Counting the Letter waw as a Word When Used to Mean “and” Confirmed in Birmingham MS + “wild cards” in the Quran

This may seem like a small point, but when counting words and letters and extrapolating meanings and possible miraculous connections, it makes a difference because waw can be a word when used by itself to mean “and” (a one-letter “word” like “a” as an article in English), but waw is also a letter when used only to form a word. This makes a great difference, for example, in the usage of waw regarding the Balance Scales, as well as the connection to the genetic code found in Surat Al-Ikhlas. My understanding of this usage is thanks to the work of the Quran researcher (and engineer) Abduldaem Al-Kaheel. But comparing waw as used in the Birmingham manuscript with its use in the same page in a modern typeset mus’haf (written Quran), the difference is clear.

Thoughts on Allah and His Prophet

“Say: I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm, except what Allah has willed.” (7:188)

“Say: I possess not for myself any harm or benefit except what Allah should will.” (10:49)

And do not invoke besides Allah that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you did, then indeed you would be of the wrongdoers.'” (10:106)

If we put these quotes together, the first two being statements that Allah the Exalted told prophet Mohammad to say, and the last being an admonition to all people, we can see that prophet Mohammad (pbuh) himself should not be invoked besides Allah in any way. But what does this mean in practical application? Of course, we should not call upon prophet Mohammad when we are praying to Allah, nor should we think within ourselves that we need to invoke him to assure that our prayers will be answered by the All-Hearing, All-Knowing. But what are the limits or guidance on this from the Quran?

Salat, Our Connection to Allah and More

Salat as a practice is central in the Quran, but certain aspects of it can cause confusion due to differences between what is understood in English and what the Quran means in Arabic. It is a connection, a two-way street, and as such, involves reciprocity, which itself needs explanation. But it also is something one “establishes” by its regular practice. And what does it mean to “connect with” Prophet Mohammad? These are concepts that people dispute over for issues relating to language as well as concerns over not violating monotheism, yet are absolutely crucial in Islam to understand. 

Ayat Al-Kursi Ring Composition: Deeper Insights

Ayatul Kursi Ring Composition

Although this important aya has been analyzed by the scholar Raymond K. Farrin in his paper “Surat Al-Baqarah – a Structural Analysis,” I used a different translation to keep the literal words “between their hands” because this Quranic image directly correlates with free will, which is at the heart or center of this aya and indeed of our relationship with Allah the Exalted. It is also translated “what is before them and what is behind them.”

If you’ve seen this post before, I’ve just made a major change in calculations, with apologies. Although the number of words in Ayat Al-Kursi is, as previously mentioned, 57 (3•19), which is exactly half of 114, the total number of suras in the Quran, and also 57 is the number of Surat Hadeed (“Iron”), an element whose production in stars is the point at which a star explodes into a supernova, but I’ve recalculated the letter count and found my original (in which the letter count too was a multiple of 19) was wrong, and so I’ve corrected it below.

Is Allah “Personal,” “Impersonal,” or None of the Above?

A not-infrequent complaint from Christians about Islam is that the Islamic idea of Allah is not personal enough. Another complaint from people in arguments against religion generally is that God is too impersonal. There is this general belief that God created the universe (if they even believe that), then left it alone to fend for itself, retiring into abstract glory to answer, perhaps, a prayer or two. The first idea, of a personal God, seems based on human interpersonal relations. The second on possibly kings or dictators. Neither idea is true of Allah, the Almighty, All-Merciful, who describes Himself in the Quran as being “closer than your jugular vein.” (Surat Qaf 50:16)

Shifaa or Intercession in the Qur’an: Clearing Misconceptions

One of the ideas commonly taught in Islam is the idea of intercession (Shifaa), in which someone (we shall discuss whom) intercedes on behalf of an individual presented before Allah on Judgment Day. But some misconceptions have made this rather simple idea more controversial.