the afterlife is true.