The major differences between the exoteric and esoteric path of Islam Essay

The major differences between the exoteric and recondite class of Islam - Essay ExampleThe exoteric path in contemporary Islam is composed of moderates and outnumbers the esoteric path of the radicals but still stands hijacked by nascent Islamic radicalism. Islam is typically perceived as one, whole and uniformly practiced religion but reality belies this simplified disposition. The paths of exoteric and esoteric Islam are well separate and this paper seeks to discuss the major differences between both. The cock-a-hoopst difference between the exoteric Muslims and the esoteric Muslims is their attitude towards the contemporaries of religion. The esoteric Muslims see Islam as the ultimate solution for mankind and believe that it their responsibility to enforce Islam near the globe. Such quarters see Islam as the final solution for every problem that mankind faces ranging from stimulated problems to population control. Sayyid Qutb, one of the founding fathers of modern radical I slam argues in his text Milestones (Qutb 57) ... annihilate all those governmental and material powers which stand between people and Islam ... In contrast, the original teachings of Islam are far more undisturbed and refrains the believer from imposing his version of religion on the early(a) person, whether Muslim or non Muslim. The prophesier of Islam was a staunch believer in religious pluralism including within Islamic realms. The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, has been quoted as saying (Ernst 1045) disparity of opinion is a mercy for my community. Additionally, religious pluralism has been favored in the sacred text of Islam, the rule book. The legers second chapter, Al Baqra, declares openly that the believers are non allowed to force other people into their religious fold. Islam has historically relied on preaching through peaceful means including open interaction with non Muslims. The earliest traditions from Islam, including the time when advance(prenominal) Muslims we re being prosecuted in Makkah, show that forced conversions and the imposition of religious doctrine on other religions was not allowed. The same can be said of the times when the Muslims were in power and had taken control of large swaths of the globe. The reign of Umar is mentionable in this regard. In around a decade Umar was able to expand the Islamic frontiers obscure through armed conflict but again Islam was not imposed on the conquered people (Ahmed 34). Instead, Islam was open in close of the conquered areas through open interaction with the non Muslims. Even with the existence of evidence to the contrary, todays radical Islamists are bent upon furthering Islam through violent means. A major problem that Islam faces like other major religions is the loss in translation. Islam was originally revealed in the Arabian Peninsula and the medium of communication and instruction remained Arabic. The Prophet Muhammad was Arab and was not instructed in other languages, so his enti re set of instructions for Islam has been preserved in Arabic. Similarly, the Quran was revealed and the scribed in Arabic too. There were initially no problems as to the use of Arabic since the early converts and most of the converts in the Prophets own lifetime were Arabs. However, as the Islamic empire began to spread down the stairs the Rightly Guided Caliphs, the need for taking up other languages became apparent. It was felt that translating massive works of Quran and Hadith into other languages would abrade the meanings of the original texts. In an effort to