08-14-2003, 10:40 PM
Nine Great Benefits of Reading and Reflecting Over the Qur'ân
by Abul-'Abbâs
With the Name of Allâh, the Most Merciful, may His Salâh and Salâm be upon His last Messenger Muhammad, to proceed:
Indeed the Book of Allâh is not a book like any other, it is the timeless Speech of Allâh, not a created thing, a 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 Allâh to rehearse and explain His Words to humanity (sallallâhu 'alayhe 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 Allâh Most High, and therefore he would go astray, thinking to be worshipping Allâh.
So every sincere Muslim who hopes to earn Allâh's Love by reciting and reflecting over Allâh's Book, then let him hold tight to the meanings explained by the Prophet (sallallâhu 'alayhe wa sallam), and those taught by the Companions and their immediate followers, and the early scholars of Islâm.
Know that reciting and pondering over the Book of Allâh, 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 Allâh's Majestic Words. Each benefit stands as enough of an encouragement on its own for us to shun any laziness we have and dedicate ourselves to the Qur'ân properly.
1 - Reading and reflecting over the Qur'ân fulfills an Islâmic duty
Indeed the Prophet (sallallâhu 'alayhe wa sallam) summarized this Religion with his statement:
"The Religion is nasîhah (sincerity)!"
So then Tamîm ibn Aws (may Allâh be pleased with him) then said, "We asked, 'To whom?'"He (sallallâhu 'alayhe wa sallam) replied:
"To Allâh, HIS BOOK, His Messenger, the leaders of the people, and their common folk." [2]
The sincerity that is due to the Book of Allâh, as Ibn Rajab Al-Hambalî said, includes having a strong love for it, honoring it and extolling its great status, affirming that it is the Speech of Allâh, seeking to understand its meanings, acting by it, following the orders found in it, spreading its correct understanding, continually studying it, and taking on the good manners that are encouraged in it. [3]
So by reading and reflecting over the Qur'ân, one fulfills an obligation and is rewarded for that. Upon fulfilling this obligation, the Qur'ân then becomes a proof for him on the Day of Judgement! And that is our second benefit we will take by embracing this Noble Book...
2 - The Qur'ân will be a proof for us on the Day of Judgement[/color:0564d7beda]This is due to the statement of the Messenger:
"...and the Qur'ân is a proof for you or against you..." [4]
So one of two things will occur with this proof, the Book of Allâh. 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 Allâh's own Speech is against him?!?!
Think carefully, dear Muslim brother or sister, about your position with the Qur'ân! 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 Judgement?!
O Allâh! We ask you, by Your Glorious Speech and the rest of Your beautiful Names and Attributes, to make the Qur'ân a proof for us! O Allâh! Don't make the Qur'ân a proof against us on that Day, and save us from the hellfire!
For if Allâh makes the Qur'ân 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.
<span>3 - The Qur'ân will intercede for us on the Day of Judgement[/color:0564d7beda]</span>
<span>The proof: Abû Umâmah relates that the Prophet (sallallâhu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: </span>
<span> "Read the Qur'ân, for verily it will come on the Day of Standing as an intercessor for its companions." [5] </span>
<span><span>4 - Your status in this life will be raised[/color:0564d7beda]In Sahîh Muslim, we find a lovely story, about how a man from the promised people of Jannah, 'Umar ibn Al-Khattâb, understood this principle. </span></span>
<span><span>Some men came to question him during his khilâfah about the leadership of Makkah, they asked, "Who do you use to govern Makkah?"</span></span>
<span><span>He said, "Ibn Abzâ."</span></span>
<span><span>They asked, "And who is Ibn Abzâ?"</span></span>
<span><span>'Umar replied, "A freed slave from those we freed."</span></span>
<span><span>They remarked, "You left a freed slave in charge of the people of the Valley (the noble tribes of the Quraysh)!?!?"</span></span>
<span><span>So he answered them, "Verily he is a reader of the Book of Allâh and is knowledgeable about the obligations of the Muslims. Haven't you heard the statement of your Messenger: </span></span>
<span><span> "Verily Allâh raises some people by this Book and lowers others by it." [6] </span></span>
<span><span><span>5 - You will be from the best of the people[/color:0564d7beda]'Uthmân (may Allâh be pleased with him), the third khalîfah and fourth most virtuous person on earth after the Prophet (sallallâhu 'alayhe wa sallam), Abû Bakr, and 'Umar, said that the Prophet (sallallâhu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: </span></span></span>
<span><span><span> "The best of you are the ones who learn the Qur'ân and teach it to others" [7] </span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span>6 - There are ten rewards for each letter you recite from the Qur'ân[/color:0564d7beda]</span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span>As an authentic hadîth in Sunan At-Tirmithî proves: </span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span> "Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allâh, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that "Alif, Lâm, Mîm" is a letter, rather I am saying that "Alif" is a letter, "lâm" is a letter, and "mîm" is a letter." [8] </span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span>So increase your recitation of the Qur'ân to gain these merits, and to gain the following merit as well... </span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span>7 - The recitors of the Qur'ân will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels [/color:0564d7beda]'آ'ishah (may Allâh be pleased with her), the Prophet's beloved wife who held his head in her lap as he took his last blessed breaths, relates that the Prophet (sallallâhu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: </span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span> "Verily the one who recites the Qur'ân 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." [9] </span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span>So do not let the Shaytân give you false excuses, such as "I am not an 'Arab," or "Its not my language." This hadîth is a firm proof against these whisperings. Dedicate yourself to the Book of Allâh, 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 Allâh without holding back or offering excuses! </span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span>And surely you will not hesitate to seek a teacher or a study circle for the Qur'ân once you hear the last and perhaps greatest benefits of reading and contemplating over the Qur'ân... </span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span>8 - The Qur'ân will lead you to Paradise[/color:0564d7beda]</span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span>The Prophet (sallallâhu 'alayhe wa sallam) said: </span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span> "The Qur'ân 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." [10] </span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>9 - Your position in Paradise is determined by the amount of Qur'ân you memorize in this life[/color:0564d7beda]'Abdullâh ibn 'Amr ibn Al-'آs heard the Prophet (sallallâhu 'alayhe wa sallam) saying: </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span> "It will be said to the companion of the Qur'ân: Read and elevate (up through the levels of the Paradise) and beautify your voice as you used to do when you were in the dunyâ! For verily, your position in the Paradise will be at the last verse you recite!" [11] </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>Know that these nine benefits, from the many benefits available, can only be attained by a sincere commitment to the Book of Allâh, not by a person's mere statement, "I love the Qur'ân, it's beautiful." Rather the heart must be sincerely attached to Allâh's Book and the limbs and tongue will follow in this attachment. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>You must know that only a few of the numerous benefits of reading and reflecting over the Qur'ân have been mentioned here. There are many benefits that await your reading in the Qur'ân and books of hadîth, like the chapter of the Qur'ân 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. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>And Allâh knows best. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>[1] written by Abul-'Abbâs</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>[2] Sahîh Muslim #194 (1/220 of Sharh An-Nawawî)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>[3] refer to Jâmi'ul-Ulûm wal-Hikam, p.221 (Ar-Risâlah, 1417)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>[4] part of a hadîth in Sahîh Muslim #533 (2/97 of Sharh An-Nawawî)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>[5] Sahîh Muslim #1871 (3/330 of Sharh An-Nawawî)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>[6] Sahîh Muslim #1894 (3/339 of Sharh An-Nawawî)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>[7] Sahîh Al-Bukhârî #5027 (9/89-90 of Fat-hul-Bârî)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>[8] Sunan At-Tirmithî #2910; Al-Albânî authenticated it in Sahîh Sunan At-Tirmithî (3/164)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>[9] Sahîh Muslim #1859 (3/325 of Sharh An-Nawawî); another version of this hadîth with a slighty different wording can be found in Sahîh Al-Bukhârî #4937 (8/852 of Fat-hul-Bârî)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>[10] an authentic hadîth found in Sahîh Ibn Hibbân #124 (1/330-331 of Tartîb Ibn Balbân, printed by Ar-Risâlah), on the authority of 'Abdullâh ibn Mas'ûd; Al-Albânî authenticated it in Silsilatul-Ahâdîthis-Sahîhah #2019</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span><span><span><span><span><span><span>[11] Sunan At-Tirmithî #2914; Al-Albânî authenticated it in Sahîh Sunan At-Tirmithî (3/164-165) </span></span></span></span></span></span></span>