Morning Musings

58 Al-Mujadila (The Plaintiff)
قَدْ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ قَوْلَ الَّتِي تُجَادِلُكَ فِي زَوْجِهَا وَتَشْتَكِي إِلَى اللَّهِ 58:1
وَاللَّهُ يَسْمَعُ تَحَاوُرَكُمَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ

58:1 GOD indeed heard her discourse with you about her husband, and her pleading with God.
And God Heard your dialogue: truly, God Hears, Sees (Everything).

I take it you overheard my friendly neighborhood manicurist confide in me, over a morning latte the other day, about one of her patrons venting her domestic troubles and I agree a $4 change polish should not have to include marital counseling.

And I am sure that You must have heard Everything and Anything a woman can say about her husband, but have You heard this one?

—“He swoops in to visit (on Groundhog’s Day—as if I had any choice in the
matter) and, without as much as a ‘How do?’ and nary a word, lets on that if we
ever see each other again ‘it is the end of the world’—such drama! … He knows
‘une petite mort’ will do just fine!” {Any one not in on the joke is strongly
advised to brush up on French idiomatic expressions before taking any
action}

Morning, Noon, and Night

Dare I Say ...Tafseer;





89 The Dawn
89:1 There are several ideas expressed in the first few Signs of The Dawn worth noting. To say “By the Dawn’ is basically a concise way of saying ‘I Bare/Bear Witness to the Dawn;’ something that is in and of itself supposed to be quite a remarkable event, but seeing it come around every 24 hours many of us usually take it for granted.
89:2__The Ten Nights or Tenth Night coupled with the Remarkable Dawn points to the significance of early time keeping methods, notably of the Ancient Egyptians, that marked the Heliacal rising of dominant stars (such as Sirius) and important star groups just prior to the Sunrise and were prevalent for a period of 10 nights (a decan) after which time they ‘set’ for 70 days and the next important star or star systems (decan) would follow heralding the Dawn.
_____Throughout the year, the early Egyptians identified 36 decans and in this manner they marked out a 30-day month consisting of 3-10 day periods or weeks (decans) over a 12-month year that formed the basis for their calendar. The sequential rising of the decans throughout the day also marked out their 24-hour days. From their system stemmed the word ‘hours’ (from their god 'Horus' who Watched the Sky), and Horoscopes and Astrology.
89:3_ Considering Even and Odd pertains to parity, of whole numbers as well as natural cycles which tend to form sinusoidal functions; and the test for whether something is even or odd is the modulo function which is always 0 modulo 2 for evens and 1 modulo 2 for odd; it happens that all prime numbers are odd except for the number 2—since it happens to be the only number that is both even and prime. The distinctiveness of 2 being both prime and even would lead to consideration of binary systems such as— male/female, left handed/right handed, left brain/right brain, life/death, etc.
89:4__These prior considerations taken with the Mysterious Passing of the Night’s Darkness may also be an allusion to the gestation period of a fetus, which for humans is not exactly ‘nine months’ spent in darkness, but more like 28 decans (40 Julian weeks).
89:5__The Dawning (Understanding) of these interwoven relationships is mesmerizing considering how much information is stored in so few words, and even more astounding when we consider that these Star Calendars are indeed etched in stone as functional groups or sections in places such as some of the Pyramids’ burial chamber ceilings and sarcophagus lids of the Ancient Egyptians and the Star Maps of the Dagon Tribe. (And in more current events, the signifance of the Cave Paintings in Lascaux, France as prehistoric Sky Maps).


93 The Morning
93:1--that follows the Dawn we wake up realizing several things have passed by and not only the heliacal decans. We have lost or ‘sacrificed’ some down time for sleeping and after our sleep we wake up having lost or ‘forgotten’ what we dreamt about the Night before.
93:2_Interesting contemporary dream theory indicates that we dream in order to sort out, store or “record,” our experiences of the day before as both a learning and coping mechanism. We learn by the metaphors symbolized in our dreams to make sense and rapidly assimilate information not only on practical levels but emotional levels, too, which facilitate learning; and it is a coping mechanism because dreams enable us to act out expectations that may not be met in our waking hours; once expectations are met this way they can be either stored or discarded /‘enshrouded’.
93:3__The fact that our Sustainer chooses to remind us that we are neither forsaken nor abased is re-assuring, and it too may be understood on many levels; including the understanding that our erstwhile life may just be nothing more than a dream state itself and once we wake up we can expect a better one if we managed our metaphorical life/dreamscape appropriately.

103 The Afternoon rolls around and we busy ourselves with the practical things at hand. How and why we humans get lost in the Times was the subject of an earlier post.


92 The Night
92:1 --falls after a long day of seeking goals, having gone about the Earth in pursuit of what we think we are here for and what we hope to achieve. As the day wears on we wonder if any of this activity is getting us anywhere and as we get tired—worn out—and the darkness increases we are apt to lose some clarity, or have our motivations become obscured (well, that’s one way to interpret it).
92:2___But the consequences of whatever we do is bound to become apparent the following Day (even if it’s not immediately the following day, it will eventually come to light), seeing as how everything gets recorded somewhere, be it during our dreams or, by analogy, in the Zero Point Field.
_____One interesting illustration how our actions are recorded would be to consider the story of Jonah and how he was ‘swallowed by the whale’ and consider the decan 'Fomalhout'—which roughly translates to ‘the mouth of the whale/fish’— its heliacal rising before Sunrise around February 23 (500 BC), and the information this imparts about the time in which this particular event may have taken place.
92:3___And all this activity relating to concealment and manifestation should give us all pause to consider the binary factor of the Male and the Female and their Creation. The Classical Theory of Evolution does not suffice to explain the manifestation of the 2 separate sexes. In fact, more life forms are either hermaphroditic or asexual than distinctly have one unique sexual function their entire life as we find in the higher life forms such as most birds, mammals and humans. By the same token, the Classical Theory of Evolution does not clearly explain such things as right- and left-handed orientation and right-brain/left-brain optimization.
_____According to modern thinking (within the last 40 years) there is a contemporary evolutionary theory of sex, that seems to address some of the shortcomings of the classical theory and helps answer some of the other niggling questions. A judicious attempt to understand it may lead some to come to terms with Who or What Created this distinction.

113 The Dawn/Daybreak
113:1—And as with very many natural phenomena the cycle repeats and we are back to the Dawn, a new Dawn. The same as the last Dawn in many respects but offset in Space and Time; the Clock resets but never back to 0, and the Earth having traveled in its orbit never brings us back to the same exact Place, either, so we are never back to the Origin. If, by some happenstance, we even think the Return has Happened, then it’s not for any lucky star—since the odds are Astronomical—but only due to the workings of a Celestial Clock Master—‘The Lord of The Daybreak.’
113:2-113:3_It stands to Reason, if He can Pilot back to the Origin, He is also the Go-To Source for Protection against anything evil or bad happening. Especially, the Evil inherent in Darkness of Ignorance if it’s given reign or Title—as invariably it proves to be the source of many ‘misadventures,’ ‘misfortunes,’ and ‘misgivings.’
113:4__And while 113:4 can be understood on many levels, the one most pertinent to the trip back is avoiding those jet streams!—while our ‘Ship’ transits along with the decans, the meteor streams, the asteroid belts, the hetogonic celestial body formations, galactic nebulae—all the granular accretions we are apt to find flying around out there—what have you. For those making the trip in short order it would be wise to also watch out for those jet streams expected from Betelgeuse and any holes in the contract language for flying that Ship…113:5__Finally, in relating such an adventure, no need for anyone’s Envy—since you’ll find you are short one Spaceship upon arrival.


Note: Helical risings before Sunrise to look for in November include Alpha Crucis, Beta Crucis, and Alpha Centauri.

...And God Laughs

Twinkle, Twinkle, A Blink Of An Eye

The discussion which began with Time and Man and illustrated with the story about The Cave Dwellers culminates here with the Final Outcome as to why we perceive Time as we do. It is at once a Lesson and a Mercy that Time itself is maleable in God's Hands and in that manner those not deserving of Punishment are Shielded from any Adversity the Passing of the 'Hour' of Judgment entails. For all we know the World is Destroyed and ReAssembled Time and Time again with many of us being Blissfully Unaware of the Judgment that is Being Handed Down to the Reprobates; and those deserving of a Beautiful Reward are Meted Out their Just Desserts while jealous eyes are likewise Averted.

16 Nahl (Bees)
وَلِلّهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَمَا أَمْرُ السَّاعَةِ إِلاَّ كَلَمْحِ الْبَصَرِ أَوْ هُوَ أَقْرَبُ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 16:77

16:77 To God Belongs the Secrets of the Heavens and the Earth and His Commandment
of the Hour is but a Blink of the Eye (a twinkle) or even closer; Surely, God Has
Power Over All Things.

54 Quamar (Moon)
وَمَا أَمْرُنَا إِلَّا وَاحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍ بِالْبَصَرِ 54:50

54:50 Our Commandment is but a single Blink of the Eye (a twinkle)

79 Nazyi'at
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ السَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَاهَا 79:42
79:42 They ask you about the Hour ‘When shall it befall?’

فِيمَ أَنتَ مِن ذِكْرَاهَا 79:43
79:43 How could you know (have any Remembrance of it)?

إِلَى رَبِّكَ مُنتَهَاهَا 79:44
79:44 It’s Final Outcome Rests with Your Lord.

إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُنذِرُ مَن يَخْشَاهَا 79:45
79:45 You are only Warning those who Stand in Awe of it.

كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلَّا عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَاهَا 79:46
79:46 The Day they see it they will think it's as though they had only been there
(tarried there) just an eve or overnight.

30 Al-Rum (The Romans)
وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ يُقْسِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ مَا لَبِثُوا غَيْرَ سَاعَةٍ كَذَلِكَ كَانُوا يُؤْفَكُونَ 30:55

30:55 On the Day the Hour arises the criminals swear they had not tarried but for an Hour;
how can they succeed?

وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ وَالْإِيمَانَ لَقَدْ لَبِثْتُمْ فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْبَعْثِ فَهَذَا يَوْمُ الْبَعْثِ وَلَكِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ 30:56

30:56 And say those given Knowledge and Faith, 'In this manner you have been Raised
according to God's Scripture to the Day of Reckoning for this is the Day of Judgment
and of it you were unaware (wont to deny it)'

46 Al-Ahqaf
فَاصْبِرْ كَمَا صَبَرَ أُوْلُوا الْعَزْمِ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ وَلَا تَسْتَعْجِل لَّهُمْ كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَ مَا يُوعَدُونَ
لَمْ يَلْبَثُوا إِلَّا سَاعَةً مِّن نَّهَارٍ بَلَاغٌ فَهَلْ يُهْلَكُ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ 46:35

46:35 So be Patient as the Community of Messengers before you were Patient and
do not Rush it for them; the Day they see what they are Promised they will think
they had only tarried but an Hour of the Morn or less than that; will any but the
reprobates perish?

I Write This As I'm Dreaming

Hear Now, The News

In Re:http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/11/06/afghanistan.missing/index.html; which one of them is the Cellist and how long does it take to cross the River to Hamara Pakistan? With all the program cuts in public school education have You any idea how hard it is to generate 1 Cellist?

In RE:http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/11/05/fort.hood.suspect/index.html;the Men say they are Ok and to call Hasan or Hasan's home. Sgt Molano appears to have had some association with the Connaughts and/or he is 'for real.'

In Re:http://scitech.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/06/baguette-toting-bird-stalls-atom-smasher/; baguett, pas un croissant? Dites-moi, il est tombé sur un secteur 9 pour que je puisse être dans la plaisanterie.

Touchy!Touchy!
So I post this then a helicopter flies over my house then my internet connection goes down with no way to revive it the rest of the night.
Fine!

Command Language
Attention GiGi
Print {Loci} &Count=10-&Power_Down

Note: I'm not lying and not mistaken, you're just not paying attention.

The Cave Dwellers Is A Story About Time Travel

Chapter 18 relates the story of the Cave Dwellers which recounts a Time Travel Experience. It is presented as an actual event surrounding some youths fleeing persecution and finding refuge in a Cave. While the story itself is a historic telling the Cave (in addition to being an actual place) may be an allegory for a state of suspended animation, since there is mention of their senses being isolated and some outside agent turning them while they 'sleep' beyond an Earthly count of time.

It is assumed that these Companions who fled seeking refuge in a Cave were early Christian youths that had broken away from their community since it had fallen to joining other gods to God for woship. And since the Premable to the narrative about the Cave Dwellers mentions their community had invented that 'God had a Son' it is reasonable to think these youths were Fundamental Christians; believing in One God without any share to His Sovereignty; this is reinforced in Chapter 18 and the theme of His Absolute Dominion echoes throughout the Chapter.

There is a passing reference made to 'The Inscription' or 'The Numbered/Enumerated' as an additional Symbol and it would appear there is no widely accepted basis as to what this entails. Some say it is an Inscription left at the location where the Cave Dwellers were thought to have slept commemorating the event, but the jury is out on that one**. So as far as we know, it is a mystery as to what the 'Inscription' is unless it is referring to the Cave Dwellers having received their designations by way of numeric stigmata from their Lord. This last assumption is in line with one of the 99 Names or Attributes mentioned in the Quran about God, that being 'Al-Muhsi'; the 'One Who Counts' or 'Numbers All' and by extention He is 'Al-Hasib'--'The Accounter,' as we are accountable to Him and He can Render Accounts.

Chapter 18 Al-Kahf (The Cave)
أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا 18:9
18:9 Has the account of the Companions of the Cave and the Inscription (the Numbered) (reached you); they are among Our Remarkable Signs

إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا 18:10,
18:10 When the youths took to the Cave and prayed, ‘Our Lord, Grant us from Your Mercy and Prepare for us a Righteous Will (Outcome, Commandment).'

They prayed and God Responded, His Attribute 'Al Mujib'--'The Responsive' is brought to the fore in this telling of the story.

فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَى آذَانِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا 18:11
18:11 So We secluded/sheltered/isolated/covered their ears in the Cave for a number of years

18:12 ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَيُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَى لِمَا لَبِثُوا أَمَدًا
18:12 then We sent them (made them a Symbol) to know which of the bipartisans counted the term (accurately), nevertheless

نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالْحَقِّ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى 18:13
18:13 We relate their News to you in Truth; for they were youths who came to Believe in their Lord and He Granted them Increased Guidance.

Here are another two of the 99 Attributes of God, 'Al-Hadi' meaning 'The Guide'; increasing guidance is the path to Repentance so He is known as 'At-Tawwib'--'The Guide To Repentance.' And the fact that the tale is related in Truth calls to mind another of His 99 Names, 'Al-Haqq' meaning 'The Truth.'

وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا فَقَالُوا رَبُّنَا رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَهًا لَقَدْ قُلْنَا إِذًا شَطَطًا 18:14
18:14 And We Secured their hearts when they arose saying/praying, 'Our Lord, Sustainer of the Heavens and the Earth, we do not call on any other god; it would be Implausible/Prohibitive/Not Possible (for us to do so).'

Giving 'Security to their hearts', the Cave Dwellers felt no fear for He had established in them a feeling of safety for what they were about to experience, for He is 'Al-Mu'min', 'The One Who Grants Security.' They prayed to 'The Sustainer' of Heaven and Earth, for He is 'Al-Razzaq.'

هَؤُلَاء قَوْمُنَا اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَانٍ بَيِّنٍ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَى عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا 18:15
18:15 "These, our People, have taken gods other than God without having any Authoritative Clear Signs given to them and out of their ignorance they have invented Lies about God."

There was no doubt in these youths' minds that He is 'Al-Ahad', 'The One' and He is 'Al-Wahid'--'The Unique,' not two or three or a committee.

وَإِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَأْوُوا إِلَى الْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحمته ويُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا 18:16
18:16 And when they took leave (of their community) and they worshipped none but God, He gave them Sanctuary in the Cave; Your Lord informs you of His Mercy and He Wills Facility for you.

Of the 99 Names 18:16 refers to 'Ar-Rahman' and 'Ar-Rahim,' respectively, 'The Beneficent', 'The Mericful.'

وَتَرَى الشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَاوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ
وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِي فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ
ذَلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ مَن يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِي وَمَن يُضْلِلْ
فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا 18:17
18:17 and you see the Sun as it rises visiting their Cave on the right and when setting (West) advancing to the North and them inside (facing); these are God’s Signs; whomever God Grants (Guidance) (finds himself guided) they are the Proselytes (newly faithful) and whoever goes astray there is no Benefactor (to guide them aright) /supporter to/ righteousness

Many people reflect on 18:17 to try and determine the actual spot where the Cave is since it indicates the relative position of the Sun** as it rises and sets in the vicinity of the Cave; should one be inside the Cave and facing the Sunlight they would see it rising on their right and setting North-West. 'Al-Hadi' is mentioned for 'The Guide' and 'Ar-Rashid' for 'The Teacher of Righteousness' and He is 'The Benefactor' or 'The Protecting Friend'--'Al-Wali.'

وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ
وَكَلْبُهُم بَاسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِالْوَصِيدِ لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ
لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا 18:18
18:18 and you would think them awake the while they are asleep and We turn them to the right and to the left (North) and their dog extending its arms guarding them; if you came upon them you would be apprehensive of them escaping (from them) and filled with horror.

Apparently their dog had fallen 'asleep' too, probably near the entrance 'at the guard position,' and coming upon people in such a state of suspended animation is strange enough to strike terror in many. As they slept their bodies were oriented such that North was to their left. And as they slept He watched over them, for He is 'Al-Raqib'--'The Watchful;' with their dog also asleep their guardianship was solely left up to Him for He is 'Al-Mahaymin'--'The Guardian.'

وَكَذَلِكَ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِيَتَسَاءلُوا بَيْنَهُمْ قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ
كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ قَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ
فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَى طَعَامًا
فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا 18:19
18:19 And as well We uncovered them to ask each other (wonder amongst themselves), one of them said, “How long were we in this state?”, they said, “ We tarried in this state a Day or part of a day.” He (one of them) said, “Your Lord Knows how long you have tarried, so send one of you with your papers (money?) here to the city to procure the purest food…and do not let anyone sense (become suspicious) of you.”

Having awakened the Cave Dwellers were aware that they did not know the exact passage of time; and not wanting to invite attention to themselves, they cautiously sent someone out to procure food knowing that if the Times had changed their 'papers/money' might give them away; and they apparently were still apprehensive about going back out into the midst of what they believed to be a community still hostile towards them and that could seek to harm them or, worse yet, convert them to joining partners to God for worship. Removing the 'covering' or 'awakening' the sleepers in the Cave calls to mind another one of the 99 Most Beautiful Names, 'Al-Ba'ith' or 'The Awakener,' or 'The Resurrector'; we can assume the sleepers returned as they were when they first had fallen asleep for He is 'Al-Mu'id'--'The Restorer,' since they still recognized each other by the way they picked up where they left off. They were certain only God Knows how long they slept because He is 'Al-'alim' --'The All Knowing,' and 'Al-Khabir' --'The All-Aware,' and they felt He was still around after whatever length of time they had slept because He is 'Al-Quyyum'--'The Self-Existing.'

إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا 18:20
18:20 "If they discover you they will stone you or revert you to their religion and thereby you will not flourish ever."

وَكَذَلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ
وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ
فَقَالُوا ابْنُوا عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَانًا رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ
قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَى أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا 18:21
18:21 And in this manner We found to teach them God’s Promise is True and there is no Doubting the Hour; as they (those who learned of the Cave Dwellers) quarreled amongst themselves what they should do; one said, ‘Erect over them (in remembrance of them) a building, their Lord Knows of them,” those who overwhelmed (their plans) said, “We shall commemorate them with a temple/place of prayer.”

Sign 18:21 conveys that while Sequestering the youths was a means of Preserving and Protecting them it was also meant to be a Demonstrable Act for them to learn first hand what is meant by God's Promise; that they would be preserved as Witnesses to the Hour (Judgment/Last Day/Resurrection). It is worthwhile to mention some of the other 99 Most Beautiful Attributes connected to God's Actions in Chapter 18, for God is 'Al- Hafiz' meaning 'The Preserver,' since the youths were kept in such a state those many years and by extention 'Al- Waliyy' or 'The Protector' since He Protected them; and having Shielded them from any harm His Attribute as 'Al-Mani','-- 'The Preventer of Harm,' is also inferred in this narrative. This was meant to be not only a Sign for People but a Lesson to the Sleepers, again Him being 'The Teacher of Righteousness'--'Ar-Rashid.'


سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ
رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ
قُل رَّبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاء ظَاهِرًا
وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا 18:22
18:22 So they say, “Three and their dog is their fourth,” and they say, “Five and their dog the sixth (one of them),” casting (guesses) of the Unknown, and they say, “Seven and their dog the eighth…” Say, “My Lord Knows their number; no one knows (the Truth) but few, so do not argue about them except in an obvious (manner); and not one of them (the others) is certain about them (the Cave Dwellers).”

Sign 18:22 refers to the confusion by those who came to learn of the Cave Dwellers about the actual passage of time and even the exact number of how many individuals were involved. Having so many generations pass away while they slept, those who came to know of them could only guess at the facts since no one else had the continuity to accurately assess the span of years that had gone by from the time the youths slept to the time they awakened. So, yet two more of the 99 Names is called to mind since only God has the requisite continuity enabling Him to know the exact length of time, He is 'Al-Hayy" which means 'The Ever-Living,' and He is 'Al-Baqi'--'The Everlasting.'

وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَلِكَ غَدًا 18:23
18:22 So do not say about anything “I will do it tomorrow.”

إِلَّا أَن يَشَاء اللَّهُ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَى أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَذَا رَشَدًا 18:24
18:24 Except (by tempering it with), “God Willing,” and remember Your Lord if you forget and say, “May my Lord Guide me ever closer to Righteousness.”

18:23-18:24 may seem like non sequiturs that have nothing to do with the story's development, but the point made is that none of us can be sure what 'tomorrow' really means; it could be 24 hours from now or a century away; it is only with Guidance that we can be aware enough to know, and that is why it is important to acknowledge the Very Being Who Establishes Time itself. In addition to the Names 'The Ever-Living' and 'The Everlasting,' the Names of God specific to His Command Over Time are 'Al-Maqqaddim' ('The Expediter, Advancer') and 'Al-Muakhkhir' ('The Delayer') since He is able to move Time itself; and His Eternal Quality is further reflected in His Names 'Al-Awwal,'--'The First' and 'Al-Akhkhir'--'The Last.'

وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا 18:25
18:25 And they stayed in their Cave 300 years, and increased by 9.

Sign 18:25 is the reason why I decided to forego all of the accepted interpretations and attempt to decode the passage for myself. While the others lead us to believe that this follows from the guessing in 18:22; it reads more like an actual statement as to how long they actually 'slept.' The only part that is vague is whether the 9 that were added were years or individuals that joined the original set of companions. It would appear they were kept in suspended animation for 300 years, give or take, and it would naturally follow that since the number is a multiple of 10 that it is by our perceived time (Base-10) and not the actual number of years (Base-12); if 'a year' is taken for its primary meaning that it is 12 months; but a secondary meaning for 'years' is periods or eons, and that would relegate us back to still just guessing. So the best we can do for our part is an educated guess and it remains that only God Knows the actual span of time they were kept in that state.

قُلِ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا لَهُ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَبْصِرْ بِهِ وَأَسْمِعْ مَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا 18:26
18:26 Say, “God Knows how long they tarried (in that state); His are the Secrets of the Heavens and the Earth; He Sees and Hears all about them (everything concerning Heaven and Earth); there is no Benefactor other than Him; and He does not associate anyone (take partners) in His Dominion.”

Of the 99 Beautiful Names, 'As-Sami'--' 'The All Hearing' and 'Al-Basir'--'The All Seeing,' are mentioned in 18:26; and since He has no need of partners or associates, the Perfect Attribute 'As-Summad'--'The Absolutely Self-Sufficient/Eternally Besought' is described in the story--for having full command of His Dominion without anyone else's assistance; and it follows that everything and everyone else relies on Him and seeks His assistance. Understanding the Secrets of the Unseen that lay hidden and are not otherwise Witnesssed, He is 'Al-Wasi''--'The All-Comprehending,' or 'All-Encompassing.'

وَاتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًا 18:27
18:27 And Recite what is Inspired in you of Your Lord’s Book; there is no changing His Words and you will find No Refuge but in Him.

With none other to provide us Refuge, He is 'Al-Wakil,' 'The One To Trust,' and personally I found no other Refuge but for Him which makes Him my de facto Friend, 'Ar-Rafiq;' and that's why I took the liberty here of calling Him Names, especially since my Friend has an interesting sense of humor (like dropping me behind enemy lines with a tot at my hem and a babe at my breast and nothing more than a diaper bag for field equipment). But in the final analysis, I can't account for my being here in any other way and that's why He means Everything to me and why I call Him by The Greatest Name--Allah.

اللّه إِلَى ستر
اللّه إِلَى سطر ﺳﻂﺮ
Allah illi satr
God Shielded/veiled ('Wrote'/inscribed/lined this/Ordained this for) me

**Appended 19/12/2009, Consider the position of the Sun with respect to the Cave and the 'Sleeping' Cave Dwellers in light of a recent hypothesis regarding the significance of the pre-historic Cave Paintings at Lascaux, France, 'The Lascaux Cave; A Pre-Historic Sky Map' http://issuu.com/lightmediation/docs/the_lascaux_cave___a_prehistoric_sky-map_3390.

Time And Man بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

هَلْ أَتَى عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ حِينٌ مِّنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُن شَيْئًا مَّذْكُورًا 76:1

76: 1 Do you come onto (discover/discern) the Human at some point in Time (during an Age) it is not something Mentioned (Thought of/Remembered)?

The classical interpretation of 76:1 is something along the lines: 'Has there come upon man any period of time in which he was a thing not mentioned/unremembered?'

And it generally is an acceptable interpretation if 'هَلْ ' is given a range of poetic license to mean 'has there' or 'was there ever,' but it seems the primary meaning of 'hal?' is 'do you?' But if 'هَلْ ' is used literally as 'Do you..' then the rest of 76:1 only makes sense if it is understood to be a direct inquiry regarding a direct observation by 'you' about ' الْإِنسَانِ ' or 'the Human', 'Man' (mankind in general). The predicate pronoun is a gender neutral ' لَمْ يَكُن ' or 'it was/is' when referring to 'it' as something not yet mentioned; a way to initially call something that has yet to be identified animate or named (as he, she, or they, etc.).

103 Al'Asr (The Epoch/Age/Era/Times/Period/Eon)وَالْعَصْرِ 103:1
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْر 103:2

103:1 And (Consider) The Times
103:2 Indeed, the Human (Humanity, Mankind, Man) because in (it) is lost (at a loss;absorbed).

Chapter 103 is a terse verse of 3 Signs and these first 2 Signs condense in a few simple words exactly what is Mankind's Predicament; that Mankind is distracted by the Times/Epoch they are in; they are 'Lost' to it because they are actively participating in it; literally, 'for in is lost.' The balance of the Signs offers a way to dispel the situation; the 'out,' if you will, for this quandary.

إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ 103:3

103:3 Except for those who Believe and Do Good (the Beautiful things) and Counsel (each other)in Truth (to do Right) and Counsel (each other) Patience.

This post is meant to be a serious discourse about Time and our perception of it; but since it is True that I have a tendency to get 'lost in The Times' (The Los Angeles Times, that is) and Tim Rickard went ahead and 'killed' Brewster Rockit: Space Guy! in yesterday's funny, I turned my attention to The New York Times science section, Science Times, today. Above the fold, on the front page of that section was a drawing by Daniel Tammet, a young man who is a math and linguistic savant afflicted with Asperger's syndrome. Daniel's illustration depicts how he sees numbers, and I have reprinted it here after having added my captions to what each numeric icon means in terms of what is going on at A Page In The Life and UFOs (consider the number 4 'chevron' and the number 12 'Triangle UFO').

It is interesting that Daniel chose to illustrate up to 12 counts, i.e., duodecimal (Base-12). While computers process internally using binary (Base-2), and we predominately count using Base-10 (decimal), the duodecimal system is much easier to reckon the count of Time. It is also easy to multiply and divide, add and subtract in Base-12 as in Base-10. The fact that 12 has 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 as factors makes it very useful.

As for Time, there are 24 hours in a day and each day is divided into 12-hour cycles, which may be further subdivided into four 6-hour segments of morning, afternoon, evening and night. Traditionally, 12 is also the basis for printing such as points, pica, and the combination of Base-10 and Base-12 resolutions for dpi.

When first examining 'Is There Life After Death' the idea of Time Perception was mentioned. There are 2 aspects of Time, the Actual Time that exists due to the Universal Clock Mechanism (The Sun, The Planets, The Moon, The Stars, Orbiting, Revolving, Rising (Ascension), Setting, etc.) and the Perceived Time that exists because of a Human's perception (either directly by watching a clock, observing natural phenomenon, or indirectly flowing through us when we are engaged in activity or inactivity or dreams).

The Physical count of Time (Actual Time) is indeed dozenal, the Quran mentions our dividing and calculating it based on a duodecimal system (Base-12) and some of its factors (2, 4, 6).

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ
يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ
أَلاَ لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ 7:54

7:54 It is Your Lord God that Created the Heavens and the Earth in 6 Days (Eons) and then Established Himself Dominion (the Throne over them); He obscures the Day with the Night; they vigorously pursue (request) His (Command); and the Sun and the Moon and the Stars are subject to His Command (Order, Arrangement, Will); His is the Creation and the Commandment, Blessed Be God, The Lord (Sustainer/Keeper) of the Worlds.

إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِندَ اللّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَات وَالأَرْضَ
مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ فَلاَ تَظْلِمُواْ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ
وَقَاتِلُواْ الْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ 9:36

9:36 The count of Months according to God is 12 Months; in God's Book (Record) the Day He Created the Heavens and the Earth of them 4 are Sacred; that is the Way (Law) so do not Wrong yourselves in them and fight the faithless (idolators) as they fight you; and know that God is with the Pious.

وَجَعَلْنَا اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ آيَتَيْنِ فَمَحَوْنَا آيَةَ اللَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَا آيَةَ النَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً لِتَبْتَغُواْ
فَضْلاً مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلِتَعْلَمُواْ عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ تَفْصِيلاً 17:12

17:12 And We Made the Night and the Day 2 Signs; And We Efface the Sign of Night and Made the Sign of Daylight for you to See by it so that you may seek God’s Bounty and to learn (know)the count/reckoning of the Years and to calculate and everything We have Explained (Separated) Clearly.

هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاء وَالْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُواْ عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ
وَالْحِسَابَ مَا خَلَقَ اللّهُ ذَلِكَ إِلاَّ بِالْحَقِّ يُفَصِّلُ الآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ 10:5

10:5 It is He Who Made the Sun a Light (source) and the Moon a Light (reflector) and Appointed for it Phases that you may know the count of the years and the calculating (of time); God did not Create this except in Truth; He Clarifies (Separates/Distinguishes) the Signs for People who Think (Consider). (Note: There are 8 phases to the Moon 2*4)
By contrast our Perceived Time is mentioned throughout the Quran as being based on a decimal system; 1,000 years or 50,000 years or 10 days, etc.

وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ وَلَن يُخْلِفَ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ وَإِنَّ يَوْمًا عِندَ رَبِّكَ كَأَلْفِ سَنَةٍ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ 22:47

22:47...and a Day to God is like 1,000 years by your reckoning

يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ مِنَ السَّمَاء إِلَى الْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ 32:5

32:5 The Commandment is Procured from Heaven to Earth then it Ascends to Him in a Day like an Amount of 1,000 years (periods/ages) by your accounting

يَتَخَافَتُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلَّا عَشْرًا 20:103
نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَقُولُونَ إِذْ يَقُولُ أَمْثَلُهُمْ طَرِيقَةً إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلَّا يَوْمًا 20:104

20:103 they estimate among themselves that they were broadcast (went about)
for only 10 (days)
20:104 We Know what they say when those who know the Way tell them that
'You were broadcast (had gone about) merely a day.'

تَعْرُجُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ 70:4

70:4 The Angels and The Spirit Ascend to Him in a Day like the Amount of 50,000 Years (Ages, Periods)

What Inner Truth governs why objective time has as its basis the number 12 and subjective time is based on the number 10 escapes me for now. But taking a second look at Daniel's drawing above and its serendipidous happenstance that I found it in the paper shortly after having started this post, begs for searching it for more clues. 'Daniel tends to see numbers each integer up to 10,000 has its own unique shape, colour, texture and feel.'
No.___Symbol______________________Relevance To APage... 1_____radiance_____________________Light/Source/Radiance
2_____wave_______________________Information/Signal
3_____perforated arc________________ Boundary___
4_____chevron__________________ __Piercing the Boundary5_____surface_____________________Space deformation/Warp
6_____point_______________________Condensation
7_____slit_________________________Initial formation/Expansion
8_____rings/orbiting bodies____________System formation
9_____keyhole/monolith______________Solid structure/Leaded Column/DNA
10____aperture_____________________Portal/Kernel/Threshold
11____small/large body_______________Birth/Separation/Earth_Moon
12____triangle flying object_____________UFO/Borne/Rebirth/Resurrection

It seems like Daniel's first 12 numbers illustrate Origination to Resurrection, and if we can get Daniel to illustrate all 10,000 integers that he 'sees' we just might be able to decipher his experience of what the future holds.