Setting Priorities

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Be careful who you follow in this life, because you might wind up with the wrong crowd in the Day of Judgment. If you want to be with the successful, follow the way of the beloved of Allah, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

Narrated Anas: A man asked the Prophet about the Hour (i.e. Day of Judgment) saying, "When will the Hour be?" The Prophet said, "What have you prepared for it?" The man said, "Nothing, except that I love Allah and His Apostle." The Prophet said, "You will be with those whom you love." We had never been so glad as we were on hearing that saying of the Prophet (i.e., "You will be with those whom you love.") Therefore, I love the Prophet, Abu Bakr and 'Umar, and I hope that I will be with them because of my love for them though my deeds are not similar to theirs. [Bukhari]

Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, for those who are Godfearing.

الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٤﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٥

Alif, Lam, Meem. (1) This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah - (2) Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them, (3) And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]. (4) Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful. (5)

[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:2]

Therefore, despite our busy schedules, we have to make recitation of the Qur'an a priority in our lives and strive to understand its meanings.

If you don't know how to recite the Qur'an, you can easily learn it and it would not take more than a few months to learn how to recite properly if you are keen and out the time to do it. It is not difficult--millions of people, educated or uneducated, Arab and non-Arab, young and old, and reverts/converts, have done it. It is only difficult if you don't put the time to learn it. People can study for their degrees which take years to complete; and they can spend months sacrificing their sleep and social life to study for GMAT, GRE, Law School Admission exam, board exams, etc. They don't mind doing all these. Why? Because this is their priority.

Allah Words are paramount. We should know what He says. We have to set priorities in our lives, and reciting His Book daily has to be a high priority. If you can't complete the entire Qur'an daily like many of our righteous are doing, start with a few pages a day. The best time to do this would be before and/or after Fajr before you get busy with people. In this way, you can keep it as a routine. Always start with a small amount and gradually increase the amount.

If you are serious, you can learn Arabic and memorize the Qur'an vocabulary in a fairly short time. Once you memorize the Qur'an vocabulary, the meanings will open up to you, inshaAllah. Every time you recite the Qur'an with the intention to draw closeness to Allah, it will increase your Iman, and the more you know and understand the meanings, the more you love Allah and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace.

May Allah grant us tawfiq and increase our love for Him and His Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his companions, may Allah be pleased with them. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam