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The Holy Qur'an - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
The Holy Qur'an
By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
Dear Muslims:
The Holy Qur'an is the final Book of
Divine Guidance, revealed by Allah through His Last Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH). Each
and every word of this Book is from Allah, the Creator of the Universe.
Qur'an literally means reading or recitation. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not
receive the whole of it at one stretch. Revelations came to him in fragments
from time to time, covering a period of 23 years. As soon as he received a
revelation the Prophet (PBUH) used to communicate it to his companions and
asked them to learn it by heart. Though the Holy Qur'an was revealed piecemeal,
yet the entire revelation is one organic whole. It is the Word of God, revealed
to the last of the Prophets, Muhammad (PBUH) through the angel Gabriel.
Whenever there was a revelation, the Prophet (PBUH) got it inserted at its
proper place in the text revealed so far. There is indeed perfect evidence, internal
as well as external, that every single word or verse or part of a verse, and
every chapter that was revealed, has been put where it belonged, by the Prophet
himself under divine guidance. The arrangement of the Qur'an was thus a part of
the divine scheme. The Holy Qur'an itself says:
(إن علينا جمعه وقرآنه)
"It is for Us to collect it and to give you (Mohammad)
the ability to recite it (the Qur'an )" (75:17) . The Holy Qur'an thus existed in a complete and
ordered form in the memories of numerous companions in the life-time of the
Noble Prophet (PBUH), and had also been reduced to writing on such materials as
were available for writing purposes in those days.
Dear Muslims:
The Holy Qur'an is a mercy, healing
and guidance for the believers, Allah (SWT) says:
(وننزل من القرآن ما هو شفاء ورحمة
للمؤمنين..)
“And We send down of the Qur'an that which is
a healing and mercy to those who believe..” (17:82).
And in Surah Yunus verse No. 57 Allah
(SWT) says:
(يا أيها الناس قد جاءتكم موعظة من ربكم
وشفاء لما في الصدور وهدى ورحمة للمؤمنين)
“O mankind! There has come to you a
good advice from your Lord, and a healing for that which is in your breasts, a
guidance and a mercy for the believers.”
Allah (SWT) orders us to recite the
Holy Qur'an, He (SWT) says:
(ورتل
القرآن ترتيلا)
“..And
recite the Qur'an in a slow pleasant tone and style.” (73:4). The virtue of
those who recite the Holy Qur'an and act upon it is established in the Holy
Qur'an, Allah (SWT) says:
(إن
الذين يتلون كتاب الله وأقاموا الصلاة وأنفقوا مما رزقناهم سراً وعلانيةً يرجون
تجارة لن تبور)
“Verily,
those who recite the Book of Allah, and perform As-Salat, and spend out
of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, they hope for a sure
trade-gain that will never perish” (35:29).
Dear Muslims:
The prophet (PBUH) said: “The best of
you is he who learns the Qur'an and teaches it." [al-Bukhari]. In another
Hadith the prophet (PBUH) explains the reward for learning or reading the Holy
Qur'an: "Will not any of you go to the masjid and learn or read two verses
from the Book of Allah `azza wa jall? (For) that is better for him than two
she-camels, and three (verses) are better for him than three (she-camels), and
four (verses) are better for him than four (she-camels). And the number (of
verses read in total) are better than the same number of camels."
[Muslim]. Also, he (PBUH) said: "There is no envy (acceptable) except in
two (cases): a person whom Allah has given the Qur'an and recites it throughout
the night and throughout the day. And a person whom Allah has given wealth, that
he gives out throughout the night and throghout the day." [Al-Bukhari and
Muslim].
Allah (SWT) even rewards us for every
letter we recite from the Holy Qur'an. It was reported that the prophet (PBUH)
said: "Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive a
hasanah (good deed) from it (i.e. his recitation), and the hasanah is
multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is (considered as) a
letter, rather Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter, and Meem is a letter."
[At-Tirmidhi, Ad-Darimi].
We should try to improve our Qur'anic
recitation, our Messenger (PBUH) says: "He who is skillful in reciting the
Qur'an is with the unveiled, honorable, and pious. And he who stutters when
reading the Qur'an, (and its recitation) is difficult upon him, will receive two
rewards." [Al-Bukhari]
Moreover, we should also try to
memorize the holy Qur'an or at least some of it. The prophet (PBUH) says:
"Verily he who has nothing of the Qur'an in his heart, is like a house
(which has been) destroyed." [At-Tirmidhi]. And: “Maintain learning the
Qur'an, by heart for verily it is greater in escaping from the chests of men
than camels from their reins." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Dear Muslims:
The Holy Qur'an also will avail the good believers in the day
of judgement. This is clear in the following four prophetic traditions: 1
"Read the Qur'an. For verily it will come forth on the Day of Resurrection
as an intercessor for its readers." [Muslim]
2 "The Qur'an is an intercessor
(which by Allah's permission) intercedes, and an opponent (which is) truthful.
He who appoints it as his leader, (then it) will lead him to Paradise .
And he who puts it behind him, (then it) will lead him to the Fire." [Ibn
Hibban, Al-Bayhaqi, At-Tabarani, Sahih].
3 "Fasting and the Qur'an will
intercede for the slave on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: 'O My
Rabb! I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for
him.' And the Qur'an will say: 'I prevented him from sleep during the night, so
accept my intercession for him.' He (PBUH) said: 'And they will (be allowed to)
intercede.'" [Ahmad, at-Tabarani, Al-Hakim, Sahih].
4 "It will be said to the
beholder of the Qur'an: 'Recite, ascent and rattil (recite slowly and
distinctly) as you used to make tarteel in the life of this world, for
verily your level (in Paradise ) is at the last
verse you read." [Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, Sahih].
The Holy Qur'an has it's good effects
on the believers in this world as well. The prophet says:
"Verily Allah raises nations by this book (the
Qur'an) and puts down (i.e. destroys) others by it." [Muslim].
And in another Hadith: “The likeness
of the believer who reads the Qur'an is like that of citron; its taste is
delicious and its scent is pleasant. And the likeness of the believer who does
not read the Qur'an is like that of a date; its taste is delicious, yet it has
no scent. And the likeness of a hypocrite who reads the Qur'an is like that of
a basil; its scent is pleasant, yet its taste is bitter. And the likeness of a
hypocrite that does not read the Qur'an is like that of a colocynth; its taste
is bitter and it has no scent." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
One should be sincere to Allah (SWT)
alone when he is reciting the Holy Qur'an. The prophet (PBUH) says: "Read
the Qur'an, put it into practice, do not abandon it, do not put grudges (upon
others) through it, and do not eat and gain wealth through it." [Ahmad,
At-Tabarani, Sahih], "Read the Qur'an and through it seek the Face of
Allah, Exalted be He, before there comes a nation that implements it like an arrow.
They read it fast and they do not recite it slowly (to implement)."
[Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Hasan], and "Verily, the best of people with regards to
voices, is he whom you feel fears Allah when he recites." [Ad-Darimi,
Sahih].
It is also recommended to read the
Holy Qur'an upon the others, Anas ibn Malik (RAA) said that the Messenger of
Allah (PBUH) said to Ubay ibn Ka`b (RAA): 'Verily Allah has ordered me to read
upon you.'
He [Ubay] said: 'Has Allah named me for you?!' He (PBUH) said: 'Allah has named
you for me.' He [Anas] said: 'So Ubay began to weep.' [Muslim].
Of course those who recite the Holy
Qur’an in the mosque gain many blessings. The prophet (PBUH) says: "There
is not a group which has gathered in a house from the houses of Allah, reciting
the Book of Allah, and studying it between them, except that tranquillity will
descend upon them, mercy will befall them, the Angels will encircle them, and
Allah will mention them to those who are with Him (i.e. the Angels). And he who
falls short in action (in gaining knowledge and memorizing the Qur'an), whose
lineage will not hasten him (to do)." [Muslim].
I'd like to end my Khutbah by
reminding myself and you that one should comprehend the greatness and nobility
of the Qur'an, reflect upon it's meaning, be fully attentive when he reads it
and follow the Holy Qur'an as his way of life.
May
Allah (SWT) bless, guide and forgive us all. (Ameen).
