Quran Talks (4 of 9): Surah Al Qadr

In this powerful talk, Shaykh Fadhlalla illustrates how each cycle – be it annual, monthly, daily, hourly, momentary; or within the blood, breath, human body, earth; or out in the cosmos – has its specific frequency and pattern, and yet each resonates due to the One, original cause and essence of all patterns, vibrations or movements. He describes how laylat al-qadr – the night of power during the month of Ramadan – is the moment when the infinite unseen, divine energy, or sacred presence imprints upon the seen, discernible and therefore dual world of our experience. The practice of death is the practice of eternal life, and laylat al-qadr is the night in which the seen and the unseen are inseparable. You don’t know whether you are, or are not. Whether you are here or nowhere; in heavens, or on earth; nothing exists. It has swallowed you. There is no you. The seen and the unseen and the seer are indistinguishable. The purpose of the descendants of Adam is, by will, consciously and deliberately to move into the realm of unity. In order to do so, we need to be both capable and willing, which is to say we must align our head and heart with clear intention. How can we clarify our intentions? Abstention from the outer increases retention of the inner. Say no to disturbance, and the harmony is already here. It is a simple formula. How to implement it? Change your mind. How? Be willing to change in every way your attitude. How? Be willing to die. Don’t fall for personalities: go for the light in your heart and thank whoever helps you in that direction because the light is there, what is stopping it is your own self-made shadow. You’ve come alone, you will go alone and there is no loneliness at all because it is Allah Who has been the energy behind it, with it from beginning to end.