Dr. Abou El Fadl reminds us that the Qur'an calls us to establish regular prayer as the means to build perseverance and patience that will strengthen our ability to withstand all of the trials, tribulations, frustrations and doubts that will surely attempt to pull us away from the path to the divine, especially in such difficult times as today for modern Muslims. He relates that when the overall health and condition of Muslims is good, the relationship with the Qur'an is strong; when the overall condition of Muslims is poor, their relationship with the Qur'an is distant and weak. We must turn inward to develop our own light and relationships with God and learning to be comfortable with ourselves alone with God. Delivered at the Islamic Center of Southern California, 1 February 2019.
