surah xx: ta ha

all praise is due to ALLAH, the 1, known through becoming 0, by way of the 5.

5 tenets - 1. prayer, 2. fasting, 3.giving share of money to betterment of community, 4. pilgrimmage to the mecca to circle in community, in One-ness the atom of human breath. 5. bearing witness to the Oneness

5 eleements - Air Land Liquid Atmosphere Heat

what does ALLAH want? i ask in each surah, i ask in my confusion about message, about the message in the message, as i get into the folds of text. why is prophet muhammad (s.a.w) revealing this to the people? there is no asking of/for money in surah xx or any of the previous surahs we have tread through together.

"lo! I am ALLAH. there is no God save Me. so serve Me and establish worship for My rememberance". there is no intermediary to islam, so no hopes, no opportunties for others to commodify guru-hood, to sell tickets to the ride that will bring one to the One. the only request is to serve the One-ness by way of bowing, surrender (islam) and living in this dusk.

surah xx tells us to have faith in the One, and that to have faith means to be fearless. In the commune with moses, ALLAH tells him to lay down his staff. as he did, moses saw how the stick of wood became a snake.  "grasp it and fear not.We shall return it to its former state", ALLAH told moses. (xx:21). although this instance strengthen's moses' faith, fear still resides in him -

"go both of you, unto pharaoh. lo! he hath transgressed
"and speak unto him a gentle word, that peradventure he may heed or fear
"they said: our Lord! lo! we fear that he may be before hand  with us or that he may play the tyrant
"He said: fear not. lo! i am with you twain. hearing and seeing" (xx: 43-46)

this passage reminds us of how important fearlessness is in the path of Truth, how much fear is an obstacle in faith. that regardless of the outcome, when you place fear aside, anything is possible, the seemingly impossible is attainable. the two peasants - moses and aaron, seek court with pharaoh and receive it.

fear, surah xx tells us, allows for oppression to reign. when the two put aside there fear, when they enjoin in rememberance, despots, the strongest of rulers, can be brought down. arrogance, surah xx, like the arrogance of pharaoh is a quick road to paving your own painful death. those following this false leader are also headed for destruction. "pharaoh led his folks astray, he did not guide them" (xx: 79)

no babylon leader whether they be brown or red or black or white, can lead you. in babylon, all is skin deep. if you align with surface relations, you will exist in surface spirituality that can be adorned with your bead necklace and ohm tatoo. it's just an image. means nothing.

you are rich, surah xx reminds us. regardless of your economic condition. you have resources beyond your sight, if only you would see, surah xx tells us that we are not lacking, just as adam was never lacking - "and thou thirsteth not nor art exposed to the sun's heat" (xx: 119), ALLAH reminds adam, in preparing him to meet with iblis/shaitan.

there is water - rivers, lakes, streams for our thirst, there are layers in our atmosphere that keep us from the scalding possibility of the sun. all nature is part of a divine mathematic, and bowing your head on it. worshiping it by shepherding it, will keep us clean, will keep us fearless.

but adam easily fell prey to the whispers of the devil. instead of seeing what he had, iblis gave adam the veiw of more, and adam began seeing. thinking of what he didn't have. adam became the first casualty of the iblis-frequency. he gave in to his indriyas (senses) and in stead of allowing his manas to connect with atman (soul) in informing his decision, he used his base lusts. so he fell.

if you are down - bluesing, scraping, confused, broken-hearted, get up, surah xx tells us, as moses had. fet up and work fearlessly by way of worship, by way of constant rememberance - this is short. we are here for a short while. keep your eyes on the Prize. all praise is due...