In Qur’an, garden is depicted as a beautiful heaven, which filled with greenery and flowing water, with adorable flowers and trees, with mild winds and peaceful grasses. This place, garden, is the ideal place for every Allah believers. In the garden, they can get the rewards. They can receive pleasure and mercy. Most important thing is they can found the peaceful life in this garden. In a word, the garden in Qur’an can be served as a heaven as that in Christian’s minds. The feast depicted in the Qur’an is included plenty of food and drink. Good and clean things are made of something lawful. The word “lawful”  is that the things they have learned from or catch from by themselves with their knowledge. In this case, feast is about the law which restricts believers what food they should eat or not.

The Ramayana and the Odyssey are two stories of the same fate. In both stories a heroic protagonist fights against odds to restore his happiness and return home. In both stories the antagonists are separated from their homes and wives during some point and must travel while seeking the help of others to be reunited with their beloved ones and return to their lands and rule. Several circumstances obviously differ, as both stories are depicted from separate regions and represent diverse ventures to be of entertainment towards their respective audiences however their essence in plot is one in the same. The final examples being both have a happy ending before the antagonist slay their enemies and ruling their land.

By Xhozef Lumaj

Consider the depiction of justice and mercy throughout the sections of the Qur’an found in the anthology.

What you see mentioned frequently is the idea that God is very forgiving. This is depicted as we see the various ways God allows people to atone for their ‘sins’. At one point in the narration, several methods of making amends for breaking an oath are mentioned; from feeding the poor to fasting for three days. What it seems like is that the narrative gives its followers as much options as possible to be devout. It also mentions that those who don’t believe are sent to follow other messengers, or other religions. The sense of justice seems to go along with the thought that as long as you follow the word of the Qur’an, you’re right, and if you don’t believe the word of ‘Him’, you will be punished.

How is the sanctity of marriage bond portrayed throughout the narrative?

From what I can tell, women carry much more of the burden in marriage than men do. From the beginning of the narrative you can tell men have a much more relaxed role in the relationship, as the king, Dasharatha, had multiple wives. Moreover, he had children with all of these wives, while they all had to remain faithful to him. Where the roles in marriage really caught my attention, however, when Rama said in Ayodhya 19-20, “I will gladly give away… Sita (his wife)… [for] my father’s command.” This may have been meant to display his loyalty for his father, but it reveals something more about the way marriages were set up in his time. Furthermore, he goes on in Ayodhya 24-25 to say to his mother, “… this is the eternal religion. To a woman her husband is verily god himself… if she does not serve her husband, [she] is deemed to be a sinner.” This paints a clear picture of how women had to respect the binding of marriage to their husbands, while the husbands enjoyed the comfort of whomever they pleased.

I believe the story of Joseph is told as a form of confirmation to when believing and trusting in the faith of god will lead to bliss and tranquility. Joseph went through hardship after hardship however he was able to make it through all of it and his faith grew as he persisted through his journey of life. Joseph constantly chose to the do most righteous act in faith that god wanted him to do so. For example when the women of the city of Egypt where the wife of his master dwelled, he was willing to yield to them unless the lord protected them from their treachery and god responded. His persistent faith eventually lead him to harmony and the entire story is based on his example of faith and how if people were to follow his example they to could have the same end result.

By Xhozef Lumaj

Consider the depiction of justice and mercy throughout the sections of the Quran found in the Anthology?

Ans: In the Quran found within the the Anthology the concept of just and mercy is mentioned repeatedly. Mostly in every verse, or in the beginning of every verse, it is emphasized that god is the most beneficent and merciful. In the Anthology’s version of the Quran it is revealed to the prophet that on the day of resurrection, the disbelievers will be dealt with in a very justified manner (they will be held accountable for their actions). As for the believers, god in return will grant them heaven justifying their good deeds and obedience. In the Quran justice is also implemented in the state of law, stating the different punishments for different crimes.

How is the sanctity of marriage bond portrayed throughout the narrative?

Ans: Throughout the Ramayana, the sanctity of marriage bond is portrayed in 2 ways. One of them being sacred and the other being the exact opposite. The two protagonist’s of the Ramayana; Rama and Sita have  a very holy and spiritual bond of marriage. Sita (Rama’s beloved wife) is portrayed as the ideal wife who pious and loyal to her husband. Even though her husband is exiled she follows his footsteps in exile, thus,  proving her loyalty and devotion towards him. On the other hand there is Dasharatha (the king of Ayodha) who is blessed with 3 wives just so he may produce a heir.

As the religious text of Islam, the Koran lays out what is expected of one, the most important namely: following and serving God, and what God will in exchange provide for those who obey: a Paradise. Noah encourages his people to seek God’s forgiveness, as he will bring “abundant rain from heaven” and provide them “with gardens and with running brooks” (1458). Noah’s people, however, are prideful and are not willing to seek the forgiveness of God for their sins, so when God helps the unfaithful, Noah urges God to only forgive the faithful and “hasten the destruction of the wrongdoers” (1459). If destruction is what those who are unfaithful receive, then gardens and running water are rewards that God bestows upon his followers. In the section “Man,” unbelievers are chained and set on fire, while those who follow God are rewarded with “the delight of Paradise” where “trees will spread their shade around them, and fruits will hang in clusters over them” and “they shall feel neither the scorching heat nor the biting cold” (1459). This emphasis on gardens as a symbol of paradise may be due to the geographic location of the birthplace of Islam. Coming from what is now Saudi Arabia, a harshly hot and dry desert land, the idea of green gardens and running water is outside what is expected of the climate; it depicts a lush, serene, and more moderate environment, which may be what adopters of Islam religion considered as the ideal place to be.

In both The Odyssey and Ramayana, there is a damsel-in-distress, requiring a hero’s rescue. However, the more important parallel between the two is how the conflict is resolved—the reoccurring theme good triumphs evil.

Based on Hindu beliefs, one who practices dharma is considered virtuous. Rama, because of his strict adherence to dharma, is represented as the most virtuous man. When Rama is forced to leave his kingdom, fulfilling Kaikeyi’s wish, he does so without protest, quoting that he will follow dharma: “The universe rests on truth: and I am devoted to truth” (1179).

When Sita is kidnapped by Ravana, she is given the chance of being rescued earlier. Hanuman offers to carry her back home, but Sita refuses, saying: “I agree you have the power to fight them: but if you kill them all, it will rob Rama of the glory of killing them and rescuing me” (1225). Sita wants to be saved from Ravana, but she only wants to be saved by Rama in grandiose way. In The Odyssey, Odysseus arrives back to Ithaka earlier than when he finally faces the suitors, but instead of confronting them right away he carefully plots a plan to kill the helpless suitors and rescue Penelope in a more glorious way. In Ramayana, when Rama and Ravana enter into battle, “Ravana was sure he would die,” while “Rama was determined to win” (1226). This portrays the strength of each side; Rama, representing good, is portrayed as stronger than Ravana, representing evil. In the end, Rama easily defeats Ravana in a majestic way, with the Brahma-missile, shaking the earth and sending Ravana deep into the earth. Both The Odyssey and Ramayana show that the power of good is stronger than the power of evil and if put against one another, good will always triumph.

Compare the Ramayana with The Odyssey in terms of the portrayal of evildoers and their treatment at the story’s conclusion.

For both the Ramayana and The Odyssey, the evildoers are those who seemingly abduct or chase after Hero’s wife. In Ramayana, Ravana the demonic King of Lanka, who abducted Rama’s wife Sita in order to destroy Rama. In the Odyssey, the suitors of Penelope such as Amphinomos and Antinoos. Consider the values and beliefs are so different between ancient India and Greece. The treatments toward these evildoers are very similar, both Ravana and the suitors were killed at the end of the epic. Vengeance is always the main theme for epics. No matter how strong the enemies are, justice shall be raised when these intolerant practices happened.