Episode 1In us
We pass.
But: —
The 99 Names · Name 96 of 99 · Beyond
الْبَاقِيal-Bāqī
The Everlasting, who remains
Say it: al-Bāqī. A recording by our own reciter is on its way.
Heard together with: al-Awwal / al-Ākhir / al-Bāqī
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
Episode 2In nature
Long lives end.
Episode 3At our best
Proton lifetime > 2.4 × 10³⁴ years (Super-K); physics cannot say whether matter lasts for ever (Open).
But: Even the longest-lasting thing we know may decay.
Episode 4The Break
Take away decay, half-life, change.
Everything has a half-life. al-Bāqī has none.
From the tradition: Labīd's verse 'Everything except Allah is perishable', praised by the Prophet (peace be upon him) (Bukhari 3841). Ps 102:27–28; James 1:17 'with whom can be no variation'.
On screen
—
Where it shows up
- In scripture
- Q 55:26–27; 28:88; Ps 102:27–28.
- The same thread in Jewish and Christian scripture
- Ps 102:27–28; James 1:17. Strong.
- In the universe
- Most naked-eye stars are still shining; the 'dead star' meme is mostly wrong for visible stars: avoid.
- In nature
- —
- In people
- Legacies; the cemetery al-Baqīʿ (different root; don't confuse).
- In science
- Radioactive half-life; proton decay searches.
Watch and listen
Films, documentaries and voices that reach towards this Name. Each links out to where you can watch it.
Sources for this page
arxiv.org/abs/2010.16098