Practices in Reading the Quran Here and Now: Chapter Qalam (Pen) – Part 14

“Or do you ask them for a wage so they are burdened with debt?” The Pen (68): 46

• Who is this verse addressing to?
• You and I.
• Who is speaking?
• The One that creates the universe.
• This verse is simply saying not to present the message of the Speaker in a way where people heeding to the message feel obliged to repay something. For example: when a person embraces Islam, they are mostly taught to jump into rituals which makes religion seems like a burden with a set of rules. Should believe cost you anything? Think about this!
• The Creator of the universe does not ask for anything in return of giving us existence. The way we are made inclines us to offer thanks; otherwise existence does not make sense for us. Human life will be meaningless; we will not enjoy it.
• Think about this!

“Or have they the knowledge of the unseen (what this creation refers to) so that they write it down (guarantee)?” The Pen (68): 47

• What is the unseen?
• Whatever conclusion one derives at about the nature of the Creator of the universe. That is, the One that creates the universe must be Absolute i.e. cannot be found within the physical conditions of this universe but can be concluded with what one observes and gathers from this universe. This conclusion is not easily perceived by our senses.
• What makes us helpless individuals?
• If we sincerely reflect on our existence, we shall realize that we do not control anything. The mere fact that we are aging every year is a sign that we are given existence. That is, we do not own existence. In fact, we do not own anything. Every moment, we are made to breathe. Who knows when is the last breath for anyone? Death should not scare you if you train your senses to become aware that you belong to an Absolute Source i.e. Source of existence or the unseen. When a person realizes that their existence belong to an Absolute Source, they feel secure in their existence (inner peace).

Finally, human beings are not material creatures. Our humanity extracts meaning from this material universe. This meaning refers to the existence of the Unseen. Meaning is perceived but cannot be defined in terms of the physical existence of this universe. We desire to exist after death. This desire is a promise from its Creator.