The Qur’an Is Secured and Modern For The Digital Era (1)

Published: 14 April 2022

By Shofi Ahmed

We are in the digital era that’s fast creeping into metaverse space. What’s metaverse? Finding the straight line on it is not that straight even for the technically aware people. What it means is our ultra modern digital space too is becoming aged to the upcoming metaverse era. But we have an entirety that’s practically modern now and shall be new in the metaverse time and beyond. That’s the Qur’an!

What do we mean by practically? Read this article series mindfully, In Shaa Allah we will see some glimpses. The Qur’an is changeless. In the sea of the Qur’an the bottom line is a far cry indeed. Always beyond reach. The depth, nonetheless reveals over time. For instance, exploring our modern tools now we can discover simulation techniques and recursive structure in the very opening of the Qur’an.

 

Al-Fathiha, the first chapter of the Quran, opens with a repetition of three words, “Bismillah Hirrahmaan Nirraheem,” which are the first words of the chapter. This introduces a repetitive, recursive structure. In this chapter the first, the second, and the third letters of the first, second, and third words of the paragraph are all repeated. This pattern of repetition creates a simulation technique that repeats the words of the text, which in turn creates a sense of deep meaning when read aloud.

 

We may not notice but we return to this repetitive loop in the Qur’an day in day out in our prayers. Have you ever pondered how many times you repeat reading surah Fathiha on a daily basis? Most likely you would say no. Because we hardly ever notice that we keep repeating surah Fathiha time and again in every unit of our daily prayers.

 

In fact we read surah Fathiha 17 times in fard, mandatory prayers. Three times in required Witr prayer and 12 times in sunnat-e-muquaidah, recommended sunnah prayers. Thus we read surah Fathiha 32 times or even more than that everyday. However we hardly ever feel getting bored reciting this simple surah though repeating can be monotonous. But no usual tiring experience reciting surah Fathiha. It’s so fluid. But why?

 

Searching for the answer to our quest on fluidity of surah Fathiha. First we need to look into the Qur’an and Hadis as usual. Then we can search for opinions and discussions of Ulamas on this. Besides that we can study furthermore even modern tools to help progress finding the answer. In Shaa Allah we will do that later with the recipients on my Whatsapp who receive my new writings on the Qur’an during the blessed month of Ramadan.

In Shaa Allah continues