A common theme in Islam is embodiment. There is a distinct difference between humanity and the Divine. By embodying Divine teachings or sayings, a human can become more divine. Qur’anic recitations and memorization (Hifz al-Qur’an) is designed to embody the words written in the Qur’an. Furthermore, the Hadith allow people to embody the lessons and lifestyle of the Prophet Muhammad.

In Abdullahi Osman El-Tom’s reading entitled “Drinking the Koran,” the author profiles a tradition performed by the Berti people in Darfur. For the Berti, there is an incredible focus on actually internalizing the words of the Qur’an. In fact, certain verses of the Qur’an are prescribed by a faki (people who have committed the Qur’an to memory) for various reasons, ranging from curing diseases to safe traveling to inflicting leprosy on another. The faki meets with clients and discusses certain issues, then chooses an applicable verse from the Qur’an. The faki uses a dawai to write the text, then washes it with water before the client drinks it. This Berti tradition reflects their interpretation of the general theme embodiment in Islamic teachings.

For this week’s response, I decided to inscribe the words “love God” in Arabic onto an Oreo cookie. With inspiration from the Berti tradition, perhaps this could be prescribed by a faki for an individual who is struggling to love God. Loving God is a common theme in Islamic framework. In the Qur’an, it is written that “If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins” (3:31). Furthermore, we see loving relationship of people and God in Urdu ghazals, love poems usually addressed (ambiguously) to often erotic love with God. For people who sin frequently or have lost their submission to God, perhaps the reminder – the physical embodiment – of the words “love God” can help allow them to follow God and receive God’s everlasting love in return.