Covenant

Do muslims believe in a 'covenant with God'?

I was reading in a book titled, Betrayed, by Stan Telchin... and found the whole concept of covenanting very interesting.  It is obviously a blood practice that goes back a long way... even since before God and Abram.
The following is what I was reading:  (I put my thoughts as I read in blue)

"When I looked up the word in reference books, I learned that at the time Abram lived and for centuries before and since, there has been what is called "the cutting of a covenant".  This was the highest form of agreement which could be made between two people.  It was used on occasions such as when two tribal chiefs wanted to enter into a peace treaty with one another, or when they wanted to enter into a mutual defense treaty, or when they wanted to demonstrate their love and trust for one another as brothers.  A covenant between two people involved total commitment from each to the other.
Invariably "the cutting of a covenant" involved a formal ceremony.  The partners would exchange weapons, exchange robes, and exchange names.  By doing so they were stating that they pledged to one another their strength, their substance, and their identity.  Then they would recite the blessings for keeping the covenant, and the curses which would come if either of them broke the covenant.  Next came the actual "cutting".  Blood must be shed.  Sometimes they would cut faces or arms and then rub their faces or arms together so that the blood would be mingled.  Sometimes they would let the blood drip into a bowl, where it was thoroughly mixed to indicate that they were now all one blood.  Then each of the partners would drink of the blood.
(this all sounds startlingly familiar)
To "seal" the cutting of the covenant they would rub ashes or some other material into the wound so that it would not heal without leaving a scar.  Following the "sealing" of the covenant a "memorial" would be established to remind all who saw it of the covenant.
(thus the building of 'altars' everywhere Abraham's people went ? )
Then the covenant partners would sit together for the "covenant meal".
(the last supper ? )
During this feast friends and family members would come and share in their joy as they all formally celebrated the covenant between them.
(Ramadan)
I turned back to the text in Genesis. 

10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

When God offered to cut a covenant with Abram, Abram was so overpowered that he fell to the ground on his face.  Abram knew what cutting a covenant with God meant.

As I read these words, I was stabbed by that word "token".  Yes, I was circumcised, and I knew that circumcision was something that every Jewish male child had to go through, but I had always thought of circumcision as the token of our "Jewishness" rather than the token of our "covenant with God".  God had covenanted to be the God of Abraham's seed.  And circumcision was the seal of that covenant."

It continues on in very interesting fashion, from the book Betrayed, by Stan Telchin.


So it seems that blood letting... originating before God was purported to appear to Abram... became also a part of covenant making with God ?

I'm not sure what I think of this.

Edited by Caringheart - 17 December 2014 at 5:20pm

More from the book, Betrayed, by Stan Telchin

"As a Jew, I am even more sensitive to the teachings of Jesus, who was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, chose other Jews as His Disciples and loved the Jewish people.  As His disciple today, I know that He is more concerned about the attitude of our hearts, than of the actions which we perform.  This knowledge permits me to have the peace I need to lay all of these issues before Him, to cast my cares upon Him as I yield to the very Spirit of God and follow after peace, love and joy."

(my note:  Muhammad missed the message of Yshwe)

"It was John who gave me the key to handling all my relationships:

... if we love each other, God does actually live in us, and His love grows in us towards perfection.
And the guarantee of our living in Him and His living in us is the share of His own Spirit which He gives us
... God is Love and the man whose life is lived in love does, in fact, live in God, and God does, in fact, live in him"


Edited by Caringheart - 05 January 2015 at 2:11pm

Caringheart wrote: More from the book, Betrayed, by Stan Telchin"As a Jew, I am even more sensitive to the teachings of Jesus, who was born a Jew, lived as a Jew, chose other Jews as His Disciples and loved the Jewish people.� As His disciple today, I know that He is more concerned about the attitude of our hearts, than of the actions which we perform.� This knowledge permits me to have the peace I need to lay all of these issues before Him, to cast my cares upon Him as I yield to the very Spirit of God and follow after peace, love and joy."(my note:� Muhammad missed the message of Yshwe)"It was John who gave me the key to handling all my relationships:... if we love each other, God does actually live in us, and His love grows in us towards perfection.And the guarantee of our living in Him and His living in us is the share of His own Spirit which He gives us... God is Love and the man whose life is lived in love does, in fact, live in God, and God does, in fact, live in him"

Amigo,
of course covenant was the purpose the prophets were sent each for their era. After the arrival of the Final prophet, prophet Mohammed (pbuh) the humanity lives under the covenant between him and God, under the criteria of "the Al Furqan", the Quran.
This was foretold by Jesus (pbuh) the second last prophet (pbuh).
What we have as the compilations of pieces of old scripture many call the Bible, we see that this is clearly mentioned in it.
In Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 18-19 read:
18 "I will raise them up a prophet out of the midst of their brethren like to thee: and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him.
19 And he that will not hear his words, which he shall speak in my name, I will be the revenger."

So if any reject this last covenant with God or breaks it will only have to blame him/herself for inviting God's wrath.

Now remember we always try to tell you that in Islam the message of all of God's messengers was same, to worship God, and obey God follow His commands. And do not forget that these words in the same Bible are associated with Jesus (pbuh) whom you and I both love:
" Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." Matthew 5:17
"For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled." Matthew 5:18

By God, if you heed to those two verses you will be on the straight path!

Hasan

Edited by honeto - 20 January 2015 at 2:53pm