PROLOGUE

UPDATE:
It is June 25th 2019... and Time continues to fly by!
I cannot tell you, dear Reader, how much this Blog has helped me.
It has kept me in touch with the painstaking research that brought it into being, and has provided the groundwork for many new  recoveries.
I'm hoping to be able to share these recoveries with you, and praying that many of you will join me.
Do get on board, and let's see what we can do to continue working upon this huge, challenging, yet worthy endeavor undertaken with dedication to serve.

May we all be of best service to one another, Amen.
R.H.D.

P.S. I've shelved the book mentioned below on the Opener, pending another, much larger, endeavor which is taking form right now. I'll tell you all about it when it's ready, God-willing.

UPDATE:
It is June 9th., 2014.. and time has indeed flown!
What a journey this has been.  What a fantastic, rewarding, enlightening, humbling, and enriching journey!
So, how about getting more people on board with the continuation of our trip?

IF YOU STRIVE TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON ..
IF YOU WISH TO HELP MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE..
IF YOU BELIEVE IN ONE HUMANITY..
IF YOU THINK THAT PEACE IS ATTAINABLE WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS..
IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND QUR'AN...
IF YOU REGRET NOT HAVING WITNESSED ITS REVELATION..
IF YOU MISS PROPHET MUHAMMAD, PEACE UPON HIM..
IF YOU YEARN FOR YOUR CREATOR..

Join us here, for we share that very same quest.
Come on.. let's start:
By the exalting attribute of God, The Unique Creator, The Unceasingly Compassionate... Bismil-Lahi RaHmaani Raheem!


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It is December 27th., 2009... and time is flying.

My Arabic book, the explanation of the ‘Opener,’ is being finalized at the publisher’s. Much of what it holds is research, some of it fresh and unheard of. What has amazed its Arab readers is that its findings adhere strictly to Qur’anic context and Arabic linguistics, but still seem fresh simply because certain Arabic terminology has changed from the time of revelation! In other words, this book relies on the oldest Arabic lexicons to bring Qur’anic explanation as close as humanly possible to the time of revelation, so we can understand it in reference to original intent. And the original intent is amazing.

After it is published, I will embark upon the English version, God-willing.
But why are we here, blogging?

I recently watched the beautiful movie 'Julie and Julia' and made a New Year's Resolution. If Julie accomplished her goal in one year, I too might be able to do the same. Our subject-matter is quite different (although one could argue food for the soul!) yet our goal is the same. Ultimately, we all seek Fulfillment.

Fulfillment, to me, is in taking part in the re-activation of the dynamic of Iqra’.

THIS IS NOT JUST ANOTHER ISLAMIC/ARABIC TERM!

The dynamic of Iqra’ is what the Qur’an’s first recipients learned and delivered. It has lain inactive for many centuries, causing Muslims in particular, and the world in general, much suffering (some people believe it was purposefully deactivated, but we shall not discuss politics).

Activating the dynamic of Iqra’ with its 6 components was God’s first command to His Messenger Muhammad, which may be the main reason for Muhammad's initial hesitation when he received his first command, peace upon him.  He prefectly understood the arduous task, one which had nothing to do with ad verbatim 'reading' - seeing there was nothing to read!  

The six components defining the root word ‘qa’ra-a’ are found in a 1,000 year-old Arabic lexicon[1]:

1. Gather.

2. Carry.

3. Proceed with purpose.

4. Bear witness to it.

5. Be timely.

6. Be hospitable; share.

After having noted that the verb ‘awha’ "أوحى" -which we usually translate as to reveal, literally means ‘to convey exclusive information to another so that they become knowledgeable of it’ (see footnote) we realize that the command ‘Iqra’ is no other than a directive to proceed, as a responsible, cognizant human, processing and disseminating information, constantly seeking and interacting with knowledge, the human intellect functioning at its best!

Therefore, if YOU would like to join as partner on this intellectual journey, activating the dynamic of Iqra’ and helping fulfill our G0d-given potential, you are welcome.

-To start you will need SOLITUDE and TIME AWAY FROM RESPONSIBILITIES. Allot a certain time for yourself to do this, every day, when all your responsibilities are taken care of. PERSEVERANCE is the real challenge.

-Next, you will need this link, which has EVERYTHING on it… http://tanzil.info/

OR, if you’d rather NOT be online as you do your work, you will need:

· A copy of the Qur’an (in Arabic, of 604 pages, to set daily allotments even if you do not read Arabic).

· A copy of its English explanation by Yusuf Ali (1872 –1953).

· A copy of its English explanation by Muhammad Asad (1900-1992).

Again, all of these and much more is available at the “tanzil” link above.

So here goes, with God-speed!

And what, you might ask, shall this writer be doing?

Beginning the first day of 2010, God-willing, I shall study pages 1 and 2 of the Qur'an and post some comments. I shall attempt to continue with two pages a day (with your help and encouragement) until we finish the entire Qur’an together before the end of the year. If we do our job well, we will have time to revisit certain topics, or spend more than one day on certain issues.

Serious seekers of knowledge, wherever and whomever you are, please do join in!

This is a forum for intellectual and spiritual advancement, and will reject all argument, negativity, political discussion, as well as the disrespect of other people’s beliefs.

Let’s keep it healthy. The world is hungry for a fresh approach.

May Peace be our companion, and may God bless our efforts.
R.H.D.

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‘Mu’jam al Maqqayees fil Lugha’ by Ahmad Ibn Fares Ibn Zakaria, deceased 1004 A.D.[1]

Downloadable at: http://www.dahsha.com/viewarticle.php?id=7366

إننا نجد فيه أن "اقرأ" من أصل واحد صحيح هو "قري"، وأن المواد السِت الآتية هي أهم فروعه:

1. قري: أصل صحيح يدل على جمع واجتماع، ومنه "القرية".

2. القَرى: الظَهر وما يحمل، يقال ”ما قرأت هذه الناقة سلىً“ أي ما حملت قط.

3. القرو: القصد، ويقال "قريتُ" و "قروتُ" إذا سلكتُ.

4. القارئة: الشاهد، وجمعها القواري وهم الشهود. إنهم يَقْرون الأشياء التي يجمعونها عِلماً ثم يشهدون بها. ولهذا يقال: الناس هم قواري الله تعالى في الأرض.

5. القرء: الوقت: يقال: هبَت الرياح لقارئها – أي لوقتها، وجمعها "قروء".

6. . القراء: الضيافة، و"القِرى"ما يقدّم إلى الضيف".

الوحي: "إلقاء عِلْمٍ في إخفاء أو غيره إلى غيرك...وكلُّ ما ألقيتَه إلى غيرك حتَّى علِمَهُ فهو وَحيٌ كيف كان" معجم المقاييس في اللغة