Where do we stand form the Holy Quran?

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful

All Praise is due to Allah Who guided us to the faith and honored us with the Sunnah and the Holy Qur’an. And prayers and peace of Allah be upon whom received the Qur’an as guidance to people and a cure for the hearts and bodies.

The Holy Qur’an is the manifest talk of Allah, His miraculous Book and His preserved revelation. He made it a cure to the hearts from the diseases of doubt and desires. He also made it a cure to the bodies from diseases, maladies and ailments. Moreover, He made it a criterion between the lawful and the unlawful, the true and the untrue, and the path of the winners and the path of the losers.

The challenge of the Holy Qur’an:

• The Holy Qur’an is the eternal miracle that will last till the Hour of Resurrection; Allah has challenged, with the Holy Qur’an, All His creatures of men and jinn, but they could not present resemble to it. {Say: "If the mankind and the jinn were together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they helped one another."} [Surat Al-Isra 17:88]

Transliteration: Qul laini ijtamaAAati alinsu waaljinnu AAala an yatoo bimithli hatha alqurani la yatoona bimithlihi walaw kana baAAduhum libaAAdin thaheeran

• Then He challenged them to present even ten chapters like its chapters, but they could not do it: {Or they say, "He (Prophet Muhammad peace and prayers of Allah be upon him) forged it (the Qur’an)." Say: "Bring you then ten forged Sûrahs (chapters) like unto it, and call whomsoever you can, other than Allâh (to your help), if you speak the truth!"} [Surat Hud 11:13]

Transliteration: qul fatoo biAAashri suwarin mithlihi muftarayatin waodAAoo mani istataAAtum min dooni Allahi in kuntum sadiqeena

• Then He challenged them to present even one chapter like its chapters, but they could not do it: {And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur’ân) to Our slave (Muhammad peace and prayers of Allah be upon him), then produce a Sûrah (chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allâh, if you are truthful} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:23]

Transliteration:Wain kuntum fee raybin mimma nazzalna AAala AAabdina fatoo bisooratin min mithlihi waodAAoo shuhadaakum min dooni Allahi in kuntum sadiqeena

It is a blessed book that contains great good, much knowledge, wonderful secrets and sublime requests. Following its guidance is the reason of any blessing and happiness in this life and in the hereafter. On the other hand, any gloominess, misery or constriction in this life and in the hereafter is a result to neglecting the Holy Qur’an and rejecting its rules.

Qur’an speaks for itself:

• It is healing and mercy: }And We send down of the Qur’ân that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islâmic Monotheism and act on it), and it increases the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers) nothing but loss{ [Surat Al-Isra’ 17:82]

Transliteration: Wanunazzilu mina alqurani ma huwa shifaon warahmatun lilmumineena wala yazeedu alththalimeena illa khasaran

• It is guidance and light:{Wherewith Allâh guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Will unto light} [Surat Al-Maidah 5:16]

Transliteration:Yahdee bihi Allahu mani ittabaAAa ridwanahu subula alssalami wayukhrijuhum mina alththulumati ila alnnoori

• It gives glad tidings to the believers that they shall have a great reward: {Verily, this Qur’ân guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allâh and His Messenger, Muhammad peace and prayers of Allah be upon him), who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward (Paradise)} [Surat Al-Isra’ 17:9]

Transliteration: Inna hatha alqurana yahdee lillatee hiya aqwamu wayubashshiru almumineena allatheena yaAAmaloona alssalihati anna lahum ajran kabeeran

• It is wisdom: {his is what We recite to you (O Muhammad peace and prayers of Allah be upon him) of the Verses and the Wise Reminder (i.e. the Qur’ân)} [Surat Al-‘Imran 3:58]

Transliteration: Thalika natloohu AAalayka mina alayati waalththikri alhakeemi

• It is warning and good advice: {But warn by the Qur’an; him who fears My Threat} [Surat Qaf 50:45]

Transliteration: fathakkir bialqurani man yakhafu waAAeedi

And: {O mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord (i.e. the Qur’ân, enjoining all that is good and forbidding all that is evil), and a healing for that (disease of ignorance, doubt, hypocrisy and differences) which is in your breasts, - a guidance and a mercy (explaining lawful and unlawful things) for the believers} [Surat Yunus 10:57]

Transliteration: Ya ayyuha alnnasu qad jaatkum mawAAithatun min rabbikum washifaon lima fee alssudoori wahudan warahmatun lilmumineena

• It is Ruh (a Revelation, and a Mercy) and life: {And thus We have sent to you (O Muhammad peace and prayers of Allah be upon him) Ruh (a Revelation, and a Mercy) of Our Command} [Surat Ash-Shura 42:52]

Transliteration: Wakathalika awhayna ilayka roohan min amrina

• It contains the knowledge of everything: {And indeed We have put forth every kind of example in this Qur’ân, for mankind} [Surat Al-Kahf 18:54]

Transliteration: Walaqad sarrafna fee hatha alqurani lilnnasi min kulli mathalin

And {And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur’an) as an exposition of everything} [Surat An-Nahl 16:89]

Transliteration: wanazzalna AAalayka alkitaba tibyanan likulli shayin

• Allah Almighty swore by the Holy Qur’an and called it the Glorious: {Qâf. [These letters (Qâf, etc.) are one of the miracles of the Qur’ân, and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings]. By the Glorious Qur’ân} [Surat Qaf 50:1]

Transliteration:Qaf waalqurani almajeedi

Also, He Almighty ordered us to deeply contemplate on the Qur’an, and He described the person who does not deeply contemplate in it as a person who has darkened heart and does not have insight: {Do they not then think deeply in the Qur’ân, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it)?} [Surat Muhammad 47:24]

Transliteration: Afala yatadabbaroona alqurana am AAala quloobin aqfaluha

All of these things clarify the importance of this great book and the excellence of caring for it through recitation, memorization, understanding and study. Thereupon, is there anyone out there who wants to achieve this?

Dear brothers, where are the memorizers of the Holy Qur’an? Where are the youth of faith? Where are the people of piety and beneficence?!

The stature of the Holy Qur’an in the Book and the Sunnah:

* The excellence of learning the Holy Qur’an and teaching it:

Allah Almighty says: {say: "You (O Muhammad peace and prayers of Allah be upon him) are not a Messenger." Say: "Sufficient as a witness between me and you is Allâh and those too who have knowledge of the Scripture (such as ‘Abdullâh bin Salâm and other Jews and Christians who embraced Islâm)."} [Surat Ar-Ra’d 13:43]

Transliteration: qul kafa biAllahi shaheedan baynee wabaynakum waman AAindahu AAilmu alkitabi

The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The best people among you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]

* The excellence of reciting the Holy Qur’an:

Allah Almighty says: {Verily, those who recite the Book of Allâh (this Qur’ân), and perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, they hope for a (sure) trade-gain that will never perish} [Surat Fatir 35:29]

Transliteration: Inna allatheena yatloona kitaba Allahi waaqamoo alssalata waanfaqoo mimma razaqnahum sirran waAAalaniyatan yarjoona tijaratan lan taboora

The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Recite the Holy Qur’an, as it will intercede for its bearer in the day of Resurrection.” [Reported by Muslim]

The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Such a person who recites the Qur’an and masters it will be with the noble righteous scribers (Angels). And such a person exerts himself to learn the Qur’an, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double the reward” [Reported by At-Tirmizy and Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani]

The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever reads a letter from the Holy Qur’an will receive a deed, and the reward is ten times its like. I do not say that Alif Lam Meem is a letter; rather Alif is a letter and Lam is a letter and Meem is a letter” [Reported by At-Tirmizy who said that it is good authentic].

(These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’ân and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings.)

The Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The Person who does not have in his heart something of the Qur’an is like a wrecked house” [Reported by At-Tirmizy who said that it is good authentic]

The etiquettes of reciting the Holy Qur’an:

1-The reader should make his intention sincere to Allah Almighty in all his deeds, including reciting the Holy Qur’an.

2-To read with thinking and contemplation. Not to be mindless or headless during reciting the Holy Qur’an.

3-To purify himself and cleans his teeth with Siwak (Wooden cleansing stick) before reciting the Holy Qur’an.

4-Not to recite the Holy Qur’an in dirty places (e.g. bathrooms) or recite it during impurity.

5-To seek refuge with Allah from Shaitân (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one) at the beginning of the recitation.

6-To recite the Basmala (Saying Bism Illah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim) at the beginning of each chapter except the chapter of At-Taubah.

7-To make his voice as beautiful as he can, and to recite with humility, submission and weeping.

8-To prostrate whenever he recites a verse with prostration.

9-To stop reciting if he released wind (fart), yawned or fell asleep.

10-To recite the Holy Qur’an in slow style and follow the rules of recitation (Tajweed) as possible as he can.

11-To recite it with the intention of applying, and to imagine that Allah Almighty talks to him by this speech.

12-It is desirable for the reader to seek the grace of Allah whenever he reads a verse of mercy, and to seek refugee with Allah from the hellfire and seek forgiveness whenever he reads a verse of torture.

*Our status with the Holy Qur’an:

Dear kind brother, if we thought deeply in our stance from the Holy Qur’an, we would discover that we are distant from its guidance and rules. Many people do not recite the Holy Qur’an at all, others recite it in the prayers only, others recite it in ordeals, others recite it without understanding or considering and others recite it but do not apply it! Moreover, there are people who reject some of the verses of Allah and launch war against them, or describe some of the rules of the Qur’an by saying that they are no longer applying to our time! Actually, this is manifest disbelief and following the path other than the path of the believers.

* Ways of deserting the Holy Qur’an:

Imam Ibn Al-Qayim (may Allah mercy him) said: “There are different ways of deserting the Holy Qur’an:

First: deserting hearing it, believing in it and listening to it.

Second: deserting applying it and not paying attention to what had been described as lawful or unlawful by it, even if the person recited it and believed in it.

Third: deserting its rule and not having it as a arbiter in whatever is related to the religion (whether it is major or minor).

Fourth: deserting understanding it, deserting considering it and not caring for knowing what is meant by it.

Fifth: deserting having it as cure to all hearts’ diseases and ailments.”

“All of these kinds are included in the saying of Allah Almighty: {And the Messenger (Muhammad peace and prayers of Allah be upon him) will say: “O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur’ân (neither listened to it, nor acted on its laws and teachings)} [Surat Al-Furqan 25:30], although some kinds of deserting are lesser grief than others.”

Transliteration: Waqala alrrasoolu ya rabbi inna qawmee ittakhathoo hatha alqurana mahjooran

* Reasons of deserting the Holy Qur’an:

1.Not believing in it and rejecting it inwardly even if he didn’t show that.

2.Not knowing its meanings and forms of miracles.

3.Being engrossed in the affairs of this worldly life, and forgetting the hereafter.

4.Listening to songs and the music.

5.Hopping much and delaying the acts of worship, including reciting the Holy Qur’an.

6.Having pride prevents from learning how to recite the Holy Qur’an; the person will desert the Holy Qur’an lest it is said that he cannot read well.

7.Being busy by other things instead of the Holy Qur’an. This is like deserting it by some of the student who study the Hadeeth and claim that they revive the Sunnah! Actually, the Sunnah could not be revived without the Holy Qur’an.

The Holy Qur’an in Ramadan:

The Holy Qur’an had been revealed in the blessed month of Ramadan; Allah Almighty says: {The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’ân, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:185]

Transliteration: Shahru ramadana allathee onzila feehi alquranu hudan lilnnasi wabayyinatin mina alhuda waalfurqani

Therefore, reciting the Holy Qur’an and revising it in Ramadan are among the greatest good deeds that the righteous believers do to have closeness with Allah Almighty during this month. It is reported in the two Saheehs on the authority of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father too) The Prophet was the most generous amongst people, and he used to be more so in the month of Ramadan when Jibreel visited him, and Jibreel used to meet him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month. The Prophet used to recite the Holy Qur'an to Jibreel, and when Jibreel met him, he used to be more generous than a fast wind (which causes rain and welfare).” [Agreed upon]

The scholars deduced from this Hadeeth the excellence of reciting the Holy Qur’an in Ramadan, and the favorability of reciting it at night, because night is the time of not being busy and it is the time of having vim and harmony between the tongue and the heart for thinking deeply; Allah Almighty says: {Verily, the rising by night (for Tahajjud prayer) is very hard and most potent and good for governing oneself, and most suitable for (understanding) the Word (of Allâh)} [Surat Al-Muzzammil 73:6]

Transliteration: Inna nashiata allayli hiya ashaddu watan waaqwamu qeelan

The righteous forefathers with the Holy Qur’an in Ramadan:

• The righteous forefathers used to recite the Holy Qur’an much in Ramadan, in prayers and out the prayers. Some of them used to recite the Holy Qur’an completely during the prayer in three nights of Ramadan, some in seven nights and some in ten nights. Qatadah used to recite the Holy Qur’an completely once each seven nights except in Ramadan where he used to recite it once every three nights and once every night in the last ten nights. Al-Aswad used to recite it completely once each two nights of the nights of Ramadan. More had been narrated about Ash-Shafe’i and Abu Hanifa! Actually, this is not strange, because our righteous forefathers used to feel pleasure with worship as others feel pleasure with food, drink, sex and the other worldly pleasures.

• Az-Zuhry used to say at the beginning of Ramadan: “It is the time of reciting the Holy Qur’an and presenting the food to people.”

• Ibn Abdel-Hakam said: “Whenever Ramadan was about to begin, Malik used to stop reciting the Hadeeth and sitting with people of knowledge to begin reciting the Holy Qur’an from the Mushaf.”

• Abdel-Razzaq said: “Whenever Ramadan approaches, Sufyan Ath-Thawry used to stop all the supererogatory acts of worship to recite the Holy Qur’an.

• Ibn Hajar, the memorizer, said: “Banning reciting the Holy Qur’an completely in less than three nights relates to doing that repeatedly; however, reciting it completely in less than three nights during the blessed times (like the month of Ramadan in general and the last ten nights in specific) or in the sacred places (like Mecca for those who do not live in it) is desirable. It is investment to the time and the place.”

• Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The person who recites the Holy Qur’an much, should be distinguished by his night when people sleep, by his day when people do not fast, by his weeping when people laugh, by his piety when people are engrossed in the affairs of life, by his silence when people prattle, by his submission when people boast and by his sadness when people feel joy.”

O Allah, make us among the folks of the Qur’an who are Yours. O Allah, facilitate to us reciting the Holy Qur’an, before the rising of the sun and before its setting and during some hours of the night and at the ends of the day, in the way that may make You pleased with us; O most Merciful, we invoke You with Your mercy… Ameen.


Al-Watan House

Translated by Wathakker.info website