209. Islam and the Possibilities of Peace | Mohammed Hijab

Dec 13, 2021

In this engaging conversation, Mohammed Hijab, an author and philosopher specializing in political philosophy and comparative religion, sheds light on traditionalist Islam. He discusses the core beliefs of Islam, including the concept of submission to God and critiques of the Christian Trinity. Hijab also emphasizes the shared values among monotheistic religions and the importance of interfaith dialogue for fostering peace. Moreover, he explores the complexities of Islamic theology, the role of prophets, and the nuances of morality within Islamic history.

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INSIGHT

Islam's Unmoved Mover Argument

Islam emphasizes the concept of God as the unmoved mover, a self-sufficient entity upon which everything depends.
This rejects the possibility of a Trinity or any other multi-god system, as multiple all-powerful entities are seen as inconceivable.

INSIGHT

No Divine Spark in Humans (Islamic View)

Islam rejects the notion of a divine spark within human beings.
Instead, it emphasizes human exceptionalism, free will, and a loving relationship with God based on submission.

INSIGHT

Submission to God Through Prophets

In Islam, submission to God is key, achieved by following the guidance of prophets like Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.
All prophets delivered the same core message: believe in and worship one God.

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This episode was recorded on November 10th, 2021.

In this episode, philosopher Mohammed Hijab joined me to discuss a wide array of topics, such as the traditionalist interpretation of Islam, its metanarrative, the story of the prophet Muhammad, and some common ground among monotheistic Abrahamic religions.

Mohammed Hijab is an author and philosopher whose main interests lie in political philosophy, philosophy of religion, and comparative religion. He seeks to spread a better understanding of traditionalist Islam while engaging with prominent thinkers and philosophers worldwide.

Find more from Mohammed Hijab on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/mohammed_hijab

[00:00] Intro

[01:48] What beliefs and practices are central to Islam?

[04:12] Islam’s unmoved mover argument for God and the universe

[07:30] “Things made of parts... must be contingent on being created by something else, a sorting mechanism [that] doesn’t necessitate [creation itself].” Mohammed Hijab

[08:25] “It is problematic, through the lens of Islam... for there to be a god of a triune nature like [in] Christianity.” MH

[08:58] “Islam does not believe that there’s an element of divinity... in human beings.” MH

[10:09] “The word Islam does not mean peace; it means submission. Islam believes that everything in the universe submits to God.” MH

[10:57] The metanarrative of Islam

[12:12] Mohammed’s view of worship and belief

[12:48] “We believe in... the inherent belief in God implanted in humans.” MH

[15:20] What’s the purpose of belief?

[17:00] The instinct for God arguments vs new atheists

[18:27] The Muslim ideal for worship, compared

[24:36] Muslims and Christians as followers of Jesus Christ

[27:59] How does Dr. Peterson envision the spark of divinity?

[28:25] “The divine spark is embodied virtue... reflective of the highest value, operating at a local scale.” JP

[29:42] How are the attributes of God knowable to a Muslim? The importance of the original version of the Quran

[35:07] “Islam is an evangelizing religion... we want everyone to embrace it.” MH

[35:31] Bridges to Islam

[38:50] “I’m speaking from the perspective of someone who’s a traditionalist Muslim and not a liberal or enlightened Muslim.” MH

[40:47] An abridged story of the prophet Muhammad. The Mecca and Medina periods. Rationalizing the warrior emphasis of many Muslim teachings

[44:10] Muhammad’s warrior traits and Hijab’s interpretation

[49:20] Exploring the terms “warlord” and “defensive wars.”

[50:54] In Hijab’s opinion, what’s the central driving force behind the expansion of Islam?

[52:10] “Islam has the capability of being expansive through war... and of making peace treaties. It does and should do whatever’s in its best interest, just like every country.” MH

[55:39] Against totalitarianism

[58:46] “Evangelising isn’t the same as compelling.” MH

[58:56] “Let the best story win. I would say that the proper mode of conversion is something like a shining example.” JP

[01:00:28] M.Hijab on western misconceptions of Islam

[01:03:20] Other seldom-discussed aspects of Islam

[01:08:53] M.Hijab’s take on the war in Serbia

[01:11:05] The economic output of Islamic countries

[01:15:18] M.Hijab on why the traditionalist view is superior to a liberal one

[01:21:34] The struggles of belief. How can we check our own views?

[01:23:44] Wrapping up

#Islam #Christianity #God #Quran #Jesus