al-Qābiḍ

The One who withholds and constricts, by wisdom

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Recited as it sounds in the Qur'an, 2:245.

Heard together with: al-Qābiḍ / al-Bāsiṭ

Start with what we know

Then take away everything it needs. What is left is not a bigger version of us. It is the Name.

Episode 1

In us

Paired act ladder (rhythm, not power). Human heart: contracts about 100,000 times a day (British Heart Foundation); lungs breathe in and out

But: Constriction alone kills; expansion alone bursts

Episode 2

In nature

Plants close stomata in drought to save water

Episode 3

At our best

Medical ventilators push and release

But: Machines keep rhythm only while powered

Episode 4

The Break

Take away n/a for rhythm; removed: arbitrariness (42:27 gives the reason: measure).

Not a tighter grip, but withholding that is measured for our good.

Read: Q 13:26; 42:27

From the tradition: Sufi psychology: qabḍ (contraction) and basṭ (expansion) as states of the heart (al-Qushayrī's Risāla). Psalm 104:28-29 'open Your hand… hide Your face'

On screen

n/a (no pop link)

Where it shows up

In scripture: Q 2:245; 13:26; 42:27. Psalm 104:28-30
The same thread in Jewish and Christian scripture: Moderate. Psalm 104:28-30
In the universe: Weak link: the universe's expansion (NASA, Nobel 2011) belongs to al-Bāsiṭ
In nature: Fresh Water (Our Planet): drought and flood
In people: Lean seasons and Ramadan: chosen restriction
In science: Physiology: systole and diastole; tides

Living it

Patience in tight times; gratitude in wide ones

Its kind

Act: something done: mercy shown, provision given, a prayer answered.

In the Qur'an: 2:245 (verb yaqbiḍu) (not in the Qur'an verbatim (verb form))

Sources for this page

bhf.org.uk; api.quran.com; sefaria.org Ps 104:28-30