al-Barr

The Source of all goodness, kind and true

Begin the series ↓

Recited as it sounds in the Qur'an, 52:28.

Heard together with: al-Barr ar-Raḥīm (52:28)

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

Kindness to parents (birr al-wālidayn) shares the root.

But: Our goodness tires and chooses.

Episode 2

In nature

Pollinators: about 75% of crop types benefit from pollinators, but about 35% of food production by volume (OWID, 2 Aug 2021, citing FAO and Aizen et al.).

Episode 3

At our best

Blood services and organ donation.

But: Goodness we pass on, we first received.

Episode 4

The Break

Take away mood, reward, depletion.

The bee gives without knowing. al-Barr gives knowing, and is not emptied.

Read: 52:28.

From the tradition: Ps 100:5 'GOD… is good'; Mark 10:18 'No one is good except one—God'.

On screen

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Where it shows up

In scripture: Q 52:28; Ps 100:5; Mark 10:18.
The same thread in Jewish and Christian scripture: Ps 100:5; Mark 10:18. Moderate.
In the universe: —
In nature: Honeybees: BBC 'The Waggle Dance'.
In people: Blood donation (NHS).
In science: Pollination biology.

Living it

Birr: kindness to parents; giving.

Its kind

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

In the Qur'an: 52:28

Sources for this page

ourworldindata.org/pollinator-dependence