ISLAM - rabia

Question 1

teachings

Answer 1

• highly influential model of submission to Allah and His will
• development and expression of Sufiism
• model for all Muslim women
• expanded theology and understanding of Allah’s nature

Question 2

explain model of submission 4

Answer 2

• placed her relationship with Allah above relationship with others or self –> refused many marriage proposals which was unusual as during this time women were highly dependant on men for money etc. however she believed this would distract from her devotion to Allah, He was all she needed. –> achieved uns (personal relationship with Allah)
• embodied a lifestyle of asceticism, denied herself of any creatures of comfort as believed it would distract from Allah and she had no desire for material possessions, ‘I should be ashamed to ask for worldly things from him whom the world belongs.’
• Even on her death bed Rabia’s immense faith didn’t waiver, she performed the first pillar by reciting the Shahadah saying, ‘Do you not know that the most high has willed for me to be in this state? If you know this, why do you tell me to ask him to relieve me?’
• struggled immensely as an orphan, slave, woman in a highly patriarchal culture, sickness and yet she saw all of these as blessings from Allah, ‘as all things are from Allah, all things are good’ –> embodies concept of Tawakkul which means to maintain trust in Allah’s plan, also example of Qadr, Allah’s plan for her, viewing her misfortunes as blessings and having completely devoted faith in Allah’s abilities

Question 3

give 3 quotes for submission to Allah

Answer 3

• ‘as all things are from Allah, all things are good’
• ‘I should be ashamed to ask for worldly things from him whom the world belongs.’
• ‘Do you not know that the most high has willed for me to be in this state? If you know this, why do you tell me to ask him to relieve me?’

Question 4

explain Sufiism 7

Answer 4

• mystical movement which is an intellectual pursuit where one attempts to understand and become more aware of Allah and His presence, it emphasises introspection and spiritual closeness with Allah
• involves eliminating distractions, forgoing the ego and spending time in deep contemplative prayer, attaining a sense of Allah’s presence and transcendent nature
• Muraqabah - Sufi meditation, is to reflect on one’s spiritual heart, purging one’s faults
• Muhasabah - the concept of assessing one’s own intentions and actions, taking an account of the authenticity and execution of their submission with the objective of making changes and looking to improve
• Rabia constantly undertook Muhasabah regularly to identify and work on ways in which she could strengthen her relationship with Allah, ‘If we could see ourselves objectively we would be aware of how we have spent our lives, what debts (or karma) we have created, and what we need to do to “pay” for our actions and our lives. Actually, if we were wise, we would engage in this retrospection every day, assessing our actions, our emotions, and our thoughts’
• Adherents thrive to attain ultimate enlightenment (Fana Fi’ilah) which means to become annihilated in or become one with Allah – it helps them to achieve complete unity with Allah
• If a Muslim makes a mistake they make tawbah which means 3 things (acknowledgement of the action performed and show remorse, stop doing it and replace the wrong deed with something better)

Question 5

give 3 quotes for Sufiism

Answer 5

• ‘Mysticism was the only religious sphere where women could find a place’ – The Sufi Orders in Islam by J. Spencer Trimingham
• ‘If we could see ourselves objectively we would be aware of how we have spent our lives…if we were wise, we would engage in this retrospection every day, assessing our actions, our emotions, and our thoughts’
• Rabia’s poetry revealed her mystical communion with Allah, expressing the fruits of being in a loving relationship with Him e.g. ‘The striving after union with thee has healed my soul.’

Question 6

explain theology and expanded understanding 5

Answer 6

• shifted perspective about Allah as being harsh, vengeful and someone to be feared, rather showing that he is merciful and loving
• mainstreamed the concept of Mahabbah which means that Allah is a god of Divine Love, encouraging adherents to engage in a genuine and meaningful relationship with Him rather than just follows His laws in fear of punishment
• never used prayer as a petition for selfish requests but rather an opportunity to show gratitude, believing that Allah would guide her through her struggles, but never asked for help, nevertheless he intervened e.g. He resurrected her donkey from dead on her way to Hajj and released her from slavery
• her unwavering love for Allah and undevoted submission to Him was an act of service, of love, rather than in fear of punishment, she really embodied Allah as a Divine Love
• effectively demonstrated authentic submission where she wasn’t acting in fear of punishment or for richly rewards but simply for love of Allah

Question 7

give3 quotes on theology and expanded understanding

Answer 7

• Islamic scholar Hamza Yusuf says ‘It goes without saying that Rabia’s position as a prodigious intellect at the time (and after) saw a shift in many people’s ideas about God. In particular after that time, there was a greater focus on the love of God.’
• “I want to put out the fires of Hell, and burn down the rewards of Paradise. They block the way to God. I do not want to worship from fear of punishment or for the promise of reward, but simply for the love of God.”
• ‘God first, then go to paradise. First the Neighbour, then the House’

Question 8

explain model for Muslim women 4

Answer 8

• in an extremely patriarchal culture where women often depended on men for money as were unable to work, she refused many marriage proposals and showed women how they only need to depend on Allah to survive
• also in this patriarchal culture she become a prominent female Muslim leader that especially women could look up to and be inspired by
• She is the only woman in Attar’s book of Islamic saints  allowed Muslim women to feel represented and gain a sense of hope in that they too can become a leader of Islam and don’t require a dependence on men
• very much embodied Tawakkul meaning to rely on Allah only and trust His plan, and Qadr, that these horrific experiences in a patriarchal culture was part of Allah’s plan for her and made her faith even stronger and thus her leadership also
• did not show hate or anger towards men for their perpetuation of the patriarchal culture but rather accepted it

Question 9

give 3 quotes for model for Muslim women

Answer 9

• According to Hasan al-Basri a Sufi leader, ‘I passed one whole night and day with Rabi’a … it never passed through my mind that I was a man nor did it occur to her that she was a woman…when I looked at her I saw myself as bankrupt [i.e. as spiritually worth nothing] and Rabi’a as truly sincere [rich in spiritual virtue].’ –> also gives credit to women as intellectual influences, encouraging them to become theologians of Islam
• ‘Mysticism was the only religious sphere where women could find a place’ – The Sufi Orders in Islam by J. Spencer Trimingham
• ‘My heart is filled with the love of God and has no place in it for hate’