Chapter Fajr – Part 1

The earlier revealed revelation catches people’s attention to ponder over what they are made to observe every day.  Sunrise and Sunset are obvious display that needs to be reflected on.  Most verses in the Quran are open-ended.  This means that everything is open to your interpretation, given that you do not have a biased mindset.  The Quran encourages its reader to get the meaning from what it says.  It is as if the reader must fill in the details for themselves.  The Speaker in the Quran does encourage us to understand the Quran in its depth.  Even the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) never gave out any details about any topic.  If you read the narrations, it is the companions who tried to interpret it to make sense of it at their capacity level.  Example: It is said that the Prophet encouraged to perfect our ablution.  What does it mean?  It means different things for different people.  For instance, when you are wearing socks, then you can do ablution by putting your hands over it and if you have shoes on, then based on your conditions, you proceed accordingly.  What does perfect ablution mean?  Let us understand that with the use of an analogy:

When you prepare for a job interview, you spend your time making sure that everything about you looks good and polished.  Similarly, when we get ready for prayers, the ablution is getting ourselves polished to present our case before our Sustainer.  Our Sustainer knows us based on how much we have prepared and now we present our needs and wants to fulfill our purpose, just as you would highlight your skills to get the job.  Sometimes, the company does not hire you based on your experience and sets you up on a training path.  The Employer can really tell if you are ready to take on the responsibility of carrying out your duties even though at a surface level, you may look ready.  Similarly, you must stay consistent within yourself to let your Sustainer know that you are up to par with moving on with the training.

One’s ritualistic relationship with God must be filled in with aha moments.  One’s night of power is also different because everyone’s aha moment is different (discussed more later).  Now, you must be open to the Quran to solve your human problems.  Most details are provided in Fiqh (jurisprudence) side which gets translated as actions only, rather than the meaningful side of the actions.

There are two approaches to reading the Quran.  One is reading it with a satisfied mind and the other is reading it as checking out what does the Quran have to say.

89:1 “I call to witness the daybreak.”

What does daybreak signify?

• My awareness of the truth. When I take this oath, it is meaningful for me.

Usually, daybreak follows darkness, in other words after a series of questioning, you get answers.  When you get answers, then you set yourself up on a path to what make sense.

• My human side must be satisfied first and then the Muslim side is a conclusion.

89:2 “and the ten nights.”

What does “ten nights” signify?

• After a series of constant and consistent struggle of questioning, answer comes.

Traditionally, it is understood as the last ten nights of Ramadan.  First, what does Ramadan signify?  I am fasting not to indulge my thoughts into the world by just concentrating on my creation.  I need to isolate my engagement from worldly concerns, only then the Quran speaks to me.  Yes, do cook for Iftaar and invite friends over but enjoy something only to appreciate the Creator, rather than satisfying the appetite.  The hour to break fast is set to make me mindful how I need to see permission from my Lord in everything that I do.  When answer comes, that is the night of Power.  When the answer comes, that is daybreak.  Now, study the Quran to get guidance.  I know where I am going to walk now.  I am satisfied that I need guidance from my Creator and this Source that I am following is guidance.

• THINK: What are my concerns?

When you realize that my Creator has given me to go through this experience and it is true that I need guidance from my Creator to make my existence make sense to me, only now does the Quran gets revealed to me.

89:3 “and the even and the odd (of all the creations of God.)”

When we interact with the universe, we interact with the material side and the meaning side.  Also, everything exists with its opposite, like darkness/light, negative/positive…  It seems that everything has two aspects to it.  Example: I may follow my ego, or I may follow the will of my Creator by questioning everything that I want to follow whether it is in alignment with what my human side yearns for.

Sincere human questions can easily be recognized.  Also, sincere human questions are not endless.  There are a couple of them that once we get satisfactory answers to, then you follow a path that you want to settle with. “I am satisfied that I need guidance from my Creator and this Source is my guidance.”

89: 4 “and the night as it runs its course!

What does creation around me mean?  We see the earth revolving around the sun.  We see seasons transforming from one to the other.  What do I make out of the wonderful displays around me?  What does my existence mean to me?  What can I do out of my existence?

89: 5 “Is there not in these a sign (oath) for those who understand?”

What does the physical side of anything symbolize for you?

To make me remind or remember something not of the nature of this universe.