Folk Islam: The Muslim's
Path to Supernatural

2002 Vol. 5: Sept/Oct

The Qur'an acknowledges that Allah is closer than one's jugular vein, yet he seems so distant, so unreachable, and so inaccessible. Numerous times each day, devout Muslims recite, Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir Rahim (In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate). They desperately want God to be merciful and compassionate, yet countless Muslims dread his unpredictable acts.