Allah sent down the Quran to the best Messenger, through the best Angel, in the best Language.
How should we deal with the Quran in order for it to have an Effect on Us?
We should remember 5 important matters:
#1 - Magnify the Qur'an - تعظيم القرآن
The Quran is the Speech of Allah; Allah spoke it. Had Allah not made the Quran easy, we would not be able to recite or understand it. In Surah Al-Qamar [54:17]:
"And We have indeed made the Quran easy to understand and remember, then is there any that will remember (or receive admonition)?"
Dealing with the Quran does not begin with the actions of your limbs, but the actions of your heart. When you hold the Quran, before you even say أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم, what should be established in your heart? Magnification of Allah and Magnification of the Quran in your heart.
The mistake begins when one equates the Quran to any other book. Other books do not require actions of the heart when dealing with them. And when you recite the Quran, you will receive 10 rewards for every letter, unlike any other book. Because of its greatness and magnificence, even the Angels were terrified when Allah spoke with the Quran. They fell down unconscious, as mentioned in Surah Saba [34:23]:
"Intercession with Him profits not, except for him whom He permits. Until when fear is banished from their (angels') hearts, they (angels) say: "What is it that your Lord has said?" They say: "The truth. And He is the Most High, the Most Great."
If Allah is the Most High, the Most Great, then what about His Speech? It will surely be High and Great.
The Quran explains everything we need in this life and in the next, and it guides us in both religious and worldly matters.
People nowadays are only concerned with getting reward from their recitation, whilst turning away from the guidances mentioned in the Quran. The Prophet ﷺ said,
"ليس منا من لم يتغن بالقرآن"
He is not of us who does not يتغن with the Qur'an [Bukhari]
The Scholars said that whenever the Prophet ﷺ said ليس منا (He is not of us) - the action mentioned is a Major Sin.
"يتغن"
Most translators translate this as "recite it with a melodious voice". This is correct, but only part of the meaning. Another meaning is feeling sufficient with the Quran. So whoever does not feel that the Quran is not sufficient as a guidance, healing, etc. is not one of us.
Al-Bukhari said in his explanation of this Hadith that the one who magnifies the Quran is sure that the remedy is in this Book.
The believer, even if he has a sickness in his body and heart, will believe with certainty that the remedy is in the Book of Allah - and that the Quran is enough for him as a healing or guidance. He does not turn right or left looking for any other means.
When you tell people you are reciting Ruqya on yourself, they do not feel satisfied, they say: What else are you doing? They want something more. But what more do you want than the Book of Allah to be a means of healing for you?
The spread of psychological sicknesses is due to our remoteness from the Quran. We may recite it but go through many psychological sicknesses such as Waswaas, depression, etc. The Qur'an is a healing for our sicknesses. But people go to disbelieving psychiatrists, who may advise them with things which end up causing them to apostate. They did not look at the Qur'an as a Book which is sufficient as a healing, as a guidance, as a a solution to their problems.
If the brothers of Yusuf عليه السلام were content and pleased with the Rizq of Allah - that their father loved their brother - and understood that Allah يرزق من يشاء (provides for whomever He wills) and that love is a provision from Allah, they would not have intended to kill their brother. Even the sons of Adam عليه السلام - one killed his brother out of envy; he was not content with the share Allah had written for him. Although the Prophet ﷺ said:
"فمن رضي فله رضى"
"So for whoever is pleased, for him is pleasure" [Ibn Majah]
Love of people is not more important than the Pleasure of Allah; it is greater than anything else. Be content with what Allah has written and chosen for you and you would have won the test with Allah. And we concluded this all from the Qur'an. But why dont these stories have an effect on us? Why do we go through problems of anger and envy and dissatisfaction?
Adhere to the Quran whilst magnifying it, and be certain that it is sufficient for you. Check yourself; Do you feel that the Quran is sufficient for you in all the problems that you are going through? Are you running to the Quran or not? Being away from the Quran caused us to accept any idea thrown at us, no matter how silly or unreasonable it may be. Being far from the Quran has even affected our thoughts.
In order to magnify the Quran our relationship with it should be based on certainty that its news is the truth and its laws are just.
#2 - Practice Ihsan
Ihsan has two meanings:
1)To do good to others
2) To Perfect (Linguistic Meaning)
The opposite of Ihsan is إساءة which means:
1) To do evil
2) To not do perfectly
The Prophet ﷺ said:
From this we understand that dealing with the Quran with Ihsan is obligatory. And this is not just limited to the Quran, it extends to every act we do, even slaughtering an animal. We should perfect all our actions because Allah commanded us to do so, and the Quran deserves to be practiced with Ihsan even more, because it is the Speech of Allah.
Reciting the Quran is an act of worship and a task of the Prophets. In Surah Ar-Ra'd [13:30]:
"Thus have We sent you (O Muhammad) to a community before whom other communities have passed away, in order that you might recite unto them what We have inspired to you, while they disbelieve in the Most Beneficient (Allah) Say: "He is my Lord! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He)! In Him is my trust, and to Him will be my return with repentance."
In Surah An-Naml [27:91-92]:
"I (Muhammad) have been commanded only to worship the Lord of this city (Makkah), Him Who has sanctified it and His is everything. And I am commanded to be from among the Muslims (those who submit to Allah in Islam)."
"And to recite the Quran, so whosoever receives guidance, receives it for the good of his ownself, and whosoever goes astray, say (to him): "I am only one of the warners."
The Prophet ﷺ is commanded with three things:
1) To worship the Lord of this city (Makkah)
2) To be among the Muslims; those who surrender and submit themselves to Allah in obedience.
3) To recite the Qur'an
He should call the people to faith by reciting the Quran. Even the Prophet ﷺ was commanded with recitation of the Quran.
A person will be considered a Muhsin with the Quran if he fulfilled the goal behind recitation of the Quran, which is to increase in faith. This is how you judge yourself. After reciting a Surah or pondering over it, look at your heart and action: Did you increase in faith, did you change in your behaviour, attitude, actions, thoughts?
But if you see yourself as the same person after reciting the Quran, it means you did not increase in faith.
Allah has mentioned in Surah AlAnfal [8:2] that the description of the true believers is that their faith increases whenever the Qur'an is recited upon them:
"The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Quran) are recited unto them, they (i.e. the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone);"
At-Tabari mentioned regarding [3:193]:
""Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one (Muhammad) calling to Faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and remit from us our evil deeds, and make us die in the state of righteousness along with Al-Abrar (those who are obedient to Allah and follow strictly His Orders)"
هو الكتاب، ليس كلهم لقي النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم
The caller to faith is the Book, because not everyone has met the Prophet ﷺ.
At the end of Surah AtTawbah Allah mentions the believers and the hypocrites, and the difference of the effect of the Quran on them. In [9:124-125]:
"And whenever there comes down a Surah (chapter from the Quran), some of them (hypocrites) say: "Which of you has had his Faith increased by it?" As for those who believe, it has increased their Faith, and they rejoice."
"But as for those in whose hearts is a disease (of doubt, disbelief and hypocrisy), it will add suspicion and doubt to their suspicion, disbelief and doubt, and they die while they are disbelievers."
There are people whom when they recite the Quran will increase in doubts about its verses. This indicates that they have traits of hypocrisy in their hearts.
الإيمان is when a person hears news from the Quran and believes, and this belief translates into action. This is when a person has increased in faith.
It is reported that the memorizer of the Quran may forget some verses if he did not act upon them. However, the person who acted upon the Quran, although he may have not memorized it, will be reminded of these verses, and it will be said to him - اقراء وارتق (Recite and Ascend). Understanding and Acting upon the Quran is very important, even if you do not memorize the whole Quran.
The minimum that that is required from you when you recite the Quran are the action of the limbs. Most of the actions that are required from you when you recite the Quran are actions of the heart. Only certain verses tell you to get up and do, like Salaat, Fasting, Hajj, etc. but the majority are actions of the heart like Love, Fear, Hope, Tawakkul, Istighfar, etc. If you do this with every verse, you have fulfilled its action, and you will be told on the Day of Judgement to recite and ascend, even though you may have not memorized the verse. We recite and try to finish pages without the actions of the heart, although we can get more reward acting while reciting. But Allah is غفور شكور.
#3 - Acts of Worship of the Heart ( عبادات قلبية )
E.g. الإخلاص - Sincerity. We should recite and study the Quran seeking the countenance of Allah. The human self naturally loves praise. The person who studies the Quran should seek the praise of Allah, and it should be enough for him.
You may sometimes find sincerity in the work you are doing, and sometimes may not at another time. Some people think that as long as they had sincerity in the beginning, it will continue until the end. But sincerity can come and go.
After getting used to the act of worship, you may forget to renew your intention, and sincerity may be lost in the middle of the work.
You need to renew your intention while you are sitting in the middle of the class. The Shaytan may come with thoughts and remind you that you are better than others. He wants to nullify your sincerity.
Collect your heart, ask Allah, say "يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك"
We have to be watchful of Allah. He is observing us and we have to be aware of his observation. We have to be watchful of Allah when:
a) Seeking praise
b) In your Reliance
In one classroom, students are of different ability of understanding. Some are stronger than others. Those who have the ability to understand may not rely on Allah, but on themselves. They do not ask Allah for help. You should not feel self-conceit, pride, or forget to rely on Allah and rely on yourself. You may be disgraced by Allah if you rely on yourself and your ability.
c) In your Truthfulness
How truthful are you when you read the Quran and study it? How strong are you resolutions to study the Quran? Allah will test your truthfulness. This is not something easy.
d) When you seek help
In Surah Al-Fatihah [1:4]:
"You (Alone) we worship, and you (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)."
This is an act of worship so we need to ask Allah for help. Even before coming to class, in your Sujood, at your night prayer, ask Allah to help you understand the Qur'an. The person who does that is a person who is freeing himself from his حول and قوة and relying on Allah. No matter how many years you study the Quran, and how many times a week you do, beg Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ used to say:
You will not rely on yourself even that much. Never say, "I know" - especially with regards to the Quran, because no matter how much you read a Surah and study it, when you study it again its like you are studying new Surah. No matter much you give the Quran of your whole life, it will only give you some of it. Therefore it is not good manners to only give the Quran our free time. We should give Quran all of our time and lives.
#4 - Beware of Hypocrisy
It is quoted in a Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ that even the hypocrite recites the Quran.
مَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ مَثَلُ الأُتْرُجَّةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَمَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ مَثَلُ التَّمْرَةِ لاَ رِيحَ لَهَا وَطَعْمُهَا حُلْوٌ وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ مَثَلُ الرَّيْحَانَةِ رِيحُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الْحَنْظَلَةِ لَيْسَ لَهَا رِيحٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ
A believer who recites the Qur'an is like an orange whose fragrance is sweet and whose taste is sweet; a believer who does not recite the Qur'an is like a date which has no fragrance but has a sweet taste; and the hypocrite who recites the Qur'an is like a basil whose fragrance is sweet, but whose taste is bitter; and a hypocrite who does not recite the Qur'an is like the colocynth which has no fragrance and has a bitter taste. [Muslim]
The Prophet ﷺ resembled the hypocrite with a basil, it has a nice smell and may affect others, but it has no affect on himself.
And do not feel at rest with yourself or feel safe from hypocrisy, especially if you memorized the Quran and can understand it. In Surah Al-Hadid [57:12-14]:
"On the Day you shall see the believing men and the believing women their light running forward before them and by their right hands. Glad tidings for you this Day! Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever! Truly, this is the great success!"
"On the Day when the hypocrites men and women will say to the believers: "Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!" It will be said: "Go back to your rear! Then seek a light!" So a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment."
"(The hypocrites) will call the believers: "Were we not with you?" The believers will reply: "Yes! But you led yourselves into temptations, you looked forward for our destruction; you doubted (in Faith); and you were deceived by false desires, till the Command of Allah came to pass. And the chief deceiver (Satan) deceived you in respect of Allah."
Allah mentions the Day of Judgement and how the hypocrites will be separated from the believers. They will say: Weren't we with you? - Werent we with you attending classes, praying, fasting, going for Hajj? The hypocrites and the believers are mixed and associate with one another in this world, to the extent that no one knew who was a hypocrite from who was not. But what distinguished the hypocrites from the believers? Their hearts - عبادات القلبية. Outwardly, they both did the same action, but the difference was in their hearts.
#5 - Seek Help from Allah (الإستعانة)
This book consists of verse which are clear and unclear (متشابهات و غير متشابهات). When you come across a verse that is unclear, ask Allah to make it clear for you, then ask the People of Knowledge or Tafseer.
When you deal with the Quran with Ihsan, you do so seeking to reach the level of worshipping Allah with Ihsan; to worship Allah as if you can see Him, and if you cannot do that then at least know that He sees you.
The Command to Believe in the Qur'an
If you want to reach the degree of having Ihsan with the Qur'an, you should have detailed belief, not general, superficial belief.
E.g. Surah AlBaqarah.
The theme of the Surah is خلافة (Succession) on Earth. Allah mentioned the Story of Adam عليه السلام and how he was the first Khalifah on earth. Then Allah mentions the generations. Allah chose Bani Israeel and favoured them. Then Allah substituted and exchanged them with a better nation - The Muslim nation. Allah mentioned how Bani Israeel dealt with their Book, which made them deserve to be excluded from the Khilafah, and for Allah to give us the Khilafah. Since Allah gave us Khilafah (succession) on earth, we should deal with the Quran in a way contrary to how Bani Israeel dealt with their book.
In 4 verses in Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah commands us to believe in the Quran.
#1 - In Verse 2-5:
"This is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]."
In Surah Al-Fatihah we asked Allah to guide us, and the answer came in a Surah Al-Baqarah. The Quran is a guidance for you if you do not doubt in it.
Who are the Muttaqeen?
"Who believe in the Ghaib and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and spend out of what we have provided for them [i.e. give Zakat , spend on themselves, their parents, their children, their wives, etc., and also give charity to the poor and also in Allah's Cause - Jihad, etc.]."
"And who believe in (the Quran and the Sunnah) which has been sent down (revealed) to you (Muhammad Peace be upon him ) and in [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel), etc.] which were sent down before you and they believe with certainty in the Hereafter. (Resurrection, recompense of their good and bad deeds, Paradise and Hell, etc.)."
1) They believe in the unseen; and the unseen includes belief in Allah, the Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, the Qadar - the good and evil.
2)They establish the prayer
3) They spend of what Allah had given them.
4) They believe in what was revealed from Allah. They believe in the Quran and Sunnah. And they believe in the previous books revealed upon the Messengers
5) They have believe in the Hereafter with certainty.
"Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful."
They are on the guidance from Allah, and they are the successful.
If you are asking for guidance, the guidance is in the Book. If you believe in the Book in detail and the news about the unseen it contains, you will be on the guidance, and you will be a successful person.
Whenever Allah stipulates a reward as a consequence of an action, it means that action is an act of worship and obligatory. Believing in the Quran is an act of worship.
#2 - In Verse 136:
"Say (O Muslims), "We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma'il (Ishmael), Ishaque (Isaac), Ya'qub (Jacob), and to Al-Asbat [the twelve sons of Ya'qub (Jacob)], and that which has been given to Musa (Moses) and 'Iesa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islam)."
#3 - In Verse 177:
"It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to Allah, etc.) that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al-Masakin (the poor), and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and gives the Zakat, and who fulfill their covenant when they make it, and who are As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.) in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of fighting (during the battles). Such are the people of the truth and they are Al-Muttaqun (pious - see V.2:2)."
This is mentioned in the context of the turning of the Qibla from Bayt AlMaqdis to the Ka'bah. Righteousness and piety is not in merely turning your faces, but it is to believe in Allah, the Quran, the Angels, etc.
#4 - In Verse 285:
"The Messenger (Muhammad) believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, His Angels, His Books, and His Messengers. They say, "We make no distinction between one another of His Messengers" - and they say, "We hear, and we obey. (We seek) Your Forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the return (of all)."
A Connection between the Beginning and End of the Surah:
In the beginning of the Surah, Allah said that the Qur'an is a "هدى للمتقين" (Guidance for the Muttaqeen). At the end of the Surah, Allah gives us an example of the Muttaqeen - the Prophet ﷺ and the believers: "ءامن رسول بما أنزل إليه من ربه والمؤمنون"
If you want to be successful, you have to believer.
The word الكتاب is mentioned more than 25 times in this Surah alone. Whenever a word is mentioned repeatedly in a Surah, it means that it is related to the theme of the Surah. The Quran is our Manhaj, which we should stick to in order to be successors on earth.
Ibn Taymiyah رحمه الله said, "Surah AlBaqarah started with إيمان الجامع (Comprehensive Belief), its middle is إيمان جامع, and it ended with إيمان جامع (Comprehensive belief)"
It began with the articles of faith, ended with the articles of faith, and the middle of the Surah comprises of the articles of faith. Surah AlBaqarah emphasizes our belief. We are commanded to believe in the Quran with detailed belief and to not resemble the Jews or Bani Israeel.
How did Bani Israeel deal with their Book and with the Quran? Although Surah AlBaqarah specifically talks about Bani Israeel, it also addresses the Jews living in Madinah. That is why Allah tells them not to be the first of Bani Israeel who disbelieve in the Quran in [2:41]:
"And believe in what I have sent down (this Quran), confirming that which is with you, [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], and be not the first to disbelieve therein, and buy not with My Verses [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)] a small price (i.e. getting a small gain by selling My Verses), and fear Me and Me Alone."
The Quran explains the succession of humans on earth. The Quran is our Manhaj, and our status is according to how much we hold to the Quran. The more you hold to the Quran, the more you will be elevated.
The misguidance of Bani Israeel was because of their negligence of their Book. They did not deserve to stay there, do Allah replaced them with the Muslim nation. In [2:176]:
"That is because Allah has sent down the Book (the Quran) in truth. And verily, those who disputed as regards the Book are far away in opposition."
They disputed regarding their Book.
Q. What does detailed belief mean?
Detailed belief is believing in all what had been revealed upon the Prophet ﷺ, not to just believe in part of the Quran, and disbelieve in another part, like the innovators do. They choose what goes along with their desires, and reject what does not go along with their desires. We have to believe in the whole Quran; accept all its rules. We have to believe in what the Quran comprises of belief in Allah, without misinterpretation, without denying, without rejecting. We have to believe in the description of the Messengers, the Day of Judgement, whatever Allah mentioned of the past, present, future.
Allah mentions the rulings, and we have to accept all of them without rejection. We have to use the Quran when judging amongst people. We have to believe in the recompense mentioned in the Quran, etc.
In Surah AlBaqarah Allah mentioned the attitude of Bani Israeel towards their Book and warned us from dealing with our book in the same way.
The problem with the youth nowadays is that they do not honour the Quran, and this is because they do not know the value of the Quran. If they know the description of the Quran, and how great a Book it is, and how Allah warned us of neglecting it, they would not do so.
Assignment: Go to the Quran dictionary and find the word الكتاب and write and read all the verses which mention it.
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Surah Al-Jinn
The Stages of Studying a Surah:
1) Stage of Preparation
As-Sa'di said in his commentary of the verse in Surah Muzzamil:
We have to prepare ourselves before studying a Surah by reciting a Surah many times, hearing it many times, etc. Start listening and reciting it many times.
When you are reciting and listening (from different recitors so you can better understand the meaning) you should observe repeated words, similar words, main concepts -
From the stage of preparation you should come out with two things:
1) تلخيص الملاحظات (Summary of Observation)
2) تسجيل الإستفهامات (Table of your Questions)
You will have questions from when you first read - the first question you may have is what the repeated words have with the theme of the Surah. Questions start the moment you recite the Surah, will arise when you recite verse by verse, and will also arise when you read the Tafseer Book. Questions like
"Why did the Shaikh said this, where did he get it from?" may cross your mind. This is why you need to have a seperate paper to write questions
Paraphrased from the statement of Ibn AlQayyim [mentioned in the introduction of As-Sa'di رحمه الله's Tafseer]: The Meanings of the Quran revolve around the following:
- Tawheed and its Evidences
- Knowledge about Allah's Attributes and what He negated from Himself of deficient attributes and what He affirmed to His Noble self of perfect attributes
- Belief in the Messengers - Is there any messenger mentioned in the Surah, any story related to them, any proofs for their prophethood and truthfulness, what are their rights - is it mentioned, and what is the right of the One who sent them?
- Belief in the Angels - Are any of their duties mentioned? How they dispose the affairs by Allah's Permission, and how Allah entrusted them to the upper world and lower world, their relationship with humans - from the moment the humans are settled in the womb of the mother until the human meets Allah.
- Belief in the Day of Judgement; what Allah prepared for His Awliyaa of the abode of delight, and how they do not feel any pain, distress, sickness, and what Allah prepared for the People of Hell.
- The Commands and Prohibitions. There are many signs which indicate what is a Command and what is a Prohibition; what is obligatory and what is not obligatory. Allah may praise someone to command us with something, or mentions that He prepared a reward for a certain This indicates it is obligatory. Commands do not always come directly. Ibn AlQayyim رحمه الله mentioned all the forms.
- The Shariah; The Halal and Haraam.
- Admonitions and Lessons
- The Stories, the Parables
- The reasons and wisdom behind any Command or Prohibition. Allah usually mentions the wisdom behind Him ordering something or forbidding something.
These are the concepts which we should focus on when studying a Surah.
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