How to get the most benefit of the Noble Qur'an?
Since 2012-12-06
Allah The Almighty, The Exalted has praised His Noble Book and explained its beauties in more than one Ayah (verse); Allah The Almighty says: {And this (the Qur?an) is a blessed Book which We have sent down, confirming (the revelations) which came before
Allah The Almighty, The Exalted has praised His Noble Book and explained its beauties in more than one Ayah (verse); Allah The Almighty says: {And this (the Qur’an) is a blessed Book which We have sent down, confirming (the revelations) which came before it.} [Al-An’am 6:92].
{وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ مُصَدِّقُ الَّذِي بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ} الأنعام: 92
Transliteration: Wa hatha kitabun anzalnahu mubarakun musaddiqu allathee bayna yadayhi.
He The Exalted also says: {Alif-Lam-Mim-Ra [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’an and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings]. These are the Verses of the Book (the Qur’an), and that which has been revealed unto you (Muhammad, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) from your Lord is the truth, but most men believe not.} [Ar-Ra’ad 13:1].
{المر تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ وَالَّذِي أُنْـزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ الْحَقُّ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ} الرعد: 1
Transliteration: Alif-lam-meem-ra tilka ayatual kitabi wal lathee onzila ilayka min rabbika alhaqqu walakinna akthara annasi la yuminoon.
He The Exalted also says: {All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has sent down to His slave (Muhammad, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) the Book (the Qur’an), and has not placed therein any crookedness.} [Al-Kahf 18:1].
{الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَى عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ عِوَجًا} الكهف: 1
Transliteration: Alhamdu lillahi allathee anzala ‘ala ‘abdihi alkitaba walam yaj’al lahu ‘iwaja.
He The Exalted also says: {This (Qur’an) is a clear insight and evidence for mankind} [Al-Jaathiyyah 45:20].
{هَذَا بَصَائِرُ لِلنَّاسِ} الجاثية: 20
Transliteration: Hatha basaa’iru linnasi.
And just read how the believers of Jinn described it saying: {“O our people! Verily! We have heard a Book (this Qur’an) sent down after Musa (Moses), confirming what came before it, it guides to the truth and to a Straight Path (i.e. Islam).} [Al-Ahqaaf 46:30].
{يَا قَوْمَنَا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا كِتَابًا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مُوسَى مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ يَهْدِي إِلَى الْحَقِّ وَإِلَى طَرِيقٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ} الأحقاف: 30
Transliteration: Ya qawmana inna sami’na kitaban onzila min ba’di moosa musaddiqan lima bayna yadayhi yahdee ila alhaqqi waila tareeqin mustaqeem.
Furthermore, Allah The Almighty has explained in many verses how much the Noble Qur’an holds great benefits and sublime goodness that cannot be given in any way except to the one who dedicates himself to it in faithful and sincere way. Allah The Almighty says: {Certainly, We have brought to them a Book (the Qur’an) which We have explained in detail with knowledge, - a guidance and a mercy to a people who believe.} [Al-A’raf 7:52].
{وَلَقَدْ جِئْنَاهُمْ بِكِتَابٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ هُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ} الأعراف: 52
Transliteration: Walaqad jinahum bikitabin fassalnahu’ala ‘ilmin hudan warahmatan li qawmin yuminoon.
He The Exalted also says: { And We have sent down to you the Book (the Qur’an) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allah as Muslims).} [An-Nahl 16:89].
{وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ تِبْيَانًا لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَى لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ} النحل: 89
Transliteration: Wa nazzalna ‘alayka alkitaba tibyanan likulli shayin wa hudan wa rahmatan wa bushra lil muslimeen.
However, the one who turned away from it and rejected benefiting from it, He (Allah The Almighty) has showed his conditions in His exalted saying: {And if We had sent this as a Qur’an in a foreign language other than Arabic, they would have said: “Why are not its Verses explained in detail (in our language)? What! (A Book) not in Arabic and (the Messenger) an Arab?” Say: “It is for those who believe, a guide and a healing. And as for those who disbelieve, there is heaviness (deafness) in their ears, and it (the Qur’an) is blindness for them. They are those who are called from a place far away (so they neither listen nor understand). } [Fussilat 41:44].
{وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَاهُ قُرْآنًا أَعْجَمِيًّا لَقَالُوا لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ أَأَعْجَمِيٌّ وَعَرَبِيٌّ قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هُدًى وَشِفَاءٌ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى أُولَئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِنْ مَكَانٍ بَعِيدٍ} فصلت: 44
Transliteration: Walaw ja’alnahu qur’anan a’jamiyyan laqaloo lawla fussilat ayatuhua aa’jamiyyun wa ‘arabiyyun qul huwa lillatheena amanoo hudan wa shifun wal latheena la yuminoona fee athanihim waqrun wa huwa ‘alayhim ‘aman olaika yunadawna min makanin ba’eed.
And His Exalted saying: {And We send down from the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism and act on it), and it increases the Zalimeen (polytheists and wrong-doers) nothing but loss.} [Al-Israa’ 17:82].
{وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا} الإسراء: 82
Transliteration: Wa nunazzilu mina alqur’ani ma huwa shifa’un wa rahmatun lilmumineena wala yazeedu aththalimeena illa khasara.
Contemplate thoughtfully the verse in which Allah The Almighty says: {And those who disbelieve say: “Listen not to this Qur’an, and make noise in the midst of its (recitation) that you may overcome. (26) But surely, We shall cause those who disbelieve to taste a severe torment, and certainly, We shall requite them the worst of what they used to do.} [Fussilat 41:26-27].
{وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَا تَسْمَعُوا لِهَذَا الْقُرْآنِ وَالْغَوْا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَغْلِبُونَ (26) فَلَنُذِيقَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَسْوَأَ الَّذِي كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ} فصلت: 26-27
Transliteration: Waqala allatheena kafaroo latasma’oo lihatha alqur’ani walghaw feehi la’allakum taghliboon. (26) Falanutheeqanna allatheena kafaroo ‘athaban shadeedan walanajziyannahum aswaa allathee kanoo ya’maloon.
And how they advised each other not to listen to it, make noise in the midst of its (recitation), not pondering over whatever therein, and therefore, they deserved the severe torment. Moreover, think carefully in the verse in which Allah The Almighty says: {This (the Qur’an) is nothing but evidences from your Lord, and a guidance and a mercy for a people who believe. (203) So, when the Qur’an is recited, listen to it, and be silent that you may receive mercy.} [Al-A’raaf 7:203-204].
{هَذَا بَصَائِرُ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ (203) وَإِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْآنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوا لَهُ وَأَنْصِتُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ} الأعراف: 203- 204
Transliteration: Hatha basa’iru min rabbikum wahudan warahmatun liqawmin yuminoon. (203) Waitha quria al Qur’anu fastami’oo lahu wa ansitoo la’allakum turhamoon.
And how He The Exalted made the mercy of the Noble Qur’an exclusively for the believers, and how He The Exalted made attaining mercy depend mainly upon listening and being silent (while listening to it). This is contrary to the practice of the first party (i.e. who did not listen to it). Also, ponder on how He The Exalted differentiated between listening, which is paying full attention to listening to it and nothing else during recitation, and being silent which is pondering over and contemplating the meanings of the verses which one recites. Actually, if the believer adheres to that firmly, then surely he will get the mercy of it.
Similar to that is the promise of the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, in his saying: “No people gather in one of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it together, but tranquility descends upon them and mercy encompasses them, and the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them to those who are with Him.” [Reported in Saheeh Muslim 4/2074 (2699)].
«وما اجتمع قوم في بيت من بيوت الله يتلون كتاب الله ويتدارسونه بينهم إلا نزلت عليهم السكينة وغشيتهم الرحمة وحفتهم الملائكة وذكرهم الله فيمن عنده» صحيح مسلم
Having faith is not a sufficient condition to get the full benefits of the Noble Qur’an. The believer should dedicate himself, besides believing in it, to reciting, listening, reflecting, and acting upon it and adhering to its rulings. If one has only believed in it and then abandoned it as the people of the Scripture has done with their books, then what benefits would the slave hope from that?
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: Forsaking Qur’an takes many forms: Firstly, by not listening or believing in it or giving attention to it. Secondly, by not acting upon it and following its commandments and observing its prohibitions even if one stills recites and believes in it (This means it is not sufficient to believe in it and recite it, but then to abandon acting by it). Thirdly, by not abiding by its rulings and not referring to them in relation to the fundamentals and secondary issues of the religion and believing that it does not give certainty and that its rulings are just verbal evidences that do not imply knowledge. Fourthly, by not pondering over its meanings and trying to understand and knowing what the One Who spoke it (Allah The Almighty) desires from the one who recites it. Fifthly, by not using it as a cure and a healing for all of the diseases and ailments of the heart, such that one seeks the cure for his/her illness in other than the Noble Qur’an. All of such things are included in the verse in which Allah The Almighty says: {And the Messenger (Muhammad, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) will say: “O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur’an (neither listened to it, nor acted on its laws and orders).} [Al-Furqaan 25:30].
{وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا} الفرقان: 30
Transliteration: Wa qala arrasoolu yarabbi inna qawmee ittakhathoo hatha alQur’ana mahjoora.
This is the case with the people although there are some forms of rejection may be lesser in degree than the others. [Al-Fawaaid (1/82)]
This kind of great understanding of the Imam, may Allah have mercy upon him, proves his careful thinking and deep reflection of the meanings of the Noble Qur’an for there are many people who could not reach but only one meaning of forsaking Qur’an which is forsaking recitation. Limiting abandonment of Qur’an only to that meaning is really a wrong approach.
Not acting upon what has been mentioned in the Noble Qur’an and not following its commandments and observing its prohibitions is definitely a kind of rejecting and forsaking it: Do we act upon the Noble Qur’an in our houses, schools and in between relationships and dealings?
Not abiding by it and not referring to its rulings is also a kind of rejecting it. Although there are some countries that have radio station broadcasting the recitation of the Noble Qur’an during the periods of the night and at the ends of the day, they abide by something other than the Noble Qur’an. Actually, this is one of the greatest kinds of rejecting the Noble Qur’an. It is unlike abandoning acting upon it and reciting it.
Amongst the other kinds of forsaking the Noble Qur’an is by not reflecting upon its meanings. Allah The Almighty has rebuked those who do such act saying: {Do they not then think deeply in the Qur’an, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it)?} [Muhammad 47:24].
{أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَى قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا} محمد: 24
Transliteration: Afala yatadabbaroona alqur’ana am ‘ala quloobin aqfaluha.
Forms of rejecting the Noble Qur’an also include not using it as a cure. Whoever does not seek the medication of the Noble Qur’an is rejecting it. This does not mean seeking the medication of the verses of Ruqyah (Reciting Qur’an to someone who is physically ill or possessed by jinn seeking cure or protection from Allah The Almighty) only. Allah The Almighty says: {And We send down from the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism and act on it)} [Al-Israa’ 17:82].
{وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ} الإسراء: 82
Transliteration: Wa nunazzilu mina alQur’ani ma huwa shifaun wa rahmatun lil mumineena.
But, this means that every verse of it is a healing and a mercy.
Whoever receives a letter from someone who respects and thinks highly of him, he respects highly its letter for it includes his words. Thus, we have to respect highly and honor the Book of our Lord which includes His incomparable and unique words. This is, moreover, a kind of glorifying and magnifying Allah The Almighty which He The Exalted has enjoined us to do. As Nuh (Noah), may Allah exalt his mention, said to his people (Allah The Almighty says on his behalf): {What is the matter with you, [that you fear not Allah (His punishment), and] you hope not for reward (from Allah or you believe not in His Oneness).} [Nuh 71:13].
{مَا لَكُمْ لَا تَرْجُونَ لِلَّهِ وَقَارًا} نوح: 13
Transliteration: Ma lakum la tarjoona lil-lahi waqara.
And as Allah The Almighty says: {They made not a just estimate of Allah such as is due to Him. And on the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be grasped by His Hand and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified is He, and High is He above all that they associate as partners with Him!} [Az-Zumar 39:67].
{وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَالْأَرْضُ جَمِيعًا قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَالسَّمَاوَاتُ مَطْوِيَّاتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ} الزمر: 67
Transliteration: Wama qadaroo Allaha haqqa qadrihi wal ardu jamee’an qabdatuhu yawma alqiyamati wassamawatu matwiyyatun biyameenihi subhanahu wata’ala ‘amma yushrikoon.
Honoring and venerating Qur’an is of two kinds; Materialistic and moral. As for the materialistic honoring is that one should usually put Mushaf (Noble Qur’an) in a clean place and never put something not related to it over it, never put it on its face, never take it with him into the bathroom, never make a verse of it as a ringtone and the like. As for the moral venerating is by giving up rejecting it in all its forms, devoting himself completely to the Noble Qur’an, reciting, reflecting and acting upon it exactly as our Salaf As-Salih (righteous forefathers), may Allah be pleased with them all, have done with it.
If the matter is done as what was previously mentioned, then benefiting from the Noble Qur’an has a clear-cut sign that cannot be missed. Allah The Almighty says: {The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur’an) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone)} [Al-Anfaal 8:2].
{إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ} الأنفال: 2
Transliteration: Innama almuminoona allatheena itha thukira Allahu wajilat quloobuhum waitha tuliyat ‘alayhim ayatuhu zadat-hum eemanan wa’ala rabbihim yatawakkaloon.
So whoever does find positive effect on his soul, fear in his heart, and increase in his faith whenever the verses of Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious) are recited unto him, then let him rejoice, but if he finds something other than that, then let him examine his conditions seriously so that the Noble Qur’an may not be a proof against him.
How wonderful the words of Imam Al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy upon him, about the verse in which Allah The Almighty says: {Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but the purified.} [Al-Waaqi’ah 56:79].
{لَا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ} الواقعة: 79
Transliteration: La yamassuhu illa almutahharoon.
No one can get its benefit or be affected by it except those who are free from filths and pure of impurities. What is meant here is the purity of the heart. Ibn Hajar, may Allah have mercy upon him, explained that saying: As much as the purity of the heart of the believer is, the effect of the Noble Qur’an on him will be.
This is the meaning of contemplating on The Noble Qur’an thoughtfully. In fact, this explains what we are witnessing nowadays that many people cannot get the benefit of the Noble Qur’an in spite of reciting it. That is because the heart is not faithful, pure and not well-prepared for the recitation of the Noble Qur’an. Consider this meaning well and look at the conditions of those who perform prayer behind the Imam (who lead Muslims in prayer), you will find out that some of them reflect and ponder over the meanings, some submit and humble themselves, some cry, some do not know what they are listening to while some other, we seek refuge with Allah from such evil, have their hearts constricted due to what they are hearing.
May Allah The Almighty include us among those who listen to speech and follow the best of it. May the peace and blessings of Allah The Almighty be upon our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions.
By Nasir Al-’Umar
Source: almoslim.net
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