Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Mizan

Slightly less than a year ago, after performing my Haj in Makkah, in the hotel room in Madinah, I resumed my home habit of turning on the TV.  And on it was the recitation of the Qur'an and I heard the surah where the word "mizan" "mizan" being recited again and again.


Malaysia's current king was King Mizan.  And I wondered what was the meaning of the word "mizan".  I asked my mother who was with me, and she said "timbang", as in the weighing balance.  And I thought what a good name his parents had bestowed on him.  A just king.


I had not wrote for a while and decided to find out and share the meaning of the verses I listened to and enjoyed so on TV in Madinah.  I asked my officemate, Razid.  "Razid, which surah has the word "mizan" "mizan" in it?"  And without hesitation he said "Surah Ar-Rahman".  Ar-Rahman, The Most Gracious.  And here was the meaning of the first nine verses of the 55th Surah of the Al-Quran.


1) The Most Gracious
2) Has imparted this Qur'an
3) He has created man; 4) He has imparted unto him articulate thought and speech
5) (At His behest) the sun and the moon run their appointed courses; 6) (before Him) the stars and the trees prostrate
7) And the skies has He raised high, and has devised (for all things) a balance, 8) so that you (too, O men) might never transgress the measure; 9) weigh, therefore (your deeds) with equity, and cut not the measure short.

17 comments:

  1. A beautiful surah, Al-Rahman can be recited so beautifully by those who know how and listening to these recital can made your eyes waters if you know the meaning.. There is a verse that is repeated more than 30 times.. mm... must be very important that particular verse.. Non?

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  2. Oh Wan Sharif, so true. And I think you were referring to "Which of our Lord's favours can we deny?". I've got tears just thinking about it.

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  3. i love the idea of recite names as doas

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  4. Ia, mizan itu timbangan..
    tp mcmana bentuknya..Alahualam...

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  5. Terima kasih VersedAnggerik dan Amri, betul Mizan itu Neraca. Ada imbangan dalam segala tindakan dan kehidupan kita.

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  6. i like that they run their appointed courses.

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  7. I'm reading a book called In the Land of Invisible Women. It's a memoir about a Pakistani woman, reared in England who attended medical school in the U.S. and after she finished her residency spent a year working in Riyadh.

    Told you that to tell you this: Because of that, I know what Haj is.

    (Okay, totally wasn't worth it for you. Sorry!)

    I have a question, though. A friend of mine told me that you can't buy a Qu'ran, you must be given it. Is that true?

    (Never mind, I just checked Amazon.com, which has many editions for sale. There is so much malarkey about Musims that goes around here in the States. Sheesh.)

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  8. Yes Ed, I like that too :)

    Jeanne, you made me smile every time!

    I am not certain what Haj really is or what it really was for me. It was my own journey, yet I felt I was following the footsteps of Muhammad, may God's peace and blessings be upon him, in the footsteps of Adam and Eve, of Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael, may God's peace be upon them. I was with millions of people, yet alone with Allah.

    I bought my Qur'an, translation by Muhammad Asad from Amazon.com!:)

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  9. Aslmkm.
    Selamat Hari Raya. May Allah SWT bestow upon U the very best of HIS blessings.
    At the outset of the Surah Allah SWT stresses Ar-Rahman - that HE is The Most Gracious & with over-flowing Bounties.
    'Mizan' or the Balance of Justice are repeated numerous times as Allah SWT wants his creations & subjects to know that everything will be equated justly; good or bad there will be justice - everything balances as HE is Most Fair.
    HE ensures Balance of Justice because HE is The Most Majestic & Most Honorable.
    SUBHANALLAH.

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  10. hello aishah! i wanted to say thanks for: (1) dropping by & commenting on my blog, (2) for greeting me a happy birthday, and (3) for your words of encouragement. i really and truly appreciate it.

    by the way, "timbang" also means weighing balance in tagalog (spoken language of filipinos). cool huh? :)

    Godspeed to you, my friend!

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  11. Waalaikumussalam Dr Fauziah,

    Your description of the message is always an eye-opener to read. Thank you, so much.

    Hola Mama Mia,

    It is amazing to learn that we share the word timbang. I knew that we also shared the word anak. Our roots must have mingled then like we are today:)

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  12. moga2 paling teruk pun kita dpt neraca yg seimbang.. sbb bila seimbang selamat dr api neraka...InsyaAllah...

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  13. I notice you own the Muhammad Asad's which to me is among the very best. If yiou have not, I recommend you his biography. What intrigues me most is what made him retreat to a quiet part of Spain when he was welcome as a celebrity anywhere in the Islamic world from Pakistan to Saudi.

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  14. Aslmkm.
    BZ?
    I wl visit d other site. Insya Allah.

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  15. Surat Rahman is said to be the most " poetic" surat in the Holy Qu'ran. it often makes me cry.

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