The Rain
Quran Study (Audio)
Two collections of recordings. The room in Tucson working through the Quran, and the messenger's own voice.
Two collections, and they are different things.
Quran Study is the masjid in Tucson. Most of it is 1989 and 1990. The last twenty sessions are older, from the winter of 1982. A member leads, the room asks questions, and Rashad Khalifa answers from the Quran. Seventy-two of them survive.
Messenger Audio is that older winter on its own. Fifty-nine recordings from October 1982 to March 1983, each carrying the date it was recorded.
The two collections overlap. The last twenty study sessions are the same tapes as the 1982 recordings below, joined into whole sessions instead of split into tape sides. Every card on both lists says where else the same audio sits, so nothing is heard twice by accident.
Each card says what the recording is about. That way it is possible to choose one without listening first.
Both play on YouTube. Nothing here is a source; the Quran is. Take whatever is said to the search page afterwards.
The Two Collections
Each one opens its full playlist. The sessions are listed below, and every card opens that recording.
Quran Study — 72 sessions
Tucson, mostly 1989 and 1990, with twenty sessions from 1982. A member leads, the room asks, and the messenger answers from the Quran. About ninety minutes each.
Open the playlistMessenger Audio — 59 recordings
Rashad Khalifa himself, October 1982 to March 1983. Shorter, and dated — the earliest is 22 October 1982.
Open the playlistQuran Study
Seventy-two sessions, in order. Each card shows who led it, when it was recorded, how many verses the session touched, and what was discussed. The descriptions were written from the transcripts.
1:19:05Quran StudySession 1A walk through Sura 72, Jinns, from verse 19, and Sura 73, Cloaked. The room asks why people shrink when God alone is preached. Rashad answers questions on the nineteen guards of Hell, and on anger.the egoguards of HellangerHadith about the gravethe mathematical code
1:15:52Quran StudySession 2Dr. Sabahi leads Sura 95, The Fig, and Sura 96, The Embryo. The room looks at the things God swears by, and at the human hand. Rashad explains two verses dropped from a printing, and why clot became embryo.the fig and the olivehuman designprinting mistakeclot or embryoSatan
1:31:42Quran StudySession 3Rashad Khalifa leads Sura 10, Jonah, from verse 79, and Sura 23, The Believers. Much of the night is the mathematical code, counting the word God. The room also covers Moses in the river, and a covenant with the prophets.the mathematical codecounting the word GodMoses in the rivercovenant of the prophetsangels recording
1:31:37Quran StudySession 4Rashad Khalifa leads Sura 37, The Arrangers. The room jokes about the ways people push themselves into Hell, and about visiting relatives there. Talk also turns to the dawn prayer, and to the two Easts and two Wests.people of HeavenHellfiredawn prayertwo Easts and two Weststhe word Ummat
51:02Quran StudySession 5Lisa leads Sura 56, The Inevitable, from verse 75, and Sura 57, Iron. The room looks at the oath by the stars, and at the size of the galaxy. Rashad speaks about those who die before the age of forty.the starssize of the galaxythe mathematical codetouching the Qurandying before forty
1:11:23Quran StudySession 6Donna leads Sura 59, The Exodus. The room talks about spoils of war going to the poor, and about angels guarding believers. There is a long passage on hypocrites, and on the verses about the mountain.spoils of warhypocritesangelsthe mountainremoving hatred
1:18:42Quran StudySession 7A study of Sura 62, Friday, and Sura 63, The Hypocrites. It opens with an announcement about the Quran's compilation and a new translation. The room asks why Friday, and hears a claim about America in fifty years.Friday prayerhow the Quran was compilednew translationtwo added versesChristianity and Paul
54:48Quran StudySession 8Lori leads Sura 65, Divorce, and Sura 66, Prohibition. The room works through support after divorce, nursing mothers, and how much a husband owes. A long exchange follows on urging children to observe the prayers.divorcealimonynursing motherschildren and prayerevolution within a species
1:15:22Quran StudySession 9Edip Yuksel leads Sura 70, The Heights. The room takes up hoarding, chastity, common law marriage, and the speed of light. Rashad answers a question about obligatory charity (Zakat) and giving in secret.obligatory charity (Zakat)chastitymarriagethe speed of lightend of the world
1:32:10Quran StudySession 10Apamea leads Sura 71, Noah, and Sura 72, Jinns. The room looks at Noah preaching for centuries, and at the sun and moon as signs. Later, questions about jinns, and about keeping worship for God alone.Noahthe sun and moonjinnsplaces of worshipAdam as prophet
58:24Quran StudySession 11Rashad Khalifa leads Sura 23, The Believers, from verse 60, and Sura 16, The Bee. The room follows the bees closely, from scouts to drones. Talk turns to chromosomes, to ageing parents, and to Satan's limits.beeschromosomesageing parentsresurrectionthe word Zikr
1:28:03Quran StudySession 12Behrouz gives a khutba on obeying the messenger, drawing on Sura 3, The Amramites. He asks the room to leave ego at the door. A sharp dispute follows over whether anyone may argue with the messenger.khutbaobeying the messengerleaving ego behinddressing for the masjida dispute in the room
1:32:14Quran StudySession 13The session works through Sura 7, The Purgatory, from verse 12. Rashad describes Satan's rebellion and the Great Feud. The room asks whether Adam and Eve's bodies were invisible, and how Eve was created.Satan's rebellionthe Great FeudAdam and Evethe soulangels
1:13:31Quran StudySession 14A commemoration night around Sura 113, Daybreak, Sura 114, People, and Sura 1, The Key. Rashad speaks about feeding the soul through remembrance. He describes souls resurrected as babies or adults, and angels descending on the Night of Destiny.Zikrfeeding the soulNight of Destinyglorifying Godfree will
1:32:09Quran StudySession 15The session covers Sura 54, The Moon, Sura 55, The Gracious, and Sura 56, The Inevitable. Rashad says each age got its own sign. The room discusses the Highest and Lower Heaven, and whether jinns know the future.the mathematical codejinnsHighest HeavenLower Heavensigns of the messengers
1:33:11Quran StudySession 16The session takes Sura 64, Mutual Blaming, then Sura 70, The Heights. Rashad points out the running count of the word God in the new translation. The room talks about worry, anxiety and the Contact Prayers.the word God countedContact Prayersworry and anxietyhypocritesDay of Judgment
1:26:41Quran StudySession 17Sura 90, The Town, and Sura 91, The Sun, with Sura 83, The Cheaters. Rashad describes the record of deeds as a tape shown at Judgment. The room also hears about waking for dawn prayer without an alarm.Meccadawn prayerrecord of deedsidol worshipthe soul
1:30:55Quran StudySession 18Sura 87, The Most High, and Sura 94, Cooling the Temper, then Sura 81, The Rolling. Rashad says only the Prophet's righteous orders were to be obeyed. He also describes his own 1971 experience in Mecca.HadithMessenger of the Covenantanimals resurrectedthe cameldifficulty and relief
1:29:07Quran StudySession 19A study of Sura 2, The Heifer, from verse 89. Rashad talks about the ego and why people refuse a human messenger. A question about witchcraft, and about the angels Haroot and Maroot.the egowitchcraftHaroot and Marootprophecies of MuhammadGod's will
1:02:37Quran StudySession 20Dr. Sabahi leads Sura 3, The Amramites, starting at verse 7. The room works on straightforward verses against verses of multiple meaning. Talk turns to allegory in descriptions of Heaven, and to disputes over ablution.straightforward versesallegoryQuranic initialsablutiondescriptions of Heaven
52:38Quran StudySession 21Sura 9, Ultimatum, from verse 52, then Sura 56, The Inevitable, from verse 75. The session treats 9:54 as evidence the Contact Prayers predate Muhammad. The room hears about hypocrites, and about the scale of the galaxy.Salat before Muhammadhypocritesthe Milky Waythe mathematical codestriving
1:10:06Quran StudySession 22The session starts at Sura 39, The Throngs, verse 11, then Sura 37, The Arrangers. Rashad describes an admission test in the first years of worshipping God alone. The room asks whether Satan knows what is in the mind.admission testSatan's whispersjinnsthankfulnesstests and hardship
59:55Quran StudySession 23Douglas leads Sura 51, Driver of the Winds. The room looks at the winds and rain as signs, and at what cannot be seen. Later, the angels visiting Abraham, and the question of which son was the only son.signs in natureSatan's deceptionAbrahamIshmael and Isaacthe mathematical code
1:28:53Quran StudySession 24Laurie leads Sura 55, The Gracious, and Naghmeh takes Sura 56, The Inevitable. The room hears that a missed prayer cannot be made up. Rashad speaks about the foremost, and about hypocrites in the deepest pit.missed prayersthe foremosthypocritesrenewing the messageHeaven and Hell
1:02:10Quran StudySession 25A walk through Sura 58, The Debate. The room discusses the old oath declaring a wife forbidden, and its atonement. Talk turns to secret conspiring and to the numbers counted as part of the mathematical code.marriage and atonementconsecutive fastingfeeding the poorsecret meetingsnumbers in the Quran
52:34Quran StudySession 26The session works through Sura 67, Kingship. The room talks about God's knowledge of every falling leaf, and about birds in flight. A long argument follows about whether trusting God makes life easier.kingshipbirds in flightGod's knowledgehardship and faiththe ego
1:28:50Quran StudySession 27A walk through Sura 14, Abraham, and Sura 17, The Children of Israel. The room discusses Satan disowning his followers at judgment. A question about the rod leads Rashad to say parents should never strike a child.Satan on Judgment Dayhitting childrenparents and examplethe commandmentsHadith
1:00:41Quran StudySession 28A study of Sura 46, The Dunes, and Sura 30, The Romans. The room counts words on a page to test the nineteen-based pattern. Rashad talks about angels, rain as a sign, and reading scripture in plain language.idols disownedthe mathematical codeangelsrainreading in translation
57:59Quran StudySession 29The session is mostly questions and answers, drawing often on Sura 12, Joseph. The room asks why God allowed Satan's challenge. Rashad answers that God does no injustice, and that prayers for the dead do not help.Satan's challengeGod's justicesufferingprayers for the deadnight prayer
1:29:33Quran StudySession 30The session works through Sura 28, The History, with Sura 57, Iron. The room follows Moses from the manslaughter to his return to Pharaoh. Rashad also describes death for the righteous, and counts the numbers named in the Quran.Moses in Egyptchildren of Israeldeath of the righteouscounting the word Godaccepting a messenger
1:20:57Quran StudySession 31The session covers Sura 18, The Cave, and Sura 81, The Rolling. The room asks about Gog and Magog and the end of the world. Rashad says only Sura 1 is recited in each unit of prayer.Gog and Magogend of the worldrecitation in prayerthe soulanimals resurrected
13:13Quran StudySession 32A short session that turns on one verse in Sura 22, The Pilgrimage. The room compares translations that read it in a startling, very different way. Talk then turns to the Tucson masjid, and where prayer is allowed.translation errorsthe Tucson masjidthe Qiblahwhere to pray
1:21:07Quran StudySession 33Dr. Sabahi leads a study of Sura 74, The Hidden Secret. The room discusses the number nineteen and the guards of Hell. A word usually translated as clot is said to carry three meanings.the number nineteenguards of Hellword meaningssuspicionArabic translation
1:30:30Quran StudySession 34A study of Sura 33, The Parties. The room talks about prostrations added after the prayer, and about adoption and names. A long exchange follows on whether God is physical rather than a spirit.innovations in prayeradoptioncovenant of the prophetsis God physicalsize of the universe
1:32:39Quran StudySession 35A walk through Sura 30, The Romans, and Sura 101, The Shocker. Rashad says that recognizing God alone is a natural instinct. Talk also covers how Heaven is described in familiar terms, and the Big Bang.natural instinctdescriptions of Heaventhe Big Bangdying before fortyfree choice
58:01Quran StudySession 36The session works through Sura 7, The Purgatory. The room discusses jinns paired with people, and counts of verses in the Quran. Rashad says the ego works as the biggest idol besides God.jinnscounting the versesthe egotree and fruitthe camel of Saleh
1:32:39Quran StudySession 37A walk through Sura 10, Jonah. The room discusses the claim that God begot a son, and Noah's persecution. Rashad answers that alcohol and gambling carry the strongest prohibition in the Quran.Noahson of Godalcohol and gamblingAdam and Eveangels and creation
1:05:08Quran StudySession 38The session centers on the two verses at the end of Sura 9, Ultimatum. Rashad says they were added later, and the rest preserved letter by letter. The room also asks about usury and the splitting of the moon.two added versespreservation of the QuranUthmanusurynew printing
1:32:47Quran StudySession 39A study of Sura 60, The Test, and parts of Sura 24, The Light. The room discusses friendship with people who are not hostile. Rashad answers questions about the Friday prayer and about wanting to be rich.friendship with disbelieversFriday prayerwanting to be richdivorceidol worship
56:24Quran StudySession 40The session works through Sura 3, The Amramites, from verse 59. A member speaks about not celebrating Christmas. The room discusses the Trinity's origin centuries after Jesus, and whether Ummy means illiterate or Gentile.Christmasthe Trinitythe egoUmmydeception
54:13Quran StudySession 41A study of Sura 54, The Moon. Rashad says the splitting of the moon was fulfilled when moon rock was brought back. The room discusses Noah's flood, where the ark landed, and Gog and Magog.splitting of the moonNoah's arkGog and Magogend of the worldAbraham's covenant
54:22Quran StudySession 42The session is a talk across Sura 69, Incontestable, and Sura 6, The Livestock. Rashad offers tests for hidden idol worship, such as discomfort when God alone is mentioned. A question about befriending Jews and Christians follows.hidden idol worshipreligious scholarsAl-Fatihahbefriending Jews and Christiansthe messenger's words
1:28:41Quran StudySession 43A walk through Sura 17, The Children of Israel, at a conference in Tucson. Rashad says obligatory charity (Zakat) is due the day income arrives, not yearly. He also describes every atom as glorifying God.obligatory charity (Zakat)idolizing messengersContact Prayerswhite liesSatan's envy
1:23:27Quran StudySession 44The session reads Sura 64, Mutual Blaming, then Sura 59, The Exodus. Rashad says God, not the parent, provides for a new child. The room asks what a hypocrite is, and about the word Ruh.God providesmissed Morning Prayerhypocritesthe word Ruhthe human body
1:29:36Quran StudySession 45A walk through Sura 40, Forgiver, beginning with the initials Ha Meem. Rashad counts those letters across seven suras as evidence of the mathematical code. The room also discusses what souls do between death and resurrection.Ha Meemthe mathematical codelife of the soulablutionrepentance
1:22:26Quran StudySession 46The session moves from Sura 37, The Arrangers, into Sura 38, S, and Sura 9, Ultimatum. The room asks about jinns who impersonate the dead. Rashad retells David judging the two brothers over a sheep.jinnsDavid and the sheepcharity recipientsangelscommunism
1:30:41Quran StudySession 47A study of Sura 1, The Key, and the opening of Sura 2, The Heifer. Rashad first reads from the introduction to a new translation. He says righteous Jews and Christians reach Heaven, and describes how jinns arose.righteous Jews and Christiansjinnsnew translationthe mathematical miracleAdam and Eve
1:31:30Quran StudySession 48The session is a talk, turning on Sura 33, The Parties, verse 40. Rashad says obligatory charity (Zakat) is due whenever income arrives. A visitor argues about honoring Muhammad and whether he was the last messenger.obligatory charity (Zakat)the Great Feudremembrance on wakinglast prophetSunni and Shia
40:48Quran StudySession 49Rashad speaks on the mathematical code instead of one passage, citing Sura 46, The Dunes. He counts the 114 suras and every occurrence of the word God. The talk then turns to Satan's rebellion and the ego.the mathematical codethe number nineteenSatan's rebellionthe egooriginal sin
1:01:10Quran StudySession 50Kathryn leads Sura 92, The Night, Sura 93, The Forenoon, and Sura 94, Cooling the Temper. The room asks whether obligatory charity (Zakat) covers money that was not worked for. Not reprimanding a beggar also comes up.obligatory charity (Zakat)beggarsnight and dayDay of Resurrectionfood bank
47:25Quran StudySession 51Rashad works through Sura 39, The Throngs, and Sura 17, The Children of Israel. The room asks whether helping starving people somehow helps Satan. Rashad lists four kinds of disaster and describes the soul shrinking without prayer.Satan's motivesthe shrinking soulkinds of disastergambling and drinkingsouls of newborns
18:00Quran StudySession 52The session opens Sura 1, The Key, with a little of Sura 2, The Heifer. Rashad compares the Arabic sounds to a dialed telephone number. The room asks about distraction in prayer and forgetting how many units were prayed.Al-FatihahContact Prayersdistraction in prayerprayer in Arabicpraying while driving
28:31Quran StudySession 53Also in Messenger Audio as 2A wide discussion that ends on Sura 1, The Key, and Sura 2, The Heifer. The room notes how much early hadith was rejected as untrustworthy. A parallel in wording between the two suras is revisited.Hadiththree kinds of peopleAl-Fatihahprobabilityconsumer culture
1:00:44Quran StudySession 54Also in Messenger Audio as 3.1 and 3.2Dean Mahmoud leads a long pass through Sura 2, The Heifer. The room discusses hypocrites counted among the disbelievers, and why Heaven and Hell are described allegorically. A question about whether Satan was an angel or a jinn.hypocritesHeaven and Hellangels and jinnsthe covenantAdam and the names
22:01Quran StudySession 55The first 22 minutes of Messenger Audio 4A short zikr gathering rather than a study session. It recites Sura 113, Daybreak, Sura 114, People, and Sura 1, The Key. The room then repeats the declaration of God's oneness together.Zikrremembrance of Godseeking refugeAl-Fatihah
1:00:23Quran StudySession 56Also in Messenger Audio as 5.1 and 5.2A Friday sermon working from Sura 6, The Livestock, and Sura 17, The Children of Israel. Rashad argues that taking any other source beside the Quran is idol worship. He separates the prophet's own opinions from the revelation.Quran aloneHadiththe prophet's opinionsidol worshipthe moon's orbit
30:20Quran StudySession 57Also in Messenger Audio as 7Dean Mahmoud leads Sura 2, The Heifer, around verses 75 to 80. The room discusses the claim that Hell lasts only a few days. The killing of earlier prophets and the heifer sacrifice also come up.children of Israeleternal Hellkilling of prophetsthe heiferMoses
31:36Quran StudySession 58Also in Messenger Audio as 10.1, 10.2 and 11A Friday sermon on unawareness of God, then a reading in Sura 2, The Heifer. The room counts the verses that mention killing prophets. Gabriel's role and angels waking people for dawn prayer come up.awareness of Godkilling of prophetsGabrielangelsdawn prayer
23:47Quran StudySession 59Also in Messenger Audio as 12Dean Mahmoud continues on Adam and Eve, in Sura 7, The Purgatory, and Sura 20, T-H. He reads the garments in the garden as obedience stripped away by Satan. The Arabic roots behind the two temptations are compared.Adam and Evegarments of obediencetemptationallegoryArabic word roots
48:08Quran StudySession 60Also in Messenger Audio as 13A long session in Sura 2, The Heifer, reaching the verses about east and west. The room takes up abrogation, and whether the Quran supersedes earlier scriptures. Discussion also turns to the claim that Jesus is God's son.abrogationearlier scripturesJesuspilgrimagedietary law
1:02:02Quran StudySession 61Also in Messenger Audio as 14.1 and 14.2A Friday sermon on the greatness of God, drawing on Sura 39, The Throngs. Rashad points to the earth's axis, the pulse, genetics. He asks the room to repent and forget old grudges.greatness of Goddesign in natureforgiving grudgesidol worshipFriday sermon
59:43Quran StudySession 62Also in Messenger Audio as 15.1 and 15.2Sura 2, The Heifer, from verse 124, the history of Abraham and the naming of Islam. The room asks whether the shrine at Mecca came before the prayer. Talk turns to dietary rules being imposed later, as a punishment.Abrahamthe shrine at Meccadietary lawnaming of Islamwealth and poverty
1:00:22Quran StudySession 63Also in Messenger Audio as 17.1 and 17.2A sermon on the forbidden tree, then Sura 2, The Heifer, on the Qiblah. Dean Mahmoud says Adam and Eve learned they were mortal, not gods. The room asks why the first Qiblah faced Jerusalem.the forbidden treeAdam and Evethe QiblahJerusalemfree willabuse of power
1:01:28Quran StudySession 64Also in Messenger Audio as 18.1 and 18.2Sura 2, The Heifer, on Jacob's children, facing Mecca, and steadfastness. The room argues about compasses and how to find the direction. A thread on why coming to God hoping for happiness misses the point.steadfastnessthe Qiblahpraying in other mosquesconcentration in prayerJacob's children
1:01:05Quran StudySession 65Also in Messenger Audio as 19.1 and 19.2Sura 2, The Heifer, around the verses on repentance and the one God. The room asks what Umrah is and how it differs from Hajj. A long back and forth on facing Mecca from a curved earth.UmrahHajjthe Qiblahthe earth's axislearning Arabic
1:03:32Quran StudySession 66Also in Messenger Audio as 20.1 and 20.2Sura 2, The Heifer, with a sermon first on worshiping God alone. Rashad says prohibiting what God made lawful is a serious sin. The room talks about Hadith, dietary customs, and changing names.worship God aloneHadithfood and idolschanging namesprohibiting lawful things
38:24Quran StudySession 67Also in Messenger Audio as 21Sura 2, The Heifer, and Sura 5, The Feast, on the law of equivalence. Rashad says compensation is preferred and the victim is the judge. Later the room asks whether a child who leaves the faith still inherits.the law of equivalencecompensationcapital punishmentinheritanceadopted children
59:54Quran StudySession 68Also in Messenger Audio as 22.1 and 22.2A sermon on Adam and the names God taught him, from Sura 2, The Heifer. Dean Mahmoud says revelation is a reminder, and that forgetting God means forgetting the soul. The room touches on the number nineteen.Adamthe names of Godforgetting Godrevelation as reminderthe number nineteen
47:40Quran StudySession 69Also in Messenger Audio as 23Sura 2, The Heifer, at the fasting verses, and how the Quran was revealed. Rashad says fasting came through Abraham and lists allowances for illness and travel. The room asks how the revelations were written down.fastingRamadanhow the Quran camethe mathematical codeQuranic initials
59:39Quran StudySession 70Also in Messenger Audio as 24.1 and 24.2Sura 2, The Heifer, and Sura 25, The Statute Book, on bribery and repentance. The room asks whether bribing is allowed where it is the only way. The session ends on a verse about sins turned into credits.briberyphases of the moonprayer and sinsextra fastingkeeping promises
47:49Quran StudySession 71Also in Messenger Audio as 25A sermon on repentance, drawing on Sura 39, The Throngs, and Sura 40, Forgiver. Rashad says sins are erased by repenting or by paying for them here. He says idol worship is the one unforgivable offense.repentanceerasing sinsidol worshipthe Hereafterdouble reward
1:05:39Quran StudySession 72Also in Messenger Audio as 26 and 27Sura 2, The Heifer, on Adam, on forgetting, and on the growth of the soul. A discussion of Abraham and the sacrifice, and whether God ordered it. It opens on whether the rites at Mecca count as idol worship.Adam's disobedienceSatan and forgettinggrowth of the soulAbraham's sacrificetombsMessenger Audio
Fifty-nine recordings, oldest first, each with the date it was made. Two carry no date, so none is shown. The descriptions come from the notes posted with the recordings. Eight recordings have no notes, so they carry no description.
Thirty-three of these are also in Quran Study above, joined into whole sessions. Each card says which one.
28:31Messenger AudioAudio 2Also in Quran Study as session 53Fourteen minutes of room noise, then the study opens in Sura 1, The Key. The talk turns to hypocrites, and whether they count as a kind of disbeliever.Al-Fatihahhypocritesdisbelievers
48:03Messenger AudioAudio 3.1Part of Quran Study session 54, joined with 3.2Sura 2, The Heifer, at verse 30, where God tells the angels about an earthly authority. Questions about what the angels knew, and about Satan among them.Adam on earthangelsSatan
12:41Messenger AudioAudio 3.2Part of Quran Study session 54, joined with 3.1The conversation continues on Sura 2, The Heifer, verses 30 to 34. Rashad says angels made of light comes from Hadith, not the Quran. A question follows about the names Adam was taught.Adam and the namesangelsHadithSatan as an angel
38:21Messenger AudioAudio 4Its first 22 minutes are Quran Study session 55A zikr gathering. It recites Sura 113, Daybreak, Sura 114, People, and Sura 1, The Key. The second half is a recording of Arabic lessons.ZikrAl-FatihahArabic lessons
47:34Messenger AudioAudio 5.1Part of Quran Study session 56, joined with 5.2On preaching the Quran without fear of offending, and on what obeying the messenger means. Rashad says following any source beside the Quran is idol worship.preachingobeying the messengerHadithQuran alone
12:49Messenger AudioAudio 5.2Part of Quran Study session 56, joined with 5.1A discussion of prophecies about Muhammad, and of the verse on blessings for the prophet. Rashad says prophets did not know the future.prophecies of Muhammadknowledge of the futureHadith
29:24Messenger AudioAudio 30.1The call to prayer, then a sermon by a member on changes made to earlier scripture.sermonearlier scriptures
25:39Messenger AudioAudio 30.2The sermon continues, then a reading of Sura 2, The Heifer, verse 62. Rashad calls it the minimum requirement for salvation.salvationrighteous Jews and Christians
30:20Messenger AudioAudio 7Also in Quran Study as session 57A study on the children of Israel. The killing of prophets, the requirements for the heifer, and the calf. The room also takes up Sura 17, The Children of Israel.killing of prophetsthe heiferthe golden calfmiracles
3:41Messenger AudioAudio 10.1Part of Quran Study session 58, joined with 10.2 and 11Three minutes only. The call to prayer and the opening of a sermon.call to prayersermon
8:51Messenger AudioAudio 10.2Part of Quran Study session 58, joined with 10.1 and 11A study in Sura 2, The Heifer, on the killing of messengers and prophets. The room asks whether Moses and Aaron were among them.killing of prophetsMoses and Aaronchildren of Israel
19:04Messenger AudioAudio 11Part of Quran Study session 58, joined with 10.1 and 10.2More of Sura 2, The Heifer, around verse 93. The room discusses how the Quran came down at once, then was released slowly.how the Quran camethe covenantchildren of Israel
23:47Messenger AudioAudio 12Also in Quran Study as session 59A sermon by a member of the congregation. Rashad does not speak on this recording.sermon
48:07Messenger AudioAudio 13Also in Quran Study as session 60A short point on the Arabic word for east, which covers both sunrise and moonrise. A reading of Sura 2, The Heifer, at verse 116.Arabic wordseast and west
48:13Messenger AudioAudio 15.1Part of Quran Study session 62, joined with 15.2
11:30Messenger AudioAudio 15.2Part of Quran Study session 62, joined with 15.1
48:13Messenger AudioAudio 18.1Part of Quran Study session 64, joined with 18.2More arguments about the direction of prayer from Tucson. Rashad returns to a verse tying the right direction to worshipping God alone.the Qiblahworship God alone
13:15Messenger AudioAudio 18.2Part of Quran Study session 64, joined with 18.1
49:05Messenger AudioAudio 17.1Part of Quran Study session 63, joined with 17.2Rashad speaks on Abraham passing his test. He says the Quran never orders Abraham to sacrifice his son. The session reaches Sura 2, The Heifer, on the direction of prayer.Abrahamthe sacrificethe Qiblah
11:17Messenger AudioAudio 17.2Part of Quran Study session 63, joined with 17.1A long working out of the direction of prayer from Tucson. Rashad explains why the great circle route was not used. He says the masjid was built on that direction.the Qiblahthe Tucson masjid
48:05Messenger AudioAudio 19.1Part of Quran Study session 65, joined with 19.2
13:00Messenger AudioAudio 19.2Part of Quran Study session 65, joined with 19.1
48:19Messenger AudioAudio 20.1Part of Quran Study session 66, joined with 20.2A sermon on why we are here. Rashad says the test is to show that creatures worship God without seeing Him. He shows a photograph of the earth from space. Later the room discusses dietary rules.the purpose of the testworship God alonethe seven universesdietary law
15:14Messenger AudioAudio 20.2Part of Quran Study session 66, joined with 20.1The dietary discussion continues. Rashad names the four prohibitions in the Quran, and says nothing beyond them is forbidden. He warns against prohibiting what God made lawful.dietary lawfour prohibitionsprohibiting lawful thingsHadith
38:24Messenger AudioAudio 21Also in Quran Study as session 67
47:37Messenger AudioAudio 22.1Part of Quran Study session 68, joined with 22.2Very little can be heard on this recording.
12:17Messenger AudioAudio 22.2Part of Quran Study session 68, joined with 22.1
47:40Messenger AudioAudio 23Also in Quran Study as session 69Sura 2, The Heifer, at the fasting verses. Rashad says fasting came through Abraham, and that Ramadan was kept before Muhammad. He describes how the Quran was released over twenty-three years.fastingRamadanhow the Quran camedawn prayer
47:44Messenger AudioAudio 24.1Part of Quran Study session 70, joined with 24.2Sura 2, The Heifer, on bribery, the phases of the moon, and the rules of war. Rashad says fighting is only for self defence. Later, how prayer and fasting erase sins.briberyrules of warself defenceerasing sins
11:55Messenger AudioAudio 24.2Part of Quran Study session 70, joined with 24.1Sura 2, The Heifer, at the verses on Hajj. Rashad says repentance turns past sins into credits. A question about whether the rites look like idol worship.Hajjrepentanceidol worship
47:49Messenger AudioAudio 25Also in Quran Study as session 71A sermon on two ways to clear the record. Repentance, or paying for sins in this life. Rashad says only idol worship is unforgivable. Later, whether Arabic is needed.repentancepaying for sinsidol worshiplearning Arabic
28:35Messenger AudioAudio 26Part of Quran Study session 72, joined with 27Sura 2, The Heifer, from verse 197, through the rites of Hajj. Rashad says the stoning stands for rejecting Satan. He adds that visiting a tomb is idol worship.Hajjstoning pillarstombsidol worship
37:04Messenger AudioAudio 27Part of Quran Study session 72, joined with 26The call to prayer, then a sermon by a member. It turns on Adam and Eve, and on forgetting.sermonAdam and Eveforgetting
47:33Messenger AudioAudio 28.1Sura 2, The Heifer, from verse 214, on where God's victory is. Rashad speaks about trusting God, about the rules of war, and about intoxicants and gambling.trusting Godadversityrules of wargambling
47:34Messenger AudioAudio 28.2A short conversation on lotteries, and on giving away what is not needed. Part of this recording repeats an earlier one.gamblingcharity
47:39Messenger AudioAudio 29Sura 2, The Heifer, from verse 221, on marriage and belief. Rashad speaks about repenting continuously, and about erasing sins before death.marriagerepentanceerasing sins
1:58Messenger AudioAudio 31.1A study led by members, without Rashad.
13:14Messenger AudioAudio 31.2Sura 2, The Heifer, on divorce. The waiting period, the dowry, and the preference for reconciling.divorcedowrywaiting period
45:21Messenger AudioAudio 32Prayer while travelling, then Sura 2, The Heifer, from verse 240. Support for widows, inheritance, and the two witnesses. Later, those who fled their homes fearing death.prayer while travellingwidowsinheritancefear of death
33:19Messenger AudioAudio 33.1A sermon by a member on the potter's clay, and on body and soul.sermonbody and soul
29:24Messenger AudioAudio 33.2The sermon continues, then a conversation about the closing words of the prayer. Rashad is asked whether the greeting of peace belongs to the prayer itself.Contact Prayersgreeting of peace
15:18Messenger AudioAudio 34.1On leading people out of darkness into light. Rashad tells of someone warned not to debate the issues. Later, how the time between death and resurrection will feel.darkness and lightdebating the issuesdeath and resurrection
13:47Messenger AudioAudio 34.2On the time between death and the Day of Judgment. The room asks whether there will be any doubt about where a person is going. Rashad describes the record handed to each one.the Hereafterresurrectionrecord of deeds
19:24Messenger AudioAudio 35On Hell, Heaven, and what the Hereafter will be like. Rashad reads Abraham asking for assurance, and the birds brought back to life. He closes on remembrance at dawn.Heaven and HellAbrahamresurrectiondawn remembrance
49:46Messenger AudioAudio 36.1A sermon on how few people worship God alone. Rashad speaks about the test, and about Joseph in prison. He says the test is what qualifies a person.worship God alonethe testJosephrepentance
9:48Messenger AudioAudio 36.2A short conversation about beggars.beggarscharity
49:58Messenger AudioAudio 37.1A discussion of usury, banks and interest. Rashad reads the footnote at Sura 2, verse 279, which treats usury as fixed interest. He also says every generation receives messengers.usurybanksinterestmessengers
6:12Messenger AudioAudio 37.2A short point on making no distinction among God's messengers.messengers
33:46Messenger AudioAudio 38.1The call to prayer and a sermon by a member. Later Rashad speaks about the Quranic initials, and about why he published the translation.Quranic initialsthe translation
28:34Messenger AudioAudio 38.2Rashad speaks about his translation, and about the charge that people idolize him. He gives a test. If a person says what God says, they are not an idol.the translationidolizing peopleidol worship
12:23Messenger AudioAudio 39On verses each generation understands anew. Rashad speaks about the number nineteen, and about going to God rather than to people for wisdom. The session reaches Sura 3, The Amramites.the mathematical codenew understandingHadithwisdom
39:58Messenger AudioAudio 41A sermon on salvation through worshipping God alone. Rashad speaks about Satan's power, and about praying aloud at noon and afternoon. He returns to the charge that people idolize him.worship God aloneSatanpraying aloudidolizing people
39:58Messenger AudioAudio 43.1A sermon that reads out another speaker's words on working together. Rashad then answers visitors who questioned one verse of his translation. He describes how he began the work.the translationcriticismhypocrites
10:36Messenger AudioAudio 43.2Mostly conversation in the room. Rashad joins briefly to talk about the translation.the translation
31:07Messenger AudioAudio 44A member speaks about putting the Arabic text into a computer. The aim is to repeat the counting and look for more.the mathematical codecounting the text
39:17Messenger AudioAudio 46The call to prayer and a sermon by a member, then conversation.sermon
25:39Messenger AudioAudio 47The call to prayer and a sermon by a member. The Friday prayer follows.sermonFriday prayer
41:45Messenger AudioAudio 14.1Part of Quran Study session 61, joined with 14.2A sermon on design in creation. The tilt of the earth, the colour of an orange, the blue sky. Rashad asks the room to forgive, to forget, and to keep peace.design in naturesacred monthsforgiving grudgespeace among believers
20:17Messenger AudioAudio 14.2Part of Quran Study session 61, joined with 14.1Listen Alongside, Not Instead
A recording is excellent for hearing how something was explained, and poor for checking whether it is true. A claim goes past at the speed of a voice. Whatever is heard here, take it to the Quran search page before accepting it.
Questions About the Recordings
Is anything said in these recordings a source?
No. Only the Quran is, and everything heard here should be taken to it. A claim delivered confidently in a voice is persuasive in a way that has nothing to do with whether it is true. That is the risk in every spoken format, ours included. God's instruction covers it: “You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself.” [17:36] The search page exists for exactly that.
What is the difference between the two collections?
One is a room, and one is a man. Quran Study is the masjid in Tucson across 1989 and 1990. A member leads the session and the room asks questions, so a good deal of it is other people talking. Rashad Khalifa answers. Messenger Audio is earlier, from 1982 and 1983, and it is his own recording. Each one carries the date it was made.
Where should someone start?
With a session on a subject we are already asking about, not with session one. The cards say what each session covered and who led it. Pick the one that answers a live question, the same way the appendices are best approached. If nothing stands out, the Messenger Audio recordings are shorter, and hearing the man himself is a different experience from hearing a study group.
Growth Journal
Growth Prompt
Pick one path, watch the first video today, and write one sentence about what it changed or failed to change. Do that for each video in the path and you will have a record of an actual journey.
Which Watch & Grow path honestly describes where I am right now — not where I would like to be, or where I was five years ago?
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