Those who follow the Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, of whom they find notice in their own writings, in the Torah and the Gospel: he directs them to what is fair, and restrains them from iniquity; and he makes good things lawful to them, and prohibits what is bad. And he relieves them of their burden, and the yokes that were upon them. So those who have faith in him, and who honor and assist him, and who follow the light sent down with him – Those are the happy, successful ones. Surah 7:157
The first words of the Qur’an, transmitted by the Angel Gabriel to Muhammad occurred in the year 610 CE while he was praying. Secluded within a cave on Mount Hira, near Mecca, Muhammad, 40 years old, was deep in meditation, a way of life for him.
Angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad and as the Angel transmitted words from God, the man Muhammad became Prophet Muhammad, all in the midst of prayer. As a daily practice, prayer for Prophet Muhammad was not just for the sake of separating and escaping from the pains and sufferings of his society, which he experienced and mourned, but also as a way to shape his identity and strengthen his hope, as a way to awaken to gifts beyond the ego.
Prayer was more than a ritual, but as a way of life, a way to enter into a shape-shifting stance, a disposition, an attitude, an openness to others’ suffering and needs.
Prophet Muhammad, like Christ Jesus, was committed in passing through the narrow gate of prayer.*
*In the Gospel, Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).
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I was fortunate to participate in an academic study trip to Morocco, as a way to learn about Islam. On a public bus from Casablanca to Fes, about a four-hour drive, I sat next to a laborer, who spoke English beautifully. Before long, our conversation turned to faith.
It was an amazing bus ride: I, the student, and he, my guide. A mystic, he was full of the life of the spirit. As he talked, I knew I was in the presence of something special. I pulled out my journal to take notes.
Thank God, I still have those notes.
He said to me, “Love is everywhere, because God made it so, and through humility, we will see with the eyes of faith. In the end it’s all about love.” And then he recited a poem in Arabic.
After he finished, I asked, “Will you translate?”
“I’ll do my best,” he said. “Wheat that is heavy and full, bows down; it yields, surrenders to its fullness, its purpose; always silent, humble, heavy in expectation of what’s next, it is respectful, waiting.
“Wheat that is empty, stands proud, straight up, looks beautiful, strong, but it’s weak, puffed up with pride, haughty in its straightness. It has nothing.” (I learned later that the poet was Abu al-Tayyib Mutanabbi, tenth century, considered one of the greatest poets in the Arabic language, yet rarely translated into English).
He ended his recitation of the poem by saying, “Prophet Muhammad is the living testimony to the humility of the wheat’s potency. He is nourishment, peace of mind, and inner security.”
I asked, “Can you tell me more about who Prophet Muhammad is for you?”
“For me, Prophet Muhammad is witness to the Truth; a herald of good tidings; and comes as a warner. He named not just the ills of society, but also, more profoundly, the root causes of humanity’s despairing. Beyond a society caught by its own abuses and privileges, Muhammad, in line with all the prophets, received and understood the heart of the matter – how we bring meaning to our lives.”
My teacher was silent for a bit and then said, “We are given the gift of surrender.”
He continued, “Centuries of prophecy were mirrored and renewed with the verses of the Qur’an, as enduring wisdom. All scripture tells us that we have lost our way because we do not trust in our utter dependence on God who like a mother gives birth to us. You may be only the weight of a mustard-seed, or hidden in a rock, or rolling in the skies, or buried in the earth, yet God will bring to you your purpose, your dignity, your hope, and your beauty to the light, because God is unfathomable in wisdom, all-aware.”
I couldn’t write fast enough. What a teacher! My new friend continued to share his faith:
“Every year, we wait for the Night of Power near the end of Ramadan, which honors the moment when that the first words of the Qur’an were revealed. The winds will blow, the mountains will shake, all sins are forgiven, and the angels and the holy spirit Gabriel engulf the earth. This night during Ramadan is better than a thousand months.
“We bow our heads, like wheat; in prayer, receiving blessings, through the power of words and deed, with fullness in wonder, and within the rhythm of the night, we embrace our Destiny to Love.
“The world changed when the Prophet received and delivered, by God’s grace, the Qur’an. We honor his life, embrace his habits, his practice, and his way of being, yet my faith is not Muhammad. My faith is in God. I pray to have the faith of the Prophet.”
I was quick to respond, “I, too, pray to have the faith of Jesus, with the desire to follow him,”
“Of course you do.” And then my teacher on this bus ride from Casablanca to Fes said, “Holy Verses from Holy Scripture are given to us everyday, and our prophets encourage us to walk in faith.” And then he took my hand into his, and said, “A question for you sweet one, a sojourner, half way across the world,
“How do you begin?”
Day 9: Reflection
What a great question. I don’t know about you, but often my life gets in my way of praying. Like many of us, I’m too busy: mortgage/rent/taxes to pay, kids to feed and clothe, cars to repair, neighbors to care for, work to navigate, medical appointments to arrange, and emergencies to manage. Who has time to contemplate or pray?
When I am feeling like this, I turn to one of my favorite definitions of prayer that comes from a 4th century monk, Evagrius Ponticus, “Prayer is about being attentive. Pray gently and calmly, sing with understanding and rhythm; then you will soar like a young eagle high in the heavens.”
When I catch myself being “too busy,” I slow down by taking time to be attentive and listen to St. Paul’s advice “to see with enlightened hearts.” When I wonder what he means by that, I realize I am praying. I also trust that “singing with understanding” may come in simple ways, like shoveling the walk of my neighbor during a snowstorm, which becomes a prayer.
Prophets and wise sages suggest that prayer is good, and they also claim that living like a prayer will give us wings to soar.
