This was originally published on : http://muslimaat.net/quran-my-source-of-solace/
Quran - My Source of Solace
Solace. A feeling of peacefulness can be consistently established with my Creator, Allah (subhanahu wa taala). He hears me. He sees me. He is never too busy to listen. I connect with Him by performing my five daily prayers, making supplications to Him and reading the Glorious Quran.
The Quran, my dear sisters, is my favourite book. It is like an antibiotic that combats and removes the infections from my body. When I recite the words of tranquillity from the Quran, my heart is at rest and gives more moisture to my tongue than saliva itself. When I hear the Quran being recited, it is like an alarm bell that wakes me up, alerting me to my ultimate goal which is Jannat ul firdous, ameen.
When I came close to the Quran, I realised that it is a compass. When one is lost and seeking questions that lurk in the mind in the fleeting dunia, like ‘Who am I?’ ‘Why am I here?’ and ‘Where will I be going to from here?’ it guides and allows us to realise our purpose on earth and know what is required from us during our lives. The Quran is not a story being told to us, it is a message that is being sent especially to all of mankind. Does not that make you feel special? It is a Book written especially for you.
"[This is] a blessed Book (the Quran) which We have revealed to you, O Muhammad (salallahu alaihi wa sallam), that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded." [38:29]
During the darkest times in life that are dull like black coal, where we fall down on our knees turning to the Almighty for His help, mercy and guidance, He returns our call and says:
“O you, who has believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” [2:153]
During the times of happiness and success, when we thank Allah, He responds back:
“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you (in favour); but if you deny, indeed, my punishment is severe.'” [14:7]
There is a connection between every phase of life and the Quran, as it is not any ordinary book. It is a Book written by the One who created you and me to keep us sustained as travellers through this dunia. It is a gift from Allah.
Benefits of reciting the Quran
The Rewards
There are many virtues of reciting the Book of Allah. Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
‘Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. 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’an to gain these merits, and to gain the following merit as well.’ [Al-Tirmidhi]
There is even more reward for those that have difficulty in reciting the Quran than those who are able to recite it with ease as Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said,
‘Verily the one who recites the Qur’an 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-Bukhari and Muslim]
It’s an intercessor
An additional benefit of reciting the Quran is that it acts as an intercessor on the Day of Judgement. In a hadith we are told, ‘The Qur’an 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.” [Al-Tabarani]
A Healer
The Quran is a healer of pain and worries. Sometimes when words hurt like a knife wound, I reach for the Quran and there appears a verse that shines like a sun in the clear blue sky, bringing tranquillity to my heart.
“And We send down of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic monotheism and act on it), and it increases the zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) nothing but loss.” [17:82]
How can the Quran literally be a healer? Ruqyah is a method used in Shariah (Islamic Law) for spiritual and physical treatment where the Quran and/or dua are recited. It is a sunnah.
Softener of hearts
As I grew older, my relationship with the Quran became stronger and more personal. I developed deeper connections with my Lord via the Quran like a protective shell surrounding and protecting me from harm. The heart is not just an organ whose role is to pump blood around the body. It is also the centre of emotions and objectives. It is the Quran that is the beacon of faith and softens the heart like butter:
“Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver there from of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide.” [39:2]
Increases one’s status and honour
Additionally, when reciting the Quran and implementing it in our lives, our status is raised in both worlds; the testing ground of the dunia and akhirah. Our Beloved Prophet (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
“Such a person, who recites the Quran and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). And such a person exerts himself to learn the Quran by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward.”
Befriend the Quran
There are so many benefits of reciting the Quran but the question is how can we make it an integral part of our lives, internalise its teaching and derive maximum benefit from it? Here are some suggestions on how we can improve our connection with Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) via the Quran, whether we hardly read the Quran at all or read it on a daily basis.
Purify your intentions
Intention is the most important thing before reciting the Quran or performing any other act of ibadah. One needs to question one’s self. ‘Why am I reading this?’ ‘Am I reading it because I want to or have I been ordered by my family?’ ‘What have I understood, benefited from and how will I implement it in my life?’
Something that helps from a physical, emotional and mental perspective is, when we perform wudhu (ablution) we should remind ourselves that we are reading the Book of Allah and not any other book and its reverence will increase in our hearts.
Make dua
Supplicate to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) for guidance and steadfastness to be able to have a stronger bond with the Quran by adhering to His blessed and wise words in our lives. Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
"Make dua and be assured of it being answered, and know that Allah, the Exalted, does not answer a dua from a careless heart which is not concentrating." [Al-Tirmidhi]
Make time
We as humans are weak and we tend to procrastinate due to an imbalance between dunia and deen. We tend to have thoughts such as ‘I don’t have time as I have a deadline or meeting, I’ll read it later’. What is the probability of your presence later? Fixing a time of day that is least busy for Quran recitation helps a lot in being regular. Try to make time for at least 5 minutes a day to start off with and keep building on that by increasing a little at a time.
No pain no gain
In order to achieve something significant, we need to have sincere intention, patience, perseverance and a willingness to sacrifice. My dear reader, are you ready to sacrifice to develop a strong bond with the Glorious Quran? How about your sleep? The best time to recite the Book of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is after Fajr salah. It is the quietest time of the day but the most challenging too, as one has to sacrifice their sleep. This act is meritorious as Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says in the Quran:
“Establish prayer from the declining of the sun to the darkness of the night; and hold fast to the recitation of the Qur'an at dawn, for the recitation of the Qur'an at dawn is witnessed.” (Quran 17:78)
Recite with translation
Do not underestimate the reward for reading even one verse of the Quran per day. However, it is better to do it with translation to increase your understanding. In addition, these precious, unforgettable moments with the Book of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) will prove to be a rewarding experience. Contemplate these verses during the day or at least during your prayer. Ultimately, you will witness the blessings of this book unfold in your life.
Minimise distractions
We need to evaluate our routine and our daily activities. To prioritise the Quran we must ask ourselves, “What can I compromise on to make room for the Quran in my life?” Disciplining our nafs is vital to be able to make the Quran an integral part of our lives.
Attend a Quranic class
For not prioritising the Quran in our lives, many of us try to justify that we do not understand or cannot recite the Quran. As stated earlier in this article, those who have difficulty reciting get more rewards than those who are able to. If you are unable to read the Quran, then I recommend you join a Quranic class or program. There are online classes available as well.
Memorise the Book of Allah
Have the intention to memorise the Quran. There are great virtues and rewards for huffaz and Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) raises their status in Jannah to a level commensurate with how much they have memorised from the Book of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala).
Narrated from Abdullah ibn ‘Amr, the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
“It will be said to the companion of the Quran: Recite and rise in status, recite as you used to recite in the world, for your status will be at the last verse that you recite.” [Al-Tirmidhi (2914)]
Listen to the Quran
Listen to the Quran wherever and whenever you can. To increase your connection with, and understanding of the Quran, search for audios with translation. In the age of new technological developments, one can download applications on one’s mobile gadgets, so listening to the Quran via your headphones during your free time will inshaAllah increase your love for the Book of Allah and it will be a great replacement for music.
Ultimately my dear sisters, the Glorious Quran is filled with endless lessons and knowledge. Do not abandon it, start your journey today.
Quran - My Source of Solace
Solace. A feeling of peacefulness can be consistently established with my Creator, Allah (subhanahu wa taala). He hears me. He sees me. He is never too busy to listen. I connect with Him by performing my five daily prayers, making supplications to Him and reading the Glorious Quran.
The Quran, my dear sisters, is my favourite book. It is like an antibiotic that combats and removes the infections from my body. When I recite the words of tranquillity from the Quran, my heart is at rest and gives more moisture to my tongue than saliva itself. When I hear the Quran being recited, it is like an alarm bell that wakes me up, alerting me to my ultimate goal which is Jannat ul firdous, ameen.
When I came close to the Quran, I realised that it is a compass. When one is lost and seeking questions that lurk in the mind in the fleeting dunia, like ‘Who am I?’ ‘Why am I here?’ and ‘Where will I be going to from here?’ it guides and allows us to realise our purpose on earth and know what is required from us during our lives. The Quran is not a story being told to us, it is a message that is being sent especially to all of mankind. Does not that make you feel special? It is a Book written especially for you.
"[This is] a blessed Book (the Quran) which We have revealed to you, O Muhammad (salallahu alaihi wa sallam), that they might reflect upon its verses and that those of understanding would be reminded." [38:29]
During the darkest times in life that are dull like black coal, where we fall down on our knees turning to the Almighty for His help, mercy and guidance, He returns our call and says:
“O you, who has believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” [2:153]
During the times of happiness and success, when we thank Allah, He responds back:
“And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you (in favour); but if you deny, indeed, my punishment is severe.'” [14:7]
There is a connection between every phase of life and the Quran, as it is not any ordinary book. It is a Book written by the One who created you and me to keep us sustained as travellers through this dunia. It is a gift from Allah.
Benefits of reciting the Quran
The Rewards
There are many virtues of reciting the Book of Allah. Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
‘Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. 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’an to gain these merits, and to gain the following merit as well.’ [Al-Tirmidhi]
There is even more reward for those that have difficulty in reciting the Quran than those who are able to recite it with ease as Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said,
‘Verily the one who recites the Qur’an 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-Bukhari and Muslim]
It’s an intercessor
An additional benefit of reciting the Quran is that it acts as an intercessor on the Day of Judgement. In a hadith we are told, ‘The Qur’an 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.” [Al-Tabarani]
A Healer
The Quran is a healer of pain and worries. Sometimes when words hurt like a knife wound, I reach for the Quran and there appears a verse that shines like a sun in the clear blue sky, bringing tranquillity to my heart.
“And We send down of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic monotheism and act on it), and it increases the zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers) nothing but loss.” [17:82]
How can the Quran literally be a healer? Ruqyah is a method used in Shariah (Islamic Law) for spiritual and physical treatment where the Quran and/or dua are recited. It is a sunnah.
Softener of hearts
As I grew older, my relationship with the Quran became stronger and more personal. I developed deeper connections with my Lord via the Quran like a protective shell surrounding and protecting me from harm. The heart is not just an organ whose role is to pump blood around the body. It is also the centre of emotions and objectives. It is the Quran that is the beacon of faith and softens the heart like butter:
“Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver there from of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide.” [39:2]
Increases one’s status and honour
Additionally, when reciting the Quran and implementing it in our lives, our status is raised in both worlds; the testing ground of the dunia and akhirah. Our Beloved Prophet (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
“Such a person, who recites the Quran and masters it by heart, will be with the noble righteous scribes (in Heaven). And such a person exerts himself to learn the Quran by heart, and recites it with great difficulty, will have a double reward.”
Befriend the Quran
There are so many benefits of reciting the Quran but the question is how can we make it an integral part of our lives, internalise its teaching and derive maximum benefit from it? Here are some suggestions on how we can improve our connection with Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) via the Quran, whether we hardly read the Quran at all or read it on a daily basis.
Purify your intentions
Intention is the most important thing before reciting the Quran or performing any other act of ibadah. One needs to question one’s self. ‘Why am I reading this?’ ‘Am I reading it because I want to or have I been ordered by my family?’ ‘What have I understood, benefited from and how will I implement it in my life?’
Something that helps from a physical, emotional and mental perspective is, when we perform wudhu (ablution) we should remind ourselves that we are reading the Book of Allah and not any other book and its reverence will increase in our hearts.
Make dua
Supplicate to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) for guidance and steadfastness to be able to have a stronger bond with the Quran by adhering to His blessed and wise words in our lives. Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
"Make dua and be assured of it being answered, and know that Allah, the Exalted, does not answer a dua from a careless heart which is not concentrating." [Al-Tirmidhi]
Make time
We as humans are weak and we tend to procrastinate due to an imbalance between dunia and deen. We tend to have thoughts such as ‘I don’t have time as I have a deadline or meeting, I’ll read it later’. What is the probability of your presence later? Fixing a time of day that is least busy for Quran recitation helps a lot in being regular. Try to make time for at least 5 minutes a day to start off with and keep building on that by increasing a little at a time.
No pain no gain
In order to achieve something significant, we need to have sincere intention, patience, perseverance and a willingness to sacrifice. My dear reader, are you ready to sacrifice to develop a strong bond with the Glorious Quran? How about your sleep? The best time to recite the Book of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is after Fajr salah. It is the quietest time of the day but the most challenging too, as one has to sacrifice their sleep. This act is meritorious as Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says in the Quran:
“Establish prayer from the declining of the sun to the darkness of the night; and hold fast to the recitation of the Qur'an at dawn, for the recitation of the Qur'an at dawn is witnessed.” (Quran 17:78)
Recite with translation
Do not underestimate the reward for reading even one verse of the Quran per day. However, it is better to do it with translation to increase your understanding. In addition, these precious, unforgettable moments with the Book of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) will prove to be a rewarding experience. Contemplate these verses during the day or at least during your prayer. Ultimately, you will witness the blessings of this book unfold in your life.
Minimise distractions
We need to evaluate our routine and our daily activities. To prioritise the Quran we must ask ourselves, “What can I compromise on to make room for the Quran in my life?” Disciplining our nafs is vital to be able to make the Quran an integral part of our lives.
Attend a Quranic class
For not prioritising the Quran in our lives, many of us try to justify that we do not understand or cannot recite the Quran. As stated earlier in this article, those who have difficulty reciting get more rewards than those who are able to. If you are unable to read the Quran, then I recommend you join a Quranic class or program. There are online classes available as well.
Memorise the Book of Allah
Have the intention to memorise the Quran. There are great virtues and rewards for huffaz and Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) raises their status in Jannah to a level commensurate with how much they have memorised from the Book of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala).
Narrated from Abdullah ibn ‘Amr, the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
“It will be said to the companion of the Quran: Recite and rise in status, recite as you used to recite in the world, for your status will be at the last verse that you recite.” [Al-Tirmidhi (2914)]
Listen to the Quran
Listen to the Quran wherever and whenever you can. To increase your connection with, and understanding of the Quran, search for audios with translation. In the age of new technological developments, one can download applications on one’s mobile gadgets, so listening to the Quran via your headphones during your free time will inshaAllah increase your love for the Book of Allah and it will be a great replacement for music.
Ultimately my dear sisters, the Glorious Quran is filled with endless lessons and knowledge. Do not abandon it, start your journey today.
