Week 3<\/p>\n
I was listening to a recitation<\/a> of Surah Al-Qadr when I realized that it sounded somewhat like \u00a0a Christian hymn. I couldn’t remember which one it was, so I searched until I came across Silent Night<\/em><\/a>. Listening to it made me realize that both Surah Al-Qadr and\u00a0Silent Night\u00a0<\/em>are centered around this idea of Holy Night on which something was given to humanity. In the former case, it was the Quran revealed to Prophet Muhammad and in the latter case, it was Jesus sent to the people. For Muslims, Laylat-ul-Qadr is a special night of \u00a0power and for Christians, Christmas Eve is the single most celebrated night of the year. I started drawing parallels between the two nights of “descent” and the result was a poem which considered the similarities and the differences between the two holy nights.<\/p>\n In class we talked about references in the Quran to Jesus, Mary, and the Bible and how the Bible is one of the 4 books prototyped from the Umm-al-Kitaab. My poem draws on that idea and looks at the two holy nights as a similar tradition in two different monotheistic religions.\u00a0The tradition of recitation and poetry in Islam and our discussion of the Umm-al-Kitaab in class served as inspiration to write the poem that I share below. In it, I try to incorporate elements of both Surah Al-Qadr and Silent Night<\/em> so some phrases may appear familiar.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Muslim Holy night<\/em> The Christian Holy night<\/em> Two symbols so different<\/em> Symbols of heaven so revered<\/em> Holy night:<\/em> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Week 3 I was listening to a recitation of Surah Al-Qadr when I realized that it sounded somewhat like \u00a0a Christian hymn. I couldn’t remember which one it was, so I searched until I came across Silent Night. Listening to … Continue reading
\nIs when everything is calm and bright.<\/em>
\nDown was sent the Quran tonight<\/em>
\nIt is a night of great power and might,<\/em>
\nWorth a thousand nights.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nIs when everything is calm and bright.<\/em>
\nDown was sent Jesus the Savior tonight.<\/em>
\nIt is a night to remember the starry light<\/em>
\nThat blessed baby Jesus and enveloped the sight.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nTwo symbols yet so similar<\/em>
\nSeparated by people and separated by time<\/em>
\nBrought together by Umm-al-Kitaab\u2019s bright shine<\/em>
\nA heavenly prototype<\/em>
\nIs this really artifice?<\/em>
\nIt must be coincidence!<\/em>
\nOr is it Providence?<\/em><\/p>\n
\nOne talks about the other<\/em>
\nBut in a century not so near.<\/em>
\nJesus and Mary, holy mother and her son<\/em>
\nThe Quran, holy book of Muslims<\/em>
\nSo different in their followings, their times, their form<\/em>
\nSo incomparable<\/em>
\nYet both held in similar positions, <\/em>
\nAlbeit in different religions.<\/em><\/p>\n
\nDo you separate them or bring them together?<\/em>
\nWhat will make us understand?<\/em>
\nAyahs and signs,<\/em>
\nSaviors and revelations<\/em>
\nAll point to the existence of God<\/em>
\nAnd when we celebrate you, Holy Night,<\/em>
\nWe fulfill the same wish:<\/em>
\nThe wish to become closer to the Divine.<\/em><\/p>\n