The Quran And Its True Meaning

The Quran signifies the entirety and the totality of the Muslims and that is to live, act, and speak a good, chastise, and obedient life especially to the commandments of Allah. It is their ultimate goal to live accordingly and gain salvation after death. The Quran speaks of truth, the chart of life, and the constitution of the Kingdom of Heaven and Earth.

The word is derived from the Arabic verb qara'a which means "he read" or "he recited". However, the most important meaning of the word is the "act of reciting" based on the early Quranic passage: "It is for Us to collect it and to recite it."

This is where the Muslims derive the teachings that organize both religious and daily affairs of their life. Encapsulated in this book are the documentation and stories of the Prophets and Messengers sent by Allah which discloses about what happened to them and the people from Adam to Muhammad.

It is said that the Quran is the last revelation of the word of God. Hence, this book is the primary and absolute source of each and every Muslim's faith and practice. Basically, this Holy Book signifies the relationship between God and His children. Believers will learn wisdom, worship, the doctrines, the laws, and many more. Substantially, it entails the detailed teachings on how to have a just society, appropriate human behavior and conduct, and fair economic system.

The purpose of this truth is to inspire human kind to live a life of peace, happiness and love. Fundamentally, the words of Allah will take them out from darkness, hatred, anger, and hopelessness. Eventually bring people to the light and freedom of life. In return, those individuals who were renewed will manifest their act of worship by memorizing, reciting, and teaching what they have learned and experience to their brethren.

Ostensibly, it is the Muslim's salvation. Each individual down to the next generation elicits their inspiration, strength, courage, and the will to live in this book. Just like any other religion, we use our faith to surpass the adversities of life, to keep going despite the rough roads that we encounter along our way, and to continue believing that at the end of every calamity there is tranquility. Those who believe in His word will be triumphant in the end.

The Quran is the most precious book of the Arabians. If you want to seek for truth, love, and salvation, then read, recite, memorize, and follow its teachings. It is guaranteed to make life gratifying and rewarding if you learn about the purpose of your life here on earth.

If you are seeking for truth about God, reading books and other reading materials like Quran will help you have a clearer vision and a better understanding to the truth. Alhudabookstore offers several line of books and accessories that you can get a hold of. Visit http://www.alhudabookstore.com/ today and start learning.

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Psalm 88 - When God Doesn't Answer Our Prayers

O LORD, why do you cast me off?
Why do you hide your face from me?
Wretched and close to death from my youth up,
I suffer your terrors; I am desperate.
~Psalm 88:14-15 (NRSV).

What's in range here is something that all people, and all Christians, know is a feature of life, but we so often pretend isn't. No genuine Christian likes to consider that God doesn't, occasionally, answer prayer. More importantly, the real world wants to learn that even the Bible - God's Word - suggests that feeling estranged from God happens.

Of course it happens, and Psalm 88 attests to its happening. Additionally, the psalmist - Heman the Ezrahite - grapples with their own imminent death. This may be a depressing psalm for many, but it is an urgent voice speaking to those in the wilderness. It speaks to a world needing relevant and compassionate encouragement in the midst of silence from God.

THE PURPOSE OF 'DARK' PSALMS

Psalms of the darkness, like this one, polarise the emotions.

We read them when life is swimmingly good and they really make no sense - the psalmist heaping bulbous nodules of self-pity, and blinded by same, all over themselves.

Then, life changes. Quickly we burrow into a hole centred upon our own oblivion. All around us is stark as fear entraps our hope. No one can empathise with us in the pit; truly, only God can help. And as we read God not helping, we are helped, because we don't feel like we are be only ones left completely barren of response from God.

Psalm 88 is, perhaps, the darkest psalm; almost because it takes aim at God for not helping. The truth is, many journeys of matured faith involve such seasons where feelings of abandonment are normal. God never abandons us, but we genuinely feel that he has during these times. So wonderful it is that God's Word speaks to us, here, in such darkness.

RELEVANT NUANCES FOR THE SPIRITUALLY DISENFRANCHISED

Such dark psalms offer hope to the spiritually oppressed. The following are some nuances relevant to dark nights of the soul:

1. Often we might feel like we are occupying hell. This psalm mentions "the Pit," "Sheol," and "Abaddon" in verses 4, 6, 3, and 11. Such nouns are, in effect, adjectives of a weary soul, desolate, and without a companion - even God. When we reside here - in the hellishness of life - we actually want to read that others have experienced the same isolation. An answer is less important than the empathy we receive (from God, ironically) to consider others have also suffered.

2. Given a certain hypochondria, a matter for more of us than we would care to admit, we will often worry even despite biblical commands not to. We worry about death and disease; about an unpredictable and sudden demise; and not just from a health viewpoint; it occurs in the financial sense as well, among others.

3. It will be clear to every human being - at varying stages - that God does not wait with his ear fixed to the door of our prayer closets anxiously seeking to break through our challenges. God does listen. But part of the process of maturity is resolving our challenges in our own way with God as a non-interfering heavenly Sponsor. Such prayer is the medium for the psalmist's communication with God in verses 2 and 13. The psalmist is not answered, and oftentimes we will not feel answered, either.

4. Loneliness comes for many reasons. Sometimes it is only circumstantial; not because of conflict or betrayal. We are just alone. At other times, however, loneliness comes because of our friendships. In verses 8 and 18 we get a glimpse of the psalmist in their shame. Again, this is an enormous encouragement. We, as a fact of being human, will all feel the king-hit of shame, as well as pangs of guilt for some of the things we've done. It's important to be reminded, as we read a psalm like this one, that these are not unique emotions. Almost everyone has them.

There is a season for a psalm so dark; its testimony enfolding over us is encouragement, for the darkness others too have experienced. God wants us to know, we are not alone in that darkness time. Others are there, and have been there. In this we are encouraged.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Further Recommended Reading: Craig C. Broyles, Psalms: New International Biblical Commentary (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1999), pp. 352-54.

Steve Wickham is a Registered Safety Practitioner (BSc, FSIA, RSP[Australia]) and a qualified, unordained Christian minister (GradDipBib&Min). His blogs are at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com/ and http://inspiringbetterlife.blogspot.com/

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Basic Chakra Meditation for Beginners

Physical, mental and spiritual health and balance all work together. Physical disease or injury will affect you mentally and spiritually, just as mental depression or spiritual imbalances can cause physical illness. Your emotions greatly contribute to your overall well-being and yet, emotions can be incredibly difficult to control and balance, especially emotions such as anger, anxiety and depression.

Meditation has become a mainstream treatment for many emotional problems, but in fact, meditation has been around for centuries. Consistent meditation results in spiritual growth and balance between the body and spirit. Meditation does not remove negative emotions. You will still get angry; you will still experience stressful situations; you will still feel sad. But meditation will limit the negative effects these emotions have on you and allow you to more quickly and easily regain balance and positive energy.

One way to quickly balance your emotions and relax and find relief from stress is to do a chakra meditation.

Chakra meditations involve focusing on each of the seven main chakras to remove any blockages and balance your energy. As with any meditation, it is important to be consistent in your practices and practice everyday for approximately 30 minutes. While this may seem like a long time at first, you will find that this daily 'break' from the rest of your life will bring you great peace and serenity and you will find yourself looking forward to your meditation time and even missing it if you skip a day.

A chakra meditation is an easy place for beginners to start, but even experienced meditators will see great benefits from the practice. Begin by sitting comfortably in a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Next you are going to visualize a spinning ball of light in each chakra, until the energy is open and balanced. Then you will move to the next chakra.

Begin with the Muladhara or root chakra. Imagine a red light spinning and gathering energy.

Next move up to your sacral chakra or Svadisthana using an orange light. The Manipura or naval chakra is golden yellow; the heart chakra or Anahata is represented with emerald green; the throat chakra or Vishudda is pale blue; and the Ajna or third eye chakra located between the brows is indigo blue. Finally balance the crown chakra or Shasrara with a violet light.

Remember to keep your breathing slow and relaxed and imagine the chakras as vividly as possible. When you are finished with the crown chakra, take several deep breaths before opening your eyes and returning to your daily activities.

Be gentle with yourself. It may be difficult at first to maintain focus for a full 30 minutes. That is okay. It is better to do a short 10 minute meditation and finish feeling relaxed and revived than to force yourself through 30 minutes of meditation and feel more frustrated and stressed than when you began.

Metaphysical Studies Store is your source for all things metaphysics, from meditation to psychic development and more. Visit http://metaphysicalstudiesstore.com/ to see more and to download a FREE e-book.

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