There are two main things you have to do. The first is to move your heart from dwelling on the things of this world and move it to dwell on the Hereafter, then focus all your heart on the Qur’an and ponder its meanings and why it was revealed. Try to understand something from every ayah and apply it to the disease of your heart. These ayaat were revealed (to treat) the disease of the heart, so you will be healed, by the permission of Allah.
[Ibn al-Qayyim [d. 751H/1350CE] on curing one’s heart]
Will you become a better person?
Today we are going to focus on how the Qur’an can make you a better person and how to bring the ayaat (verses) of the Qur’an back to YOUR life. They key is: understanding!
The importance of knowledge is one of the main messages of the Qur’an. The word ‘ilm (knowledge) is mentioned more than 700 times in 87 different forms.
In this piece you will find ten things you miss out on when you don’t understand the Qur’an. And yes, that also means you will gain ten beautiful gifts if you do understand the Qur’an!
We all know why the Qur’an is sent down to us, right? To ponder and to take lessons from it.
Pondering means to stop and think over or reflect upon something. But for many of us the Qur’an is the only book we do not actively THINK about. Do we think how every ayah can CHANGE us as a person? How every ayah can teach us a daily life lesson? Not really. Occasionally we come across ayat which shake us and move us to action, but it never seems to last for long. We come closer and move away from the Qur’an all the time.
Here are ten things you miss out on when you don’t understand the Book of Allah ‘azza wajal:
1. The Purpose of Revelation
If you don’t understand the Qur’an and keep on reading it, the very purpose of revelation is lost. Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa says in surah Saad [38:29] :
A Book (the Qur’ân) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember .
Receiving admonition means to take lessons!
How can you extract lessons from a book you do not understand? You can’t always carry a translation, especially while listening to the Qur’an in salah, the most meaningful moments of your day. A world will open up for you if you know what you recite, subhanAllah!
2. The Garden of the Mind
The mind is like a garden. If you don’t sow flowers, weeds will grow and even if you do sow flowers, weeds will still grow. You will need to remove these weeds continuously.
Flowers are the Guidance and the weeds are satanic thoughts. Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa sows flower seeds into our brain every time we listen to Qur’an, especially in our prayer. If we don’t water them (ponder), they will be wasted and weeds may grow.
3. The Objectives of Recitation
There are 5 objectives of reading the Qur’an:
- to receive rewards from Allah ‘azza wajal;
- to gain knowledge;
- to take action based on what Allah ‘azza wajal is asking us to do;
- to cure our heart and mind; and
- to talk to Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa!
How can you achieve all of these, especially the last four, if you don’t understand the Qur’an?
4. The Cleaning of the Heart
People know that Fajr is compulsory but very few come to the Masjid. Why? Not because they don’t know, but because their hearts are rusted. We have a major misconception that the Qur’an is a book of commandments only. The ayaat that deal with commandments constitute less than 10% of the total ayaat.The rest, 90% , is for the heart and mind. The heart keeps rusting and deviating because of sins. We need de-rusting and re-alignment.
Adam ‘alayhi sallam was asked not to go near the tree. Allah ‘azza wajal says :
but he forgot; and We did not find in him any determination.
We humans have these weaknesses. We have several fitaan (trials) surrounding us. We need continuous reminders and warnings which come to us only through daily recitation and listening to the Qur’an. Allah ‘azza wajal says about the Qur’an:
a healing for the (diseases) in your hearts” [10:57].
Can there be a better cure than what Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa has prescribed for you?
5. The Strengthening of the Heart
The Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet salallaahu alayhi wa sallam in pieces. “And those who disbelieve say: Why has not the Qur’an been revealed to him all at once? Thus, that We may strengthen your heart by it and We have arranged it well in arranging. [25:32]. The heart should be firm in belief to His promises and warnings. Continuous pondering of the Qur’an everyday during and after salah helps you strengthen your heart.
6. Daily ‘Talk’ (Munajaat) with Allah ‘azza wajal
The Prophet salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to interact with the recitation.
And when he recited the Verses which referred to the Glory of Allah, he glorified Him, the Great, and when he recited the Verses that mention supplication, he supplicated, and when he recited the Verses that mention seeking Refuge of the Rabb, he sought (His) Refuge.
Can you live without talking at least five minutes every day to your near and dear ones? Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa is most beloved to us. He, subhanahu wa ta’alaa, loves us more than seventy times than our mothers.Still we live without bothering as to what Allah ‘azza wajal said to us today during salah!
7. Live Guidance
Whatever you read or listen to the Qur’an, remember that it is a live guidance from Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa to each individual when he or she listens to Qur’an. Not appreciating the value of live guidance from Allah, our own Creator, is a HUGE loss. If you are wise you can never neglect this.
8. Relationship with Allah ‘azza wajal
There are different dimensions to the relationship with Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa – His Love, Sincerity, Trust in Him, Remembering Him directly and whenever we see His signs in creation, Pondering His creation and in His names, not complaining of Qadaa’, etc. This relationship is strengthened over time. It requires slow and steady cooking with regular heat coming from the Qur’an.
9. Qu’ranic Character
According to Aisha radiyallaahu ‘anhaa:
His (the Prophet, salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) morals were the Qur’an
The Qur’an is theory and the Prophet’s life was a practical demonstration of that theory (the Qur’an). We need to study the Seerah of the Prophet salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and keep relating the ayaat of the Qur’an that we study to his life. This is a project in itself and requires one to ponder the verses every day along with the Seerah of the Prophet, salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
10. Qur’anic Vision
As a patient starts describing his problems, the doctor’s mind starts working on diagnosis and comes up with the relevant medicines. Similarly, we come across many situations and dilemmas in our life. We should be able to see solutions in the Qur’an corresponding to these situations. Only through continuous pondering and relating it to your daily life, you can attain this vision.
Bonus: HOW do you ponder?
So, we know we should ponder upon its ayat. But do you know how to actually do that? HOW do you ponder?
Here are five tips for maximizing your benefits from every ayah:
Firstly; when you read an ayah say to yourself ‘this is Allah ‘azza wajal’, don’t say you hear an imam reciting, these are Allah’s words, direct from Him. Then… think these words are directly addressing YOU. At the moment you read an ayah Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa is watching you and how you REACT to His words! So… form a direct relationship between you and the ayaat.
Secondly; whatever you read or hear, take the advice as that advice is for ME. Don’t take the ayaat as, these are for hypocrites, disbelievers, idolaters etc. So..you should look what is in there for YOU.
Thirdly; everything is part of al-Qadr, even the exact amount of oxygen we breathe every second of the day. So, every ayah you read is part of your destiny. So ask yourself ‘ Why is Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa making ME read THIS today?’
Fourthly; while reading an ayah, focus your eyes, ears, your brain and your heart, don’t think of anything else. Use your imagination; visualize!
And finally
fifthly; thank Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa sincerely.. by ACTION, with your limbs.
To conclude, each ayah of the Qur’an demands something from us. To fulfil it, start with dua’.
