Criticism of Leo: I don't think he understands Islam

[Husseinisdoingfine]

Greetings everyone.

So recently Leo published a blog post about the 99 names of Allah.

https://actualized.org/insights/the-99-names-of-allah

And all the way back in 2018, he published a video Understanding Islam.

https://www.actualized.org/articles/understanding-islam

 

This is a bit perplexing, but I don't think Leo understands Islam. He's trying to twist Islam into this higher consciousness vision when it is really far from that.

First criticism, the greater jihad.

In Leo's video, Understanding Islam, he presents Muhammad as a sort of self-help guru. According to Leo, Muhammed taught that the "greatest jihad" was the fight against the inner self. That to fight the enemies of Islam through military conquest was the lesser jihad, but the greater jihad was the fight to improve and become a better person.

I have two problems with this:

Criticism No.1: The greater jihad hadith is not a reliable hadith according to most Islamic scholars. Some scholars go as far to say that the hadith is fabricated. 

Criticism No.2: The are authentic hadiths which directly contradict this. 

Beginning with criticism No.1, the greater jihad myth comes from this inauthentic hadith:

" Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) narrates; “The Prophet of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) returned from one of his battles, and thereupon told us, ‘You have arrived with an excellent arrival, you have come from al-jihad al-asghar (lesser jihad) to al-jihad al-akbar (greater jihad) – the striving of a servant (of Allah) against his desires.’' "

Now while this hadith may sound nice and beautiful, like as if Muhammed wanted us to improve ourselves, there are a few glaring flaws to be found here. Firstly, the chain of narrations is not sound. In order for a hadith to be considered sahih (authentic), there has to be a reliable chain of narrators going back to the prophet.

More info on that here: https://friendsofdeoband.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/analysis-of-hadith-the-greater-jihad/

But this hadith first appeared in the 11th century, and Muhammed lived in the 6th century.

Now with criticism No.2 , there are hadiths which directly contradict this idea that the greatest is the struggle against the inner self. Its even in contradiction with the Quran.

Those believers who stay at home—except those with valid excuses1—are not equal to those who strive in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives. Allah has elevated in rank those who strive with their wealth and their lives above those who stay behind ˹with valid excuses˺. Allah has promised each a fine reward, but those who strive will receive a far better reward than others—

Quran 4:95

And here's the final nail in the coffin for the greater jihad myth.

“I came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, which Jihad is best?’ He said: ‘(That of a man) whose blood is shed and his horse is wounded.’”

Sunan Ibn Majah 4:24:2794

And wait, there's more:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The best life is that of the man who holds his horse's rein in Allah's way and flies on its back to the places from whence he hears a war cry or the clatter of arms, seeking martyrdom or slaughter on the battlefield; or that of a person who goes to stay on the top of the hill or in a valley, and there he performs Salat (prayer), pays the Zakat and worships his Rubb till death overtakes him. He has no concern with the affairs of anyone except the doing of good."

riyad as-salihin 12:1299

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked: "Which deed is the best?" He (ﷺ) replied, "Faith in Allah and Jihad (fighting, struggle) in the Cause of Allah."

riyad as-salihin 12:1287

 

[Husseinisdoingfine]

Now with the supposed names of Allah, the problem with this is that the God of Islam got his own name wrong. This is too lengthy to explain, so I will just refer you to this video:

 

[integration journey]

Can’t we just have some positive things about Islam so I don’t start hating my own culture 

Edited 4 hours ago by integration journey

[integration journey]

And I also believe this belongs to the intellectual sub forum. 
what does this has to do with personal development? 

[Leo Gura]

Dude, I do not care about literally reading Islam. I read it not according to how Mohammad intended, and not according to how tradition wants, but according to how God actually works.

The way God actually works is, the lesser Jihad is nonsense and the Greater Jihad is what matters for realizing God.

Allah does not favor anyone. Allah does not care what any human does. You could have sex with a goat and Allah will not care. You could wage the best lesser Jihad ever and slay a million demons, and Allah will not care.

I interpret Islam according to how it ought to be in its purest form. I don't parrot their corruptions, obviously. I cut out all the corruption and human confusion.

This is called being charitable. I steelman Islam. You are strawmanning it.

You will never realize Allah by waging a war. And Allah requires no war to defend his honor. War is silly human survival nonsense.

I do not care if Mohammad said it or not, I am telling you how God actually works.

You need to throw all the tradition and literalism out the window.

If you want to define Islam as waging war to gain favor with Allah, then that Isalm is without a doubt bullshit. So the question is, What is the Islam that is not bullshit?

Edited 12 minutes ago by Leo Gura

[AION]

Most muslims try to live like the prophet mimmicking his beard, eating like him, living as a desert dweller and think that is how to be a good muslim. The equivalent for scientists would be that scientists would try to look like Albert Einstein and think that would mean they are a good scientist while knowing nothing about science. Who cares about what Arabs think? I think they are doing a disservice to Mohammed, may peace be with him.

[Jodistrict]

This is actually similar to the issue of the Bhagavad Gita, which starts at the beginning of a battle, where Krishna (who is God) convinces Arjuna that it is his dharma to take up arms and kill.    This can be considered a metaphor of an inner battle and the Bhagavad Gita was even an inspiration for Gandhi.  However, some scholars say that there was an actual war.  Both views seem too simplistic.   Eastern thought embraces paradox and both are actually true.  We are transcendent but we are also embodied. 

[integration journey]

1 hour ago, AION said:

Most muslims try to live like the prophet mimmicking his beard, eating like him, living as a desert dweller and think that is how to be a good muslim. The equivalent for scientists would be that scientists would try to look like Albert Einstein and think that would mean they are a good scientist while knowing nothing about science. Who cares about what Arabs think? I think they are doing a disservice to Mohammed, may peace be with him.

I’m curious where are you from that you have this idea?