Quran with Jonathan

Choking on the Institutional Bone: The Crisis of the Companion To my fellow interfaith scholars of the Quran in New York: As the Lenten season deepens and we move from the scorched gardens of social exclusion into the cooler, more mysterious depths of the sea, I find myself returning to a peculiar aquatic parallel between the Gospel of Matthew and the final verses of Surah al-Qalam. Just as we recently explored the "Temple Tax" in the mouth of the fish in Matthew 17:24-27, we now encounter the "Companion of the Fish" (Dhu’l-Nun) in Surah 68:48-50 . For those of us navigating the transition from a Piscean age of institutionalized carnism toward an Aquarian era of sustainable, world-federalist mercy, these passages offer a startlingly precise diagnostic of our current religious crisis. In this light, we might view the Companion of the Fish not merely as a historical Jonah, but as an archetype for today’s institutionalized, "Fish Friday" Church. In verse 48,...

Introduction: The Ethics of Abundance in the Public Square To my fellow interfaith Christian scholars of the Quran in New York: As we navigate a metropolitan region that is increasingly the microscopic stage for the world’s most macroscopic tensions, the task of the theologian feels more urgent—and more precarious—than ever. We find ourselves at a crossroads where a youthful, Global South-aligned Islamic pro-Palestinianism, often channeled locally through the socialist-leaning platform of Mayor Mamdani, clashes directly with the establishment capitalism and security-oriented Zionism of the Global North. This is not merely a local policy debate; it is electrified by an almost apocalyptic regional shadow-play involving Shia Iran, a Jewish State under existential duress, and a rising Christian nationalism in America that interprets the Levant through the lens of end-times prophecy. In such a climate, the traditional reading of divine judgment in Surah al-Qalam (68:17–34) undergoes a radi...

Introduction: The Pen and the Prophet In the rhythmic, early Meccan verses of Surah al-Qalam (The Pen) , we find a profound defense of the Prophet Muhammad’s character against the stinging accusations of madness and fabrication leveled by his contemporaries. For the interfaith Christian scholar approaching the Quran for the first time, this surah serves as a compelling entry point into the mechanics of divine vindication and the ethical weight of speech. By utilizing The Study Quran as a primary companion, the reader is not merely engaging with a translation, but entering a centuries-long conversation via the asbab al-nuzul —the specific "occasions of revelation"—that ground these poetic warnings in the lived reality of a 7th-century community. This synthesis of classical commentary and modern academic rigor offers a bridge for those familiar with the biblical prophetic tradition to appreciate the Quran’s nuanced treatment of truth-telling, social standing, and the inevitabl...

To the beloved community of the Olive and the Ink: To the saints who stand for the restoration of Zion, who honor the sanctity of all sentient life, and to the seekers of a world united under Law who find wisdom in the Recitation: Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied unto you from the One who fashioned the heart and the intellect. I write to you, brothers and sisters, not as one bringing a new doctrine, but as one pointing to the "Nun" and the Pen—to that primordial ink by which the Divine has inscribed the destiny of the soul. In this age of digital lightning and global upheaval, many may look upon our fellowship—our dietary mercy, our Zionist hope, and our Quranic study—and deem it a thing of confusion. Yet, as it was written to the Prophet in the valley of his calling: “By the grace of your Lord, you are not insane.”  I am compelled to set before you this testimony, that we might stand firm in these five-fold purposes: First, to re-examine the foundations: Following the w...

It's been two weeks since my last entry in Quran with Jonathan . I'd like to aim for at least one entry a week, but last week was a busy one with medical appointments. For those who are reading this blog from the beginning, we are now 15 days into Lent (counting Sundays), and I have NOT been closely following the Horologion I started to develop with Gemini in  Surah 96: The Call to Prostrate . While I have been roughly following a crude Lent horarium, prostration has so far not been a consistent part of it. Some days I prostrate, other days I don't.  Here are the questions I posed for Gemini in today's Quran study session. Q1. What is the second Surah of the Quran in chronological order? Q2. I have only read one Surah of the Quran: The Clot. So far in my study of The Clot, I haven't yet ingrained the habit of even a single daily prostration. Am I ready to progress to intellectual study of The Pen from The Clot, or should I conquer my inner Abu Jahl and master at lea...

Assuming you have read Surah 96 and the associated commentary in The Study Quran , you know who Abu Jahl is (cf.  Amr ibn Hisham | Wikipedia ). If, like me, you have experimented with prostration and understand how the ego-intellect can raise doubts about the efficacy of this practice, you also know who Abu Jahl is! Here are some follow-up lessons from Gemini AI. 1. I'd like to explore the mystical side of Surah 96 and particularly the idea that Abu Jahl represents the intellect, the ego, and pride, while the prostrating Muslim represents the heart. https://share.google/aimode/zHwu53bmPntnN4LDQ 2. Now I'd like to look further into the specific Sufi commentaries regarding the lying forelock and the ego-intellect. https://share.google/aimode/2vBsOcNaBSv0PflR8 3. Is it common to have doubts about the efficacy of prostration as a beginning Muslim or even after years of faithful submission? https://share.google/aimode/XuFaw80b3JQhApMVi 4. Say more about Sujud of the ...