Indeed to reflect on Allah’s verses is a form of worship that
will draw one close to Allah Most High. This reflection is
not a reckless and wandering one, rather it includes a study
of the classical tafseer of the verses being pondered over,
as this would fulfil Ibnul-Qayyim’s great advice, “Such as
reflecting over a book which a person has memorised and he
expounds it so that he may understand what its author intends
by it.”
Indeed the Book of Allah is not a book like any other, it is
the timeless Speech of Allah, not a created thing, the study
guide for life and death and what comes after. Therefore it
deserves a more careful study than anyone else’s speech. It
necessitates that its reader return to the early narrations
of those who witnessed its revelation and heard its
explanation by the one deputed by Allah to rehearse and
explain His Words to humanity (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam).
For if one would try to ponder over the meanings of the
verses without having done this study, then surely the filth
of the time that he lives in and his ignorance of the correct
application and understanding that the early Muslims had
would cause him to understand some things not intended by
Allah Most High, and therefore he would go astray, thinking
to be worshipping Allah. So every sincere Muslim who hopes to
earn Allah’s Love breciting and reflecting over Allah’s Book,
then let him hold tight to the meanings explained by the
Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), and those taught by
the companions and their immediate followers, and the early
scholars of Islam.
So
dear brother and sister Muslim! Know that reciting and
pondering over the Book of Allah, devoting your time
regularly to its study and implementation has tremendous
benefits in this life and the Next, so let us now look to
just a few of them to attach ourselves more firmly to Allah’s
Majestic Words. Each benefit stands as enough of an
encouragement to shun any laziness we have and dedicate
ourselves to the Qur’an.
1
- Reading and reflecting over the Qur’an fulfils an Islamic
duty.
Indeed the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) summarised
this Religion with his statement: “The Religion is naseehah
(sincerity)!” So then Tameem ibn Aws, may Allah be pleased
with him, then said, “We asked, ‘To whom?’” He said: “To
Allah, HIS BOOK, His Messenger, the leaders of the people,
and their common folk.” [Muslim] The sincerity that is due to
the Book of Allah includes its regular recitation, learning
the rules of tajweed and reciting it beautifully, learning
about its tafseer and the reasons for its revelation,
affirming that it is the Truth, the perfect Speech of Allah
and not part of the creation, honoring it and defending it,
abiding by the orders and prohibitions found in it, teaching
it and calling to it. [See Jaami’ul-’Uloom wal-Hikam of Ibn
Rajab Al-Hambalee] So by reading and reflecting over the
Qur’an, one fulfills an obligation and is rewarded for that.
Upon fulfilling this obligation, the Qur’an then becomes a
proof for him on the Day of Judgment! And that is our second
benefit we will take by embracing this Noble Book...
2
- The Qur’an will be a proof for us on the Day of Judgment.
This
is due to the statement of the Messenger: “And the Qur’an is
a proof for you or against you.” [Muslim] So one of two
things will occur with this proof, the Book of Allah. It will
either be in your favor, a proof for you on the Day when you
will need every single good deed, or it will be something
standing against you, the very Speech of your Creator, a
proof against you! Who could be saved from the terrors of
that Day if Allah’s own Speech is against him?!?! Think
carefully, dear Muslim brother or sister, about your position
with the Qur’an! Are you neglecting it, contradicting it,
being heedless of its orders and prohibitions, are you
thinking deeply over it?! Will it be on your side on the Day
of Judgment.?! O Allah! We ask you, by Your Glorious Speech
and the rest of your beautiful Names and Attributes, to make
the Qur’an a proof for us! O Allah! Don’t make the Qur’an a
proof against us on that Day, and save us from the hellfire!
For if Allah makes the Qur’an a proof in our favour on that
Day, then it would also be an intercessor for us, when NO
intercession will take place except by His Permission.
3
- The Qur’an will intercede for us on the Day of Judgment.
The
proof: Aboo Umaamah relates that the Prophet (sallallaahu
‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Read the Qur’an, for verily it will
come on the Day of Standing as an intercessor for its
companions.” [Muslim]
4
- Your status in this life will be raised.
In
Saheeh Muslim, we find a lovely story, about how a man from
the people of Jannah, ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, understood this
principle. Some men came to question him during his khilaafah
about the leadership of Makkah, they asked, “Who do you use
to govern Makkah?” He said, “Ibn Abzaa.” They asked, “And who
is Ibn Abzaa?” Umar replied, “A freed slave from those we
freed.” They remarked, “You left a freed slave in charge of
the people of the Valley (the noble tribes of the Quraysh)!?!?”
So he answered them, “Verily he is a reader of the Book of
Allah and is knowledgeable about the obligations of the
Muslims. Haven’t you heard the statement of your Messenger:
“Verily Allah raises some people by this Book and lowers
others by it.”
5
- You will be from the best of the people.
‘Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the
Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “The best of
you are the ones who learn the Qur’an and teach it to others”
[Al-Bukhari]
6
- There are ten rewards for each letter you recite from the
Qur’an.
As an
authentic hadith in At-Tirmithee proves: “Whoever reads a
letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And
that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that
“Alif, Laam, Meem” is a letter, rather I am saying that
“Alif” is a letter, “laam” is a letter and “meem” is a
letter.” So increase your recitation of the Qur’an to gain
these merits, and to gain the following merit as well.
7
- The reciters of the Qur’an will be in the company of the
noble and obedient angels.
‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, relates that the
Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Verily the one
who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely,
he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels.
And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or
stumbling through its verses, then he will have TWICE that
reward.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
So
dear brother or sister Muslim, do not let the Shaytaan give
you false excuses, such as “I am not an ‘Arab,” or “Its not
my language.” This hadith is a firm proof against these
whisperings. Dedicate yourself to the Book of Allah, whether
you are an ‘Arab or not! The excuses have been eliminated and
the pathway has been cleared for you to embrace the Book of
Allah without holding back or offering excuses! And surely
you will not hesitate to seek a teacher or a study circle for
the Qur’an once you hear the last and perhaps greatest
benefits of reading and contemplating over the Qur’an...
8
- Your position in Paradise is determined by the amount of
Qur’an you memorize in this life!
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-’Aas heard the Prophet (sallallaahu
‘alaihi wa sallam) saying: “It will be said to the companion
of the Qur’an: Read and elevate (through the levels of the
Paradise) and beautify your voice as you used to do when you
were in the dunyaa! For verily, your position in the Paradise
will be at the last verse you recite!” [Aboo Daawood and At-Tirmithee,
saheeh]
9
- The Qur’an will lead you to Paradise!
The
Prophet said: “The Qur’an is an intercessor, something given
permission to intercede, and it is rightfully believed in.
Whoever puts it in front of him, it will lead him to
Paradise; whoever puts it behind him, it will steer him to
the Hellfire.” [An authentic hadith found in At-Tabaraanee,
on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood]
Know,
dear brother or sister, that these nine benefits from the
many benefits available can only be attained by a sincere
commitment to the Book of Allah, not by a person’s mere
statement, “I love the Qur’an, it’s beautiful.” Rather the
heart must be sincerely attached to Allah’s Book and the
limbs and tongue will follow in this attachment. You must
know that we only mentioned a few of the numerous benefits of
reading and reflecting over the Qur’an. There are many
benefits that await your reading in the Qur’an and books of
hadith, like the chapter of the Qur’an that will argue on
your behalf in the grave, and that it is a physical healing,
a source of rest and relaxation for your heart, among many
other things. And Allah knows best.