After reading the chapter, “The Passing of Reason” from Schroeder, I felt that I agreed more with Ashari’s creed than with the argument of the Rationalists as described in several passages because what Ashari’s sayings coincide with many of my personal beliefs. I found it unsettling how much discussion there was on how, what, and who God was by Muslims, especially by the Mu'tazilites who were also known as Rationalists. It confounded me how the Rationalists gave human-like characteristics to God, while at the same time they believed that God was greater than any other being. Ashari’s sayings make sense because he understands the Quran as it is written and does not try to disseminate possible meanings of the words of God who, as all Muslims …show more content…
He writes that those who stay near the ship or on the ship (ship is a metaphor for a “righteous” path of life) will be rewarded. However, he goes on to say that those who wander away from the ship and indulge in the pleasures and material wealth of the island, which is only temporary, (metaphor for the “unrighteous” path of life) will be punished. Basically, he concludes that one has to let go of one’s worldly desires to attain success after death (Heaven). Personally, I related this to a saying of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who once said that life is like a traveller who takes shade under a tree. The tree being the metaphor for life and the overall journey is one’s creation by God to life to death, and than to either Heaven or Hell. The only disagreement I have with al-Kindi is his idea of letting go of all desirables in life to truly attain happiness and success. I believe that since God created everything at a point, then we should be thankful for and at least somewhat cherish what He has created for us. I do not mean that one should indulge in worldly materials, but one should respect and be thankful to God for giving one these materials