Power Of The Pen
The One who taught by the pen
Surah Al-Alaq 96:4
This verse emphasizes the power of the pen. As with every verse of the Qur’an, each being an infinite sea of meanings, this ayah can be understood on many levels. From a coaching perspective, research has shown that the act of writing plays a significant role in learning and cognitive development. It is believed that memory retention increases when writing with a pen versus typing. A study published in Psychological Science found that students who took handwritten notes retained concepts better and understood them more deeply than those who used laptops.
When we journal, we come to know ourselves beyond what appears on the surface of our thoughts. It is almost as if God is speaking about you through your writing. Our minds can become confused and overwhelmed, yet the moment we begin writing things down, a deep sense of clarity emerges, and sometimes truths we avoid finally surface. It feels like a channel from the heart to the paper.
As every verse is an entire universe of meanings, on a deeper mystical level, I love how Imam al-Ghazali goes beyond the material and mentions that God wrote upon our hearts sacred knowledge that can be attained when we turn inward. The pen, whether in life, reveals truth, or in the mystic realm, allows our hearts to whisper spiritual secrets.
“Writing helps us not only see the words we’re already using but then change the words we’re using so that we can in turn change our lives.”
Allison Fallon
If journaling isn’t part of your routine, pick up a pen and a blank sheet of paper. Set a timer for five minutes and let your thoughts flow freely without judgment or structure. Keep writing even if your mind feels blank. See if unexpected insights, emotions, or clarity emerge. Is God revealing something through your words?
If you already journal, pause before writing. Look at your pen with deep gratitude for the truths it helps reveal. Reset your relationship and intention with this sacred practice.
After journaling, reflect on what surfaced. Did anything surprise you? Were you able to explain something that felt unclear before? Consider making this a daily or weekly practice.
“The pen (al-qalam) is a term for one of the creations of God, the Exalted, which He has made a cause by which knowledge is inscribed upon the hearts of men. God, the Exalted, said, Who taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not (96:4-5). The pen of God, the Exalted, does not resemble the pen of His creatures, even as His description does not resemble the characterization of His creation. Thus His pen is not made from a reed nor from a piece of wood, even as He Himself is not made up of substance (jawhar) and not of accident (arad).”
The Marvels of the Heart – Al – Ghazali
“What Writing Can Help Us Do: Name our experience so we can more fully understand it. Give language to the future we want to create so it stops feeling vague and begins to seem achievable. Build a bridge (neural pathways) between the now we’re experiencing and the future we’d like to create. Heal and engineer our own resilience from past experience. Find perspective for life’s challenges, large and small. Build our confidence. Increase our working memory and overall cognitive power. Cultivate more gratitude and contentment. Provide clarity for our decisions.”
The Power of Writing It Down: A Simple Habit to Unlock Your Brain and Reimagine Your Life – Allison Fallon
“When my pen kissed the paper
a flow of truth started to flood out.
A meeting I’ve postponed and delayed.
The conversations they have
Are far more real and clear
than the ones I’ve ever had with my own mind.
Though at first it seems like a heavy act
a river of relief flows upon me.
When the words fall out of my head
They are dearly held
by the whiteness
and expansiveness
of her – the paper.”
Pages of Truth – Deena Fadel
