The Pen, or Surah al Qalam, came down after the exhortation from God to “Read!” According to Asad. A casual observation of the title of this chapter and the contents from the first revelation would suggest a clear connection between Reading, Writing, and Knowledge. All three were from the deep ocean that is Divine Wisdom. What a magnificent foundation for religious belief!
Author Archives: Socal Moslem
Field Notes for the Millennial Quran Study Project
Field Notes are the posts that have my running notes on what I am gleaning, unfiltered to an extent, from the project. It serves as the first order of learning from this project for me. As such, I hope you view these particular blog posts as “Cliff’s Notes” to the project and can draw from them your ownContinue reading “Field Notes for the Millennial Quran Study Project”
QYP -Field Notes #1
Surah Al Alaq – What’s in a name? Surah Al Alaq contains the earliest revelation to the Prophet Muhammad, therefore its the beginning point of my Millennial Quran Study Project (MQSP), formally the Quran Year Project (QYP). I realized, while I was in Pakistan, that there was no way I was going to read theContinue reading “QYP -Field Notes #1”
Controlled Failure
I had an ambitious goal for 2015: To read a 105 books during the year. But I failed at it. I didn’t give up. I just realized that while it was an ambitious and “good” goal, it was worth allowing myself to fail, rather then make a mockery of the the intention behind setting theContinue reading “Controlled Failure”
30 Years an [North] American
Its a bit disconcerting to be in Karachi celebrating 30 years of immigrating to the United States. Yes, you read that right. I was a little under three years old when my mom and I migrated to the United States. I was born in Karachi, Pakistan. Thirty years later, here I am celebrating my cousinsContinue reading “30 Years an [North] American”
Learning How To Say Allah In Chinese
When you ask people what language they speak in China, the majority of folks say its Chinese. In the US we seem to think that in categorizing nations the simple rule to follow is that everything is derived from its name. So in China the Chinese speak Chinese. People do that with me as well.Continue reading “Learning How To Say Allah In Chinese”
Lets Meet In Quetzaltenango
“Where’d you go in Guatemala?” asked the lady behind me in the check out line at the local Superior grocery store. She had started the conversation just moments before, observing that the heat was unbearable because it was dry. “I just spent ten days in a humid heat,” I told her initially. “I was inContinue reading “Lets Meet In Quetzaltenango”
What I Neglected to Do With the Quran
I have been really focused on the Quran Year Project (check out more on QYP here and here) over other forms of ‘religious extracurricular activities’. Its going strong and I am getting some positive feedback, advice, and encouragement. But in this hyper focus to ‘read and study the Quran’ I totally focused on the English.Continue reading “What I Neglected to Do With the Quran”
Tecun Uman – Every Guatemalan’s Hero
The irony of the town Tecun Uman is just beginning to settle in with me. We crossed the Guatemalan and Mexican border earlier today and I sit in the small town of Salvador Urbina in the Mexican state of Chiapas reflecting on some of the images I have been wrestling with from my time inContinue reading “Tecun Uman – Every Guatemalan’s Hero”
QYP: Is Revelation Order Important?
Preparing for the Quran Year Project (QYP) involved thinking through how I wanted to read the Quran. I concluded that I wanted to read the Quran in the order it was revealed to the Prophet. I think one of the issues I ran up against when I was researching and preparing for this project wasContinue reading “QYP: Is Revelation Order Important?”
Corner Office Shaikh 