Quran 39:42

“God takes the souls at death

And those who did not die,

He takes their soul during sleep

He keeps those whom death has chosen,

And He sends the others back for a time to be announced

Indeed in this are signs for those who reflect.”

So God takes us somewhere during sleep, but where? To Himself in heaven (67:17)? finding our sustenance in His presence, rejoicing in the bounty provided by Him (3:169, 3:170)? Maybe, although we should not expect to be alongside those who have passed away; we do not join “the dead” until we ourselves have died (3:170).

Perhaps one way to reason through this verse about God taking our soul during sleep is to reconsider what dreaming is. Perhaps dreaming is not only our mind’s way of taking us where we want to go, but God’s way of taking us where we want to go (or where He wants us to go). So maybe we can go to heaven while we sleep. But even if (for whatever reason) we cannot go to heaven while we asleep, we know that can choose what the space looks like, and what we do there (that sounds a lot like what we can do on earth doesn’t it (2:25)), our experience while asleep would still be at least as good as what we expect paradise to be, for after-all, what do we expect paradise to be other than a place where we can have and do whatever we imagine (36:57)?

So where will you go tonight? And perhaps more importantly, when we get back, can we use what we experience while sleep to make our lives on earth a bit more like paradise?

What do you think? Post a comment.

I consider Prophet Muhammad an honorary American because he is a better believer in America than All Muslim Americans, 33:6

“The prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves…” 33:6

Verse 33:6 can be interpreted that Muhammad the Prophet’s belief in the message of the Quran is closer to ideal than anyone. I doubt that any American, or anyone else would question that?

But most people, and perhaps most Americans, either do not believe that the Quran was revealed to Muhammad the Prophet from God or they do not particularly care (17:89); but if these Americans somehow chose to answer the question of which verses of the Quran are best (39:18), I would think that they would choose the verses which best relate to America, verses that speak to values like freedom, justice, and equality.

Meanwhile, if Muslims we asked if American ideals such as freedom, justice, and equality are ideals which Muhammad the Prophet shared, what kind of Muslim would say no?

So I think America and Muslims would agree, that the best of the Quran* agrees with the best of America, and that the best believer in those Quranic/American ideals is Muhammad the Prophet, and thus he should be considered an honorary American.
What do you think? Post a comment.

*Note: For anyone who does not know of the verse that speaks about the best of the Quran, or of verses of the Quran which coincide with American ideals or American ideals which coincide with Muhammad the Prophet’s ideals, I included a few below. Plus, almost every post on this blog includes ideals which America and Muhammad the Prophet have in common.

“Those who listen to the word, and follow the best of it. Those are the ones whom God has guided, and those are the ones endued with understanding.” 39:18

“…In God we trust.” 7:89

“…To males belongs what they earn, and to females what they earn.” 4:32

“And why should you not fight in the cause of God and for those who, because they are weak, are ill-treated? Men, women, and children whose cry is, “Our Lord, rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors, and raise for us, from you, one who will protect, and raise for us, from you, one who will help.” 4:75

“Nor kill the soul, which God has made sacred, except for just cause, and if anyone is killed wrongfully, We have given his heir authority, but do not let him exceed bounds in the matter of taking life, for he will be helped.” 17:33

“…give of your sustenance… to your family, to orphans, to the needy, to street children, to those who ask….” 2:177

“..do not use it (money) as bribes for the judges.” 2:188