Oh, the text has my head swimming! His explanations are fantastic, without which I would be quite lost, although it is thick and he moves quickly.
I’ve gone on so many journeys while reading thus far, not understanding everything fully but receiving many impressions.
Cognitive and evocative. Very dreamlike. Multisensory yet with little movement.
It’s as if I’m being shown somebody else’s Platonic realm – teasers – not really meant to be understood but to be remembered. And perhaps with sufficient exposure, it will be like an experience remembered.
Being from a Christian background, I am impressed by the larger than life stature of familiar subjects, especially the positive treatment of Adam, for his unique connection to God. Traversing through the seven heavens to the lote tree of the furthest boundary was spectacular.
The intimacy of Moses on the mountain seeing/not seeing God – and the intimacy in all accounts was a nice contrast to the Power God I often see.
Any fear would be fear of loss of touch/no-touch, see/no-see, know/can’t-know intimacy, not punishment.
There is a lot to process and I feel as if being immersed in a sea of distinctive, non-linear impressions is a key part of comprehending some of Sufi mysticism.
I’d say I was confused with the importance of gender/no gender distinctions in two translations.
The Sura of Destiny (al-Qadr, Sura 97)
The Sura of Qadr
VERSION 1, UNGENDERED:
1. We sent it down on the night of gadr
2. And what could let you know what the night of gadr is
3. The night of gadr is better than a thousand months
4. The angels and the spirit come down on it by leave of their lord from every amr
5. Peace it is until the rise of dawn
VERSION 2, GENDERED:
1. We sent him down on the night ofd estiny
2. And what could let you know what the night of destiny is
3. The night of destiny is better than a thousand months
4. The angels and the spirit come down within her by leave of their lord from every command
5. Peace she is until the rise of dawn
(Sells, pg. 38)