Discuss critically the views of Islamic theological schools on whether amal (action) is part of iman (belief) or not.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Views of Islamic Theological Schools on the Relationship between Amal and Iman
The relationship between amal (action) and iman (belief) is a topic of great significance within Islamic theological discourse. This issue has been debated and analyzed by various schools of thought within Islam, each offering their own perspectives and interpretations. In this essay, we will critically examine the views of Islamic theological schools on whether amal is considered an integral part of iman or not.
The Traditionalist Perspective:
One school of thought that holds a traditionalist perspective believes that amal is an essential part of iman. They argue that iman is not only a matter of belief in the heart, but it also encompasses actions that are in accordance with Islamic teachings. According to this view, true belief is demonstrated through righteous deeds and adherence to the moral and ethical principles outlined in the Quran and Hadith.
Proponents of this perspective often cite numerous verses from the Quran that emphasize the importance of combining belief with action. For instance, in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:177), it is stated, “Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves.” This verse exemplifies how iman is intricately linked to acts of charity and kindness.
The Separationist Perspective:
On the other hand, some Islamic theological schools uphold a separationist perspective, which argues that amal is not an integral part of iman. According to this view, iman solely rests on the belief in the heart and does not rely on external actions. They contend that iman is a personal matter between an individual and Allah, and one’s actions should not be used as a measure of their faith.
Supporters of this perspective often refer to a Hadith narrated by Abu Huraira, in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated, “Iman (faith) has sixty-odd or seventy-odd branches. The highest among them is to bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and the lowest among them is to remove something harmful from the road. And modesty is a branch of iman.” This Hadith is interpreted by separationists as evidence that while good actions are commendable and encouraged, they are not a prerequisite for iman.
The Middle Ground Perspective:
A third perspective adopts a middle ground approach that seeks to reconcile both views. Advocates of this perspective argue that while amal is not an intrinsic part of iman, it is an inevitable consequence and manifestation of true faith. They believe that genuine belief in Allah naturally leads to righteous actions as a reflection of one’s faith.
This middle ground perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of iman and amal, positing that they are two sides of the same coin. Faith without action is considered incomplete and lacking, just as actions without sincere belief lack spiritual significance.
Conclusion:
The debate surrounding whether amal is part of iman remains a complex and nuanced topic within Islamic theological schools. Traditionalists argue that amal is an essential component of iman, emphasizing the need for righteous actions alongside sincere belief. Separationists maintain that amal is not an integral part of iman, asserting that true faith resides solely in the heart. Meanwhile, proponents of the middle ground perspective suggest that while amal is not a prerequisite for iman, it is an inevitable outcome of genuine faith.
Ultimately, understanding the relationship between amal and iman requires a balanced approach that acknowledges the importance of both belief and action in Islamic theology. By combining sincere faith with righteous deeds, Muslims strive to achieve a holistic expression of their devotion to Allah and their fellow human beings.
