quraninplainenglish

Bismillāh ir Raḥmān ir Raḥīm

The Holographic Nature of the Qur’ān

There are two salient features unique to a hologram. One is to display within a flat medium a three dimensional image

which reveals multiple sides of an object when the hologram is viewed from different angles. Further, if one takes a

small piece of a hologram, the entire image of the original can still be viewed within the fragment, although the smaller

the fragment becomes, the less detail may be seen. This aspect of the part containing the whole is also witnessed within

the sūrahs of the Qur’ān. Take as an example Sūrat Ibrāhīm ~ Abraham, this week’s offering.

Expressed fully within the fifty-two ayāt of this 14th chapter of the most noble book are multiple beautiful expressions

of the signs of God, particularly as we witness within the natural world its many blessings and bounties for humanity.

There will be a bit more to say about this particular feature in a moment.

Tawḥeed, the unity and primacy of the Creator, is front and center as the first principle in Sūrat Ibrāhīm, as it is in the

entire Qur’ān. The miracle of life within creation, rain, the growth of plants to produce the bounties of the earth,

the behavior of animals, the inventions of humanity, all are presented as being among the signs of God. In addition

to extolling the miracles of nature itself, Sūrat Ibrāhīm reminds us of the necessity of cultivating gratitude and patience,

and establishing the regular practices of prayer and charity as part of that process of building and maintaining good character.

The nature of misguidance, how we may be fooled by malintended suggestions, and the consequences of taking that bait,

are also examined. There are reminders of the guidance and warnings of earlier prophets given, with related examples

of the rise and fall of civilizations, allegories of reward and punishment, and parables of good guidance and of misguidance,

such as that of the firmly rooted tree and the tree without roots. Indeed, Sūrat Ibrāhīm could well serve as a synopsis of the

entire Qur’ān, all of this contained within a mere fifty-two verses.

Remarkably, even shorter sūrāt, such as Al Fātiha and Al Ikhlās, share this holographic aspect of the whole being contained

within the part. Al Ikhlās is a complete and elegant expression of tawḥeed that is encapsulated within four short lines.

In that small space it expresses the essence of the entire revelation.

A Great Lie

In recent decades it has been mistakenly said that Muslims are lovers of death who prefer death over life. Not too many

statements could be much further from the truth. All one need do to dispel any such doubt about this is to review the

portrayals of the natural world in the Qur’ān. An almost childlike wonderment at the diversity, beauty, and exquisite

balance of the natural world is expressed over and over in hundreds upon hundreds of ayāt. Repeatedly stressed

is the role of each human being as a caretaker or steward over the bounties of the world, wherein we are each

designated a khalīfa, lit. “successor” to these bounties, which we we are instructed to appreciate, cultivate, and protect.

May we each generate and maintain gratitude for the uncountable blessings of this earth and its life of which we are

each a part, and cultivate patience for the inevitable difficulties and trials we each face on our earthly journeys.

May we avoid people and suggestions that would mislead us from the good, and seek and follow the best guidance

which is available to us, insha’Allāh.

~ Rasheed al Ḥajj abū Muṭahhar, 23 Shawwal 1442