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Advice on Reciting the Qur'an Correctly

2010-10-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

"You must try to improve your recitation, and the way to do that is to recite often and to study under the tutelage of a learned and trustworthy reciter. When you will make a strong effort, Allah will make your affair easy for you. In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said,

'The person who is proficient in the Qur'an is with the Safarah (the Messengers or the angels), the Kiraam (those that are close to Allah), and the Bararah (those that are obedient ot Allah). As for the person who reads the Qur'an, though it is difficult for him and thaough he stutters, he has two rewards.' (Muslim)"

- Permanent Committee of Scholars, Saudi Arabia (Islamic Rulings Regarding the Qur'an, Al-Hidaayah, pg 35)

"It is compulsory upon a Muslim to learn how to recite the Qur'an, so that he will be able to read it as it is supposed to be read - as it was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam). One must try his utmost to improve in this regard, repeating one word at a time until he gets it right, and if then, he still makes a mistake, he will have two rewards from Allah, for the Prophet said,

'As for the person who reads the Qur'an, though it is difficult for him and though he stutters, he has two rewards.' (Muslim)

So my advice to you, brother, is to learn slowly - studying one word at a time, even though it may be difficult for you - and to be patient. If you apply this advice, your rewards will be increased. And beware of reading the Qur'an in a hasty manner, not caring whether you are reading correctly or not, an attitude which indicates that you are taking Allah's words lightly. It is strange that one of us should be negligent in this regard when we all know that the Qur'an is Allah's speech - He spoke it with the same letters and vowels that we use - which Jibril received from Allah and then delivered to the heart of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) exactly as he had received it. Allah says:

{And truly, this (the Qur'an) is a revelation from the Lord of the 'Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists), which the trustworthy Rooh [Jibril (Gabriel)] has brought down upon your heart (O Muhammad) that you may be (one) of the warners, in the plain Arabic language.} (26:192-195)

And success lies with Allah."

- Sh. Salih al-Fawzan (Islamic Rulings Regarding the Qur'an, Al-Hidaayah, pg 37-38)

Advice on Memorizing the Qur'an

2010-10-02T07:40:00.000-07:00

"The Qur'an has been made easy to memorize, for Allah says:

{And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember, then is there any that will remember (or receive admonition)?} (54:17)

What remains then is for one to be determined and to have a sincere intention. So if one is determined and if one finds pleasure in the Qur'an, Allah will make it easy for him to meomorize.

There are, however, certain strategies that may help one to commit the Qur'an to memory; for instance, one should assign a specific time during the day to sit in the mosque with a Qur'an teacher. Alhamdulillaah, today there are many people who are qualified to teach the Qur'an. In every area (of Saudi Arabia) you will find at least one school that is geared specifically to teaching people the Qur'an; such schools provide excellent opportunities that weren't available only a few years ago. Young people should choose any gathering or any school, but what is important is that they should continue to attend until they finish memorizing the Qur'an.

Just as important, or perhaps more important, than memorizing is to revise what one has already memorized, for a second time or third time, and so on, until the verses become ingrained in one's memory. Also, you should apply the meanings of the verses that you study, which will help you to learn even more:

{So be afraid of Allah; and Allah teaches you. And Allah is the All-Knower of each and every thing.} (2:282)

- Permanent Committee of Scholars, Saudi Arabia (Islamic Rulings Regarding the Qur'an, Al-Hidaayah, pg 24-25)

The Virtue of Memorizing the Qur'an

2010-10-01T20:48:00.000-07:00

"Whenever the opportunity presented itself to him, the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) encouraged his Companions (radyallaahu 'anhum) to memorize the Noble Qur'an. In fact, in various ways he treated people differently based on how much Qur'an they had committed to memory. So, for instance, he would give the banner of an army to the soldier that had the most Qur'an memorized. Also, if he sent out a military unit, he would appoint as its leader the one who had the most Qur'an memorized. And most Muslims know that the imam for prayer should be the person who knows the most Qur'an. Even when certain Companions died, the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) treated them differently based on their knowledge of the Qur'an, for he would place first in the side compartment of a shared grave that Companion who had the most Qur'an memorized. Finally, the Prophet stipulated that if a man wanted to get married, he had to give his wife some dowry (mahr), which could be in the form of gold, silver, a ring, etc. But on certain occasions, if a man did not have any wealth to give his wife-to-be, the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) would marry him off to her based on the Qur'an he had committed to memory; or in other words, the Qur'an he had committed to memory was considered his dowry, for it was understood that he was going to teach it to her."

- Mahmood ibn Ahmad ad-Dausaree (The Magnificence of the Qur'an, Darussalam, pg. 342)

The Method of Interpreting the Qur'an

2010-10-01T20:12:00.000-07:00

"So the first source that must be used to interpret the noble Qur'an is the Qur'an (itself) along with the Sunnah, which consists of the Prophet's statements, actions and silent approvals. Then after that, it must be interpreted using the interpretations (tafseer) of the people of knowledge, at the head of whom are the Companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) And the foremost amongst the Companions with regard to this subject (tafseer) is 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ood (radyallaahu 'anhu). This is due to several factors, one being that he was one of the first to accompany the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) (i.e. accept Islam), and another being that he would give strong emphasis to asking about, understanding and interpreting the Qur'an. Then after him comes 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas (radyallaahu 'anhu), about whom 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ood said: 'He is the interpreter (turjumaan) of the Qur'an.'

Then after them, any Companion whose interpretation (tafseer) of an ayah can be authentically confirmed - and there exists no difference of opinion amongst the Companions regarding it, we accept this interpretation from him with full contentment, submission and reliance. And if no such tafseer can be found (from the Companions) regarding a particular ayah, then we take its tafseer from the Taabi'een, particularly those who specialized in studying tafseer under the Companions of Allah's Messenger (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), such as Sa'eed ibn Jubair, Taawoos and others who are well known for their studying of tafseer under some of the Companions, particularly Ibn 'Abbas, as we mentioned previously."

- Sh. Muhammad Naasir-ud-Deen al-Albaanee (How are we Obligated to Interpret the Noble Qur'aan?, al-Ibaanah, pg. 23)

Attaining Benefit from the Qur'an

2010-09-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

"If you want to benefit from the Qur'an, you must concentrate and devote your heart solely when reciting and listening to it. You must pay attention, and try to comprehend the fact that what you are reading is the Word of Allah. As you read, you must know that Allah is addressing you in and through this Qur'an. Indeed, it is the words of Allah to you through the tongue of His Messenger. Allah says:

{Verily, therein is indeed a reminder for him who has a heart or gives ear while he is heedful.} (50:37)

Obtaining the perfect effect depends upon the stimulus, the place of the receiver, the condition for the effect to occur, and the absence of any obstacle that may obstruct the effect. The above verse explains all that in the most precise, and clear words."

"Ibn Qutaibah said, 'He is listening to the Book of Allah while his heart is present and understands; not being inattentive or unaware. If the heart is inattentive; lacking understanding concerning what is being said, as well as failing to see or meditate on it, then there is an obstruction. If however, the Qur'an produced an effect on the receiver, which is the living heart, and the condition of listening was fulfilled, and the heart is not engaged with something other than the meaning of the speech, the desired effect will occur, which is obtaining benefit from the Qur'an and remembrance.'"

-Ibn al-Qayyim (Al-Fawa'id, Umm al-Qura, pg. 1-2)

Neglecting the Qur'an

2010-09-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

"Allah tells how His Messenger and Prophet, Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam), will say:

{O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur'an.} (25:30)

The idolators would not listen to the Qur'an, as Allah says:

{And those who disbelieve say: 'Listen not to this Qur'an, and make noise in the midst of it.'} (41:26)

When he would recite Qur'an to them, they would talk nonsense or speak about something else, so that they would not hear it. This is a form of forsaking it and rejecting it, and not believing in it is the same as forsaking it, and not pondering its meanings and trying to understand it is the same as forsaking it, and not acting upon it and following its commandments and heeding its prohibitions is the same as forsaking it, and turning away from it in favor of poetry or other words or songs or idle talk or some other way is the same as forsaking it."

- Ibn Kathir (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Darussalam, Vol. 7, pg. 167)

"Forms of rejecting the Qur'an:

One: to refuse to listen to it, have faith in it and pay attention to it.

Two: To refuse to act according to it, abide by its lawful and [prohibited] commandments, even if the person reads it and has faith in it.

Three: to reject its arbitration and litigation according to is principles and branches of the religion, and to believe that its words are not meant to be indisputable, and that its proofs are verbal and does not reach the level of real knowledge.

Four: to reject careful consideration of it, and fail to understand it and learn that which the Speaker intended.

Five: to reject seeking medication with it concerning all the diseases of the heart, by seeking the cure of such diseases from other than it.

All these are included in the following Qur'anic verse, which means:

{O my Lord! Verily, my people deserted this Qur'an.} (25:30)

This is the case with people although some rejection is less than others"

- Ibn al-Qayyim (Al-Fawa'id, Umm al-Qura, pg. 126-127)

The Status of the Qur'an in the Life of a Believer

2010-09-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

"A Muslim believes in the sacredness of the Speech of Allah, as well as its honor and virtue that surpasses the speech of all others. He also believes that the Noble Qur'an is the Word of Allah, which no falsehood can approach, before it or behind it. Whoever speaks in accord with the Qur'an, has spoken the truth. Whoever judges according to it, has judged justly. Its devoted people are the people of Allah and His special people. Those who stick to it shall be successful and victorious. Those who turn away from it are the destroyed, the losers. "

- Abu Bakr al-Jaza'iry (Minhaj al-Muslim, Darussalam, Vol. 1, pg. 156)