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 (explanation
and interpretation of the Qur'an) of the
verses being pondered over, as this would fulfill
Ibnul-Qayyim’s great advice, “Such as reflecting over a
book which a person has memorized 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 by reciting
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.
Those who remember Allâh (always, and in prayers) standing,
sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply
about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying):
"Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose,
glory to You! (Exalted be You above all that they associate
with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment
of the Fire. (3:191)
1 - Reading and reflecting over the
Qur’an fulfils an Islamic duty.
Indeed the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)
summarized 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 (to read the Quran
correctly with all it's rules)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...
Verily the likeness of (this) worldly life is as the water
(rain) which We send down from the sky, so by it arises the
intermingled produce of the earth of which men and cattle
eat until when the earth is clad with its adornments and is
beautified, and its people think that they have all the
powers of disposal over it, Our Command reaches it by night
or by day and We make it like a clean-mown harvest, as if
it had not flourished yesterday! Thus do We explain the
Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs,
revelations, laws, etc.) in detail for the people who
reflect. (10:24)
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.
And it is He Who spread out the
earth, and placed therein firm mountains and rivers and of
every kind of fruits He made Zawjain Ithnaîn (two in pairs
- may mean two kinds or it may mean: of two sorts, e.g.
black and white, sweet and sour, small and big, etc.) He
brings the night as a cover over the day. Verily, in these
things, there are Ayât (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs,
etc.) for people who reflect. (13:3)
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 (Judgement) as an
intercessor for its companions.” [Muslim]
With it He causes to grow for you the crops,
the olives, the date-palms, the grapes, and every kind of
fruit. Verily! In this is indeed an evident proof and a
manifest sign for people who give thought. (16:11)
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 (Paradise), ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab,
understood this principle. Some men came to question him
during his khilaafah (kalifate) 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.”
With clear signs and Books (We
sent the Messengers). And We have also sent down unto you
(O Muhammad SAW) the reminder and the advice (the
Qur'ân), that you may explain clearly to men what is sent
down to them, and that they may give thought. (16:44)
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.
"Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord
made easy (for you)." There comes forth from their bellies,
a drink of varying colour wherein is healing for men.
Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who think. (16:69)
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 (Devil)
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...
Do they not think deeply (in
their ownselves) about themselves (how Allâh created them
from nothing, and similarly He will resurrect them)? Allâh
has created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is
between them, except with truth and for an appointed term.
And indeed many of mankind deny the Meeting with their
Lord. [See Tafsir AtTabarî, Part 21, Page 24]. (30:8)
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 (world
i.e. earth)! For verily, your position in the
Paradise will be at the last verse you recite!” [Aboo
Daawood and At-Tirmithee, saheeh]
And among His Signs is
this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves,
that you may find repose in them, and He has put between
you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs
for a people who reflect. (30:21)
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.
(Taken from Look 4 Islam)
