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Indeed to reflect about Allaah's verses is a form of worship that will
draw one close to Allaah 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 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 Allaah is not a book like any other; it is the timeless
Speech of Allaah, 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 Prophet
Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), the one deputed by Allaah to
rehearse and explain His Words to humanity. 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 Allaah Most High, and
therefore he would go astray, thinking to be worshipping Allaah.
Every sincere Muslim who hopes to earn Allaah's Love by reciting and
reflecting over Allaah's Book, then let him hold tight to the meanings
explained by the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), and those taught
by the companions and their immediate followers, and the early scholars of
Islaam. So, you should know that reciting and pondering over the Book of
Allaah, 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 Allaah's Majestic Words. Each benefit stands as enough of an
encouragement to shun any laziness we have and dedicate ourselves to the
Qur'aan at any time, and especially in the holy month of Ramadan:
1 - Reading and reflecting over the Qur'aan fulfills an Islaamic
duty.
Indeed the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) summarized this
Religion with his statement: "The Religion is naseehah (sincerity)!" So
then Tameem ibn Aws, May Allaah be pleased with him, said, "We asked, 'To
whom?'" He said: "To Allaah, HIS BOOK, His Messenger, the leaders of the
people, and their common folk." [Muslim]
The sincerity that is due to the Book of Allaah includes its regular
recitation, learning the rules of recitation “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 Allaah
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. So by
reading and reflecting over the Qur'aan, one fulfills an obligation and is
rewarded for that. Upon fulfilling this obligation, the Qur'aan 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'aan will be a proof for us on the Day of Judgment.
This is due to the statement of the Messenger: "And the Qur'aan is a proof
for you or against you." [Muslim]. So one of two things will occur with
this proof, the Book of Allaah. 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
Allaah's own Speech is against him?!
Therefore, think carefully about your position with the Qur'aan. 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 Allaah! We ask you, by Your Glorious Speech and the rest of your
beautiful Names and Attributes, to make the Qur'aan a proof for us! O
Allaah! Don't make the Qur'aan a proof against us on that Day, and save us
from the hellfire. For if Allaah makes the Qur'aan a proof in our favor 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'aan will intercede for us on the Day of Judgment.
The proof: Aboo Umaamah relates that the Prophet(sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam) said: "Read the Qur'aan, 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 'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab,
understood this principle. Some men came to question him during his
khilaafah about the leadership of Makkah, they asked, "Whom 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 Quraish)!!". So he answered them, "Verily he is a reader of the
Book of Allaah and is knowledgeable about the obligations of the Muslims.
Haven't you heard the statement of your Messenger: "Verily Allaah raises
some people by this Book and lowers others by it."
5 - You will be from the best of the people.
'Uthmaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "The best of you are the ones who
learn the Qur'aan and teach it to others." [Al-Bukhaaree]
6 - There are ten rewards for each letter you recite from the Qur'aan.
As an authentic hadeeth in At-Tirmidhee proves: "Whoever reads a letter
from the Book of Allaah, he will have a reward. And ten will multiply that
reward. 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'aan to gain these merits,
and to gain the following merit as well.
7 - The reciters of the Qur'aan will be in the company of the noble and
obedient angels.
'Aa'ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, relates that the Prophet
(sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "Verily the one who recites the
Qur'aan 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-Bukhaaree and Muslim]
So, do not let the Shaytaan give you false excuses, such as "I am not an
'Arab," or "It’s not my language." This hadeeth is a firm proof against
these whisperings. Dedicate yourself to the Book of Allaah, 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 Allaah without holding back or
offering excuses! And surely you will not hesitate to seek a teacher or a
study circle for the Qur'aan once you hear the last and perhaps greatest
benefits of reading and contemplating over the Qur'aan...
8 - Your position in
Paradise is determined by the amount of Qur'aan you memorize in
this life!
'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr ibn Al-'Aas heard the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa
sallam) saying: "It will be said to the companion of the Qur'aan: 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 life)! For verily, your position in the
Paradise will be at the last verse you recite!" [Aboo Daawood and
At-Tirmidhee, saheeh]
9 - The Qur'aan will lead you to
Paradise!
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: "The Qur'aan 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 hadeeth found in At-Tabaraanee, on the authority of
'Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood]
So, know that these nine benefits from the many benefits available can
only be attained by a sincere commitment to the Book of Allaah, not by a
person's mere statement, "I love the Qur'aan, it's beautiful." Rather the
heart must be sincerely attached to Allaah'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'aan. There are many benefits that
await your reading in the Qur'aan and books of hadeeth, like the chapter
of the Qur'aan 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. |