Our Relationship to Allah in the Basmalah

The paired names of the Basmalah represent how Allah relates to us: with His power/authority (Al-Rahman) and mercy (Al-Raheem). These two names contain 6 letters each for a total of 12 letters, and the number 12 is associated with 12 months, suggesting “in time.” The first 7 letters are the words “bism Allah” or “in the name of Allah.” The number 7 symbolizes 3 basic things: a test of what we value or “evaluation;” balancing “opposites;” and marriage or significant pairing (where the pairing involves a change in status, usually raising up in some way). Marriage can refer in Arabic to any pair somehow joined together: the body with the soul, the day and night as a dynamic duo, Allah and His messengers, the Almighty, All-Merciful, life and death as a cycle rather than a timeline, this world and the Hereafter, and our souls – if we choose the upright path seeking Allah – with the Almighty All-Merciful.

Islamic Salat – Physical and Spiritual Connection

One unique characteristic of salat, the obligatory form of prayer in Islam, is that it incorporates “spiritual” (faith, mindfulness) with physical elements – the body language of bowing and prostration + the time/space elements of astronomical prayer times and a very specific geophysical direction of prayer. This prayer form grounds the believer’s worship, making a connection between this temporary earthly life and Allah’s Divine eternal presence. This key connection in our lives is in that sense like the Quran: a timeless message sent down in time. So our salat connects our time/space “world” – in this case the “world” of our lives – to the timeless and unbounded “NOW” of Allah. Below is an aya referring to time, 55:26, followed by an aya referring to eternity or timelessness, 55:27.

55:26 All that lives on earth or in the heavens is bound to pass away

55:27 but forever will abide the Face of your Lord, full of majesty and glory

The Four Great Suras of Salat (Prayer)

(Note: New Improved Post, removed the excess for a different post.) The four suras (like chapters/sections) of the Quran most frequently recited in the canonical Islamic prayer called salat are the first sura, Al-Fatiha “The Opening” (1), the quintessential prayer of salat, and the final 3 suras, Al-Ikhlas “Sincerity” (112), Al-Falaq “Daybreak/ Breaking-open” (113), and An-Nass “The People” (114). They are all short suras, making them easy to recite. Allah the All-Merciful wants this prayer to be easy for us, and at the same time a powerful and effective “connection” to Him, to His all-encompassing power and mercy. These four suras form a {2,3,4} set, with three (3) together at the end, and the fourth (4) in the very beginning, and two of these suras form a pair (2) in the “middle.” Thus the end of the Quran re-connects us to the beginning, analogous to how Resurrection and Judgment Day reconnect us to Allah in paradise where Adam was created at the beginning of humanity – if we had faith in Allah, and made a genuine effort in Allah’s path of justice and compassion.

The Positions and Times of Salat in Quran form a 3,4 set

In studying the Quran’s {3,4} structure, we found salat elements also fit this pattern, showing us its connection to Allah’s name and this structure at the heart of the Quran. Because salat is central to Islamic practices and emphasized in the Quran, we examine its perimeters first, and then the important Quranic ayat which describe these positions as a {3,4} set, and the times of day in which salat is to be offered, expressing the five prayer times also as a {3,4} set.

Prostration in Islamic Salat Creates Alpha Waves

We are enjoined in the Quran to “establish salat,” the canonical (obligatory) form of Islamic prayer, as a daily practice. Scientists have found that the meaningful position of prostration also has powerful side benefits.

The Meaningful Universe, Part 1 – Interconnection with Purpose

We are living in a strange, almost desperate time. What we thought was reliable and true seems upended. How many people are suffering psychologically, mentally, and physically, but drugs and other medical interventions don’t seem to work? So much hostility and death, even in places supposedly at peace. In the modern world, there’s a sense of meaninglessness, of not knowing what or whom to trust. This was described by the poet W.B. Yeats:

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed,
and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is lost.
The best lack all conviction,
while the worst are filled with passionate intensity.
(W.B. Yeats, “The Second Coming”)

Note: the title of this poem is “The Second Coming,” an idea I just debunked! But its description and prediction of the modern world, a literal “second coming” aside, is indeed true. Because what he was describing is actually the very real approach of the Hour. Incidentally—or not—this poem was written in 1919.

Does this description in the poem sound familiar? This is in essence the harvest of a world that denies meaning, the idea that everything is random; instead of God, we have the uncertainty principle. But there is meaning all around us, although it often may feel like we’re being pushed away from it. In fact, in reality the entire universe is highly integrated. In quantum “mechanics,” things that are light-years apart are connected. In truth, everything is interconnected, and within this matrix there is meaning. The Quran helps us get our bearings on the meaning of the worlds He created and how our connection to the One Who is singularly connected to everything, brings that meaning, connectivity, and its immense value and power to us mere mortals—enlightening and healing our immortal souls to see into and beyond this world of time, thus find our way to Allah/God. This is Part One of a Series.

Are Muslim Women Deprived of Prayer and Rewards from Ramadan and Laylatul Qadr for having Menses?

This Quora post answers a question from a Muslima who repeatedly missed praying on Laylatul Qadr because of menstruation. Clearly she believes that women should not pray during their menstruation and therefore by adhering to this rule, she missed the night or nights considered by those around her to be that singular night. Quranists would say there is no such prohibition to begin with; still others would say that Laylatul Qadr was only the night in which the Quran was sent but that the notion of our prayers being given a higher value on a specific recurring night more than any other is erroneous. Without delving into those issues relating to Quran vs. Hadith, the answer linked above offers reassurances directly from the Quran that she has not been and will not be deprived of rewards and that such presumptions are unfounded. 

Du’as for Forgiveness in the Collective Voice

There are so many du’as for forgiveness in the Quran, one wonders why people seek du’as from sources other than the Quran, since these are known to be given to us directly from Allah. This post shall discuss those which are given in the collective voice, using the plural us. Al-Fatiha, which is our prime du’a in the Quran and in salat as well, is in that collective voice. Even though one individual may be reciting, that one is also imploring Allah on behalf of humanity as a whole. The “us” is also referring to fellow believers, those who worship Allah as a whole. But only Allah truly knows who is a believer and who is not; so our prayer is often unspecified and thus praying for “all-in-all.” In the context of the du’a, for example, asking Allah to help us against the “nation” or “people” of deniers/wrongdoers, this du’a is accordingly more specific. In either case, we are not praying for ourselves or even others individually. Below are four important du’as for forgiveness in the collective voice (out of a total of eight) with transliterations, given to us by our All-Knowing Merciful Lord. 

Du’as for Giving Thanks

Showing appreciation to Allah Who gave us life, sustenance, enjoyment, and beauty surrounding us on earth and in the sky at day and night, is important way beyond what most people think or consider. In the Quran, the word kufr, often translated “disbelief,” really means denial and literally “covering up” – the root word means literally “to cover,” as you can even hear in the pronunciation of kufr like cover. The Quran frequently juxtaposes kufr in opposition to grateful or appreciative. With kufr as the primal sin from which other sins or wrongdoing are derived, this shows us that thankfulness is of monumental importance. The word “denial” encompasses the same two meanings: rejection of Allah the Exalted and His guidance, and denial that anything good is from Allah/God. In the current era, this denial is expressed as “self-sufficiency,” and randomness, that things just “happen” but there’s no meaning to anything other than “facts” devoid of significance except as empirical statistics. The Quran, on the other hand, shows us everything has profound meaning, purpose, and value which is freely given to all. By offering du’as of thanks and praise to Allah, we enhance this attitude and understanding – even science finds that the most balanced, beloved, and joyful people are the most grateful.  

The Necessity of Du’a

This Ramadan, we hope to bring a series of du’as from the Quran, given to us to supplicate Allah in the best possible way. Of course, we can pray (du’a means “pray” in the sense that the English word does, to “supplicate” directly to Allah/God. Before presenting these, however, today we will simply discuss the basic necessity of du’a to be accepted by Allah. The simplest form of prayer, sometimes called “spontaneous” prayer, that comes from one individual from the heart to call upon their Creator/Sustainer, is no less essential than the formal canonical prayer called salat, which means “connection,” and is the way we establish a daily connection to Him. But du’a is always voluntary, and often arises out of some circumstance or need. That connection is extremely important because it is personal and self-initiated. It has no set time or place, no protocols, can be aloud or silent, and Allah promises to respond to it. 

Why Does the Adhan Bring Non-Muslims to Tears?

One example of several talent competitions that included calling the adhan, this on X-Factor. Another famous one was on Britain’s Got Talent. Usually the contestant is a young boy. In this case, Bilal bin Rabah.

The video above showcases an amazing adhan given in the X-Factor competition. It’s not the only one either; another is from Britain’s Got Talent, and others can be found on YouTube from other international versions of major talent shows. What is remarkable is the awed silence you can sense during the adhan, and the emotional reaction. Of course, other singers and performers have also inspired emotional responses, but there’s a feeling about these that is particular to them: the sense of something greater than the competition itself, greater than the talent, the show, the money and advertisers, greater than the celebrities.

The Power of Prostration by a Convert/Revert to Islam

This short video is a powerful portrayal of how Islam both confirms “what is in the previous scriptures” and the importance and meaning of prostration. What is especially wonderful is how no one actually told him about Islam except his preacher, who spoke of it in a derogatory way, and this alone raised questions in the man’s mind. Which led him to the Quran and Islam. (Side note: Basically I dislike the word “revert” referring to converts to Islam – in English it has a definite negative connotation like “going backwards to something inferior”, and the logic of its use, that children are born Muslim, skirts the issue of how one doesn’t really “own” this or any religion until maturity, in which case one wasn’t “Muslim” except in innocence whereas Islam is a choice. The good side of its use is it expresses there is no original sin and that Islam is not an invented dogma, but simply the truth.)

Wonderful and succinct presentation of the power of prostration.

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. 

Salat in the Heart of the Quran

Salat is more than ”prayer,” but in its root term means ”connection” or ”to connect.” The Quran speaks of it as to be ”established,” to build or establish being the common translation of iqama, thus one establishes or erects a ”connection” to Allah within one’s heart by doing this daily. This could even be thought of in the modern sense of establishing a “connection” in a phone or with the internet, in a real sense to ”keep in touch” in this case with our Creator and Sustainer. The Quran has “built-in” such a connection in its very architecture, connecting the last 3 suras with the first sura, Al-Fatiha. This forms a visual dhikr Allah you can see, showing in the Quran a kind of circulatory system that brings us back to connect with Allah and His words. The chart with explanation in PDF form is downloadable below.

salatintheheartofthequran1649072725

What Is Thikr Allah and Why Is It Greater than Salat?

When non-Muslims pray or use the word “prayer,” usually what they mean is du’a or supplication. This is different from Salat or salah (both transliterations are used), the Islamic prayer which involves the body language of bowing and prostration and the physical perimeters of time (daily prayer times) and space (direction to pray towards Mecca), required of all Muslims. Thikr Allah — translated “remembering” or “mentioning” Allah and sometimes transliterated dhikr — is not specified as obligatory, although the Quran emphasizes it. But salat is required to be established on a daily basis. So why then do we read in Surat Al-Ankabut 29:45 (below) that thikr Allah is greater than salat?

اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ ۖ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ
Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish salat. Indeed, salat prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and thikr Allah (the remembrance of Allah) is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.

Special Prayer for Ramadan & Laylat-ul-Qadr

Although Ramadan is almost finished, there is still the possibility of Laylat-ul-Qadr on the eve of the 27th of Ramadan, for which is a little-known but powerful voluntary (not required) salat called Salat Tasbeeh, also less-commonly known as Salat Sobhanallah. A description of how to perform the “full version” plus references from the Sunnah is here (yes, this prayer has its own Wikipedia page! with a few spelling discrepancies), but a shorter version is below, one my family has done during Ramadan for years, especially during the final last days.

Ring Composition in the Quran: Al-Fatiha

An ancient method of literary writing that has (relatively) recently been re-discovered in t ancient and religious texts is Ring Composition, a form of mirror writing called chiasmus, described by the anthropologist and scholar Mary Douglas in her book Thinking in Circles: An Essay on Ring Composition (Yale University Press, 2010) as essentially “a framing device” wherein the first section of a text corresponds in some clearly evident way with the last section, and the middle sections form a mirror pattern around a middle section which is also the central idea or turning point for the entire text. The mirror pattern can be described as ABCBA, expandable to more or fewer (at minimum 3) sections as needed with a center section “C”. This website gives an excellent example from the Quran, analyzing Surat Al-Baqara (the Cow) as well as significant subsections of it, including the famous Ayat al-Kursi (2:255). But for this post I will analyze Surat Al-Fatiha in Ring Composition, which provides evidence of two things: that the first numbered aya must be the Bismallah, which precedes all other Surahs except the 9th (“Repentance”) without being numbered; and that the two great attribute names for Allah the Exalted, Al-Rahman (The Almighty), Al-Raheem (The All-Merciful) express the two polarities of Power/ Yang and Mercy/ Receptivity/ Yin. Below is a graphic of this analysis:

Eid Mubarak!

Eid Al-Adha, The Feast of the Sacrifice, commemorates the occasion when Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), in accordance with a dream he saw and interpreted as a divine command, was about to sacrifice his son Isma’il when Allah called him to stop, and replaced Isma’il with a great sacrificial animal, thus sparing the life of his son, a future prophet. There is more to this narrative than meets the eye, more than one usually hears in discussions regarding this event.

Ramadan: Purification and Emptying Out

As this most sacred of months, Ramadan, continues, we think about what its true meaning is. It’s about more than fasting from food and drink, because one must also abstain from bad behaviors, such as lying, slander or profanity, and obviously from committing any crimes, or from acting with cruelty to others such as bullying or mocking others, in person or online, openly or in secret. Not only must one abstain from sexual activity of any kind (and one considers that for Muslims this will be marital, lawful), but refrain oneself from any sexual thoughts or innuendos or behaviors that approach this area, including viewing sexually explicit materials online or elsewhere. Even excess anger is prohibited. One strives, in other words, to be a truly good person, thinking about it, being aware of Allah. So it is a kind of emptying out of those things of this world that lead us away from thikr Allah, actively remembering Allah and calling upon Him and invoking His name while alert. It is a kind of purification of the heart. We also strive to be compassionate and kind and thoughtful to others. So it is an emptying out of the selfish part, our tendency to be driven and moved by our selfish desires.

The Difference between Salat and Du’a: What is Prayer?

When most people think of “Islamic prayer,” they picture rows of worshippers bowing and prostrating in unison, usually inside a mosque, facing Mecca (Makkah). But the act of worship pictured is salat, a specific act of worship with geophysical as well as body-language physical protocols, requiring a ritual ablution, preferably in water, prior to its performance. The word du’a, on the other hand, is equivalent in meaning to the English word “prayer,” which is simply “supplication.” To refer to salat as “prayer” is convenient, because there is no English equivalent, but inaccurate.