Meditation
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Peace,
Read the following verses and see how one subject is discussed, each elaborates on the previous verse and these all along may not have been separate ideas eg a ritual prayer and recitation, a meditation and a series of supplications.
17 78-82. You shall hold the salat at the sun?s setting until the darkness of the night, and the reading (Quran) at dawn; the reading (Quran) at dawn has been witnessed. And from the night you shall meditate upon it (the reading) as you please, perhaps your Lord would grant you to a high rank. And say ?My Lord, admit me an entrance of truth and let me exit an exit of truth, and grant me from Yourself a support of victory.? And say ?The truth has come and falsehood has perished. Falsehood is always bound to perish!? And We send down from the Quran what is a healing and mercy to the believers. And it only increases the wicked in their loss.
I have learnt the following on reflection on these verses, it describes something called "salat" which is observed from sunset to dusk and in order to reach a better position one may meditate on the Qur'an after nightfall. Since its talking of extra credits here this links Salat with Qur'an. Hence, they're not the same thing it must be something done with the Qur'an. Reciting it maybe?
The subsequent verses however clarifies this further and tell me that I invoke Allah for His help so that I start and finish with the truth and gain His support. Hence, recitation falls short, it must be a process of reading, thinking and reflection. I think this is very different than a ritual experience. We arrive at the truth, which means our minds are active.
And indeed the truth comes with reflection on the Qur'an to sincere believers who take in with humility and as a result we heal our ways and receive the mercy of Allah.
This seems to describe the process of contemplating on the Qur'an.
In Sha Allah this makes sense...
regards