“Verily,
God orders justice and kindness (Ihsan), and giving [help] to the
relatives, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and evil and tyranny. He
admonishes you, so that perhaps you may take heed.” (al-Nahl 16:90)
Grace:
I am stirred by Yasmina’s emphasis on “God consciousness” in the exhortation all Muslims hear weekly. The sheer variety of Christian denominations means that the experience of a living God is likely to be evoked for Christians in many different ways. Benedictions that conclude Christian worship are expressed as blessings. Some churches also include a dismissal or sending forth which is reminiscent of al-Nahl 16:90, calling upon worshipers to be “doers of the Word and not hearers only.” (James 1:22) Quoting the Hebrew prophet Micah, Christians also affirm the need for hearts that are attuned to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) Interestingly, it is an opening prayer in my own tradition that lifts me most powerfully to God consciousness: “Almighty God…from whom no secrets are hid…cleanse the thoughts of our hearts […that] we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name.”
