will continue, writing rather quickly

Because I did not get to finish The Islamic Tradition I want to put down the passages I underlined in case I do never get back to this book. I like to use my books; to write, underline, fold them because books are real and most of all interactive. So to memorize the essence of what I have taken so far from this book I want to copy these captions.

In addition to required beliefs and rituals, the faithful are called upon to practice virtues such as charity, humility, patience, contentment, and sincerity, as a means to reforming their moral character. The beliefs, the rites, and the moral reformation were deemed to purify the soul of man and to lead to salvation at the hour of death through entrance into Paradise. The Hells were reserved for those who lived in disbelief, impeity, and immorality.

Muhammad's mission, as both a Prophet who foretold future events and a Messenger who founded a new religion...

As we shall see later in greater detail, the Qur'an was revealed in piecemeal fashion to the Prophet over a long period of time.

That being so, revelation is, among other things, a reminder sent to those who have forgotten the true nature of the One:"We have not revealed thee ths Qur'an," Muhammad is told, "that thou shouldst be distressed, but only as a Reminder to those who fear, and as a revelation from Him who created the earth and the loftly heavens, the Compassionate, who is established on the Throne"

The One is above the world and its imperfections; it is within the world but not of it.

So Islam, in this respect, recognizes the validity of pre-Islamic revelations and recognizes other Prophets and Messengers, apart from Muhammad, also has celestial support of their missions on earth.

By rigorous mental discipline, they eliminated within themselves even the subtle shirk that is like an interior obstacle, or set of obstacles, blocking their path from towards perfect spiritual Tawhid.

The spiritual extinction of the ego is a logical consequence of Tawhid and an aspiration of the Sufis.

This is illogical; therefore the illusory ego, the human "I" has to go. In some respects Sufism is the art or science of eliminating the self or the "I" in order that the Divine Ego or Self may shine through the purified psychophysical nature of man.

With this in mind, we grasp why shirk is the cardinal sin in Islam- all others are forgiven.