Birth of Islam & Paganism

The Qur'an seems to assume its audience knows about Abrahamic myths and figures etc. and it has been suggested that the intended audience wasn't Pagan, as the Islamic narrative tells us, but that it was comprised of people who were familiar with Biblical and extra-Biblical stories.

What do you think?

Rival said:

The Qur'an seems to assume its audience knows about Abrahamic myths and figures etc. and it has been suggested that the intended audience wasn't Pagan, as the Islamic narrative tells us, but that it was comprised of people who were familiar with Biblical and extra-Biblical stories.

What do you think?

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My sense is that is a very good question. Certainly Islam is presented as the successor to Judaism and Christianity, correcting the errors in the Bible, so the Quran would be expected to have a focus on Christian & Jewish ideas.

When reading the Qur'an, I got the distinct impression that it was written for the 'people of the book'. There were not a terrible amount of reference to the 'Pagans', and the directions were given for the 'people of the book' from what I could tell.

My Muslim friend did not like my suggesting that the book was presented specifically for a certain 'tribe' of people("Nono, George, its meant for all people, everywhere, at all times", he told me), but that is for sure the sense that I got from reading it.

sun rise said:

My sense is that is a very good question. Certainly Islam is presented as the successor to Judaism and Christianity, correcting the errors in the Bible, so the Quran would be expected to have a focus on Christian & Jewish ideas.

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Please read the first chapter of Quran (the most read) called Fatihah and prove one's point. Right?

Regards

Rival said:

The Qur'an seems to assume its audience knows about Abrahamic myths and figures etc. and it has been suggested that the intended audience wasn't Pagan, as the Islamic narrative tells us, but that it was comprised of people who were familiar with Biblical and extra-Biblical stories.

What do you think?

Click to expand...

At the time of Muhammad there was known many different religious beliefs, the area where the Kaaba is was mainly Polytheistic before Islam rose when Muhammad was 40 years of age. But in that area, there was also know Christianity and Judaism (people of the book)
Without knowing it as a fact my guess is that Muhammad spoke to anyone who wanted to listen to him, no matter what tribe or belief they had, So yes he would have spoken to Pagan followers too

Conscious thoughts said:

Without knowing it as a fact my guess is that Muhammad spoke to anyone who wanted to listen to him, no matter what tribe or belief they had, So yes he would have spoken to Pagan followers too

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I suspect Mohammed would have spoken to them, too. However, do you believe Allah's message was targeted at Muslims, Christians, and Jews, or was he meaning to send the message out to all in the area?

Many Muslims believe Allah was speaking to all, but from a neutral standpoint, I have trouble understanding how the message may have been intended for far away indigenous tribes existing on other continents.

JustGeorge said:

I suspect Mohammed would have spoken to them, too. However, do you believe Allah's message was targeted at Muslims, Christians, and Jews, or was he meaning to send the message out to all in the area?

Many Muslims believe Allah was speaking to all, but from a neutral standpoint, I have trouble understanding how the message may have been intended for far away indigenous tribes existing on other continents.

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My understanding is that Allah's message was meant for and still is meant for those who can absorb the message, Meaning that the teaching is given so all who listen can understand it, and become a servant of Allah.
Islam means submission to Allah, so all people who are in submission to God do the right thing,

In my understanding the message in all the Abrahamic religions was "intended" at the time it was told to reach the "known" world to those who lived in what we know as the middle east today. The spreading of the teaching come long after.

Excellent video on religion Pre Islam.

Can you demonstrate were the Qur'an assumes you know about old Abrahamic stories and how that negatively affects one's understanding of it?

The Qur'an is intented for all human kind.

paarsurrey said:

Please read the first chapter of Quran (the most read) called Fatihah and prove one's point. Right?

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Every practicing Muslim reads/recites the first chapter of Quran in its five prayers/salat about 36 times a day:
Chapter 1. Al-Fatihah
1:1
بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ﴿۱﴾
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
1:2
اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ۙ﴿۲﴾
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds,
1:3
الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ ۙ﴿۳﴾
The Gracious, the Merciful,
1:4
مٰلِکِ یَوۡمِ الدِّیۡنِ ؕ﴿۴﴾
Master of the Day of Judgment.
1:5
اِیَّاکَ نَعۡبُدُ وَ اِیَّاکَ نَسۡتَعِیۡنُ ؕ﴿۵﴾
Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we implore for help.
1:6
اِہۡدِ نَا الصِّرَاطَ الۡمُسۡتَقِیۡمَ ۙ﴿۶﴾
Guide us in the right path —
1:7
صِرَاطَ الَّذِیۡنَ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ۬ۙ غَیۡرِ الۡمَغۡضُوۡبِ عَلَیۡہِمۡ وَ لَا الضَّآلِّیۡنَ ٪﴿۷﴾
The path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings, those who have not incurred Thy displeasure, and those who have not gone astray.
Holy Quran: Read, Listen and Search
Isn't it addressed to the whole comity of humans, please?
Right?

Regards