Rights of the Qur'an

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) has complained to Allah Almighty against those who abandon the Qur'an and turn away from it.

وَقَالَ ٱلرَّسُولُ يَـٰرَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِى ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ مَهْجُورًا ﴿٣٠

And the Messenger has said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned." (30)

[Qur'an Al-Furqan 25:30]

A person abandons the Qur'an in six ways [Qurtubi]:

1) He is not reading the Qur'an

2) He reads it but he is not understanding it, as if he has abandoned it

3) He reads it, understands it but not accepting it from his heart

4) He reads it, understands it, accepts it but he is not implementing it

5) He reads it, understands it, accepts it, implements it but it is limited to himself. He is not conveying to others

6) He is doing any these five things but sometimes, not all the time.

You see the companions and compare them with the disbelievers (kuffar). Abu Jahal, Abu Lahab and all the leaders who were against the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace). They understood the Qur'an and most of them were able to read the Qur'an. It is mentioned in the seerah of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) that Abu Jahal and Abu Lahab could not sleep at night before they listen to the Qur'an. So, they would go behind the houses of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) or Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and would listen to some parts of the Qur'an so they could get spiritually healed and then they would go back to their houses. So they read, they understood, and some of them accepted it in their hearts like Abu Talib. Abu Talib knew what his nephew, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) was teaching is true but he did not implement it.

Here we are different then those people. There are people, among the Muslims, who read the Qur'an, understand the Qur'an, and accept the Qur'an from the heart but when it comes to implementing, we are different than the kuffar and the mushrikin of Makkah because the sahabah when they came to Islam, the first thing that they did was learning the Quran.

As Muslims, we owe six rights to the Qur'an:

1. To Read/Recite the Qur'an

The first word from angel Jibril alayhissalaam to the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the first statement that he conveyed to people was "iqra'". What does that mean? It means, "Read/Recite." It means you have to read/recite the Qur'an. So the difference between sahabah and the kuffar is that the sahabah read/recite the Qur'an.

The proper way to recite the Quran is explained in a science known as “tajweed”. It is mandatory for a person to read the Quran with tajweed (i.e. following the rules of recitation) because if one recites the words incorrectly, it could lead to changing the meaning.

How can you recite the Quran with tajweed?

-- Get a qualified teacher ASAP. You cannot do this alone as someone has to be there to spot your mistakes.

-- Practice, practice, practice and after that, practice some more.

What if you have no teachers in your area? Get recommendation from people for online teachers.

Also, you could try to keep listening to the ayaat (verses) over and over again.

An important point regarding reciting the Quran is that many people do not recite the Qur'an daily and they do not recite it in order. One is supposed to recite the Qur'an from Al-Fatihah, then move on to Al-Baqarah and so on until one reaches Surah An-Naas (the last Surah). After that, one returns to Al-Fatihah and starts all over again. That was what the  Companions of the Prophet (salallahu alaihi wasallam)) did. Some of them recited the whole Qur'an in a month, others completed it in a week and still others finished it in three days. Yes, that may sound impossible but it’s not.

Apart from reciting the Qur'an in order, you should recite some of it daily even if you can only manage to recite a few verses. Don’t sleep without doing that, no matter how tired you are.

Just think about this: What if you were in bed and you realized that the gas stove was switched on or that you had left your car keys in your car (some people do that!)? Would you still go to sleep? No! You’d jump out of bed and solve the problem. So, if you’re in bed and you realize that you haven’t recited your daily portion of the Qur'an, then get up and do it. This way, you’ll make sure that it becomes a habit. Remember to recite with tajweed. The whole point of learning how to recite properly is to….well, recite properly.

2. To Understand the Qur'an

Allah Almighty says,

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَآ ﴿٢٤

Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts? (24) [Qur'an, Muhammad 45:24]

Allah has said, why don't they read the Qur'an with understanding as if their hearts were locked. This does not mean they don't want to understand. If they want to understand most certainly their hearts would be unlocked.

Allah Most High repeats this verse four times in Surah al-Qamar:

وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ ﴿١٧

And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember? (17) [Qur'an, al-Qamar 54:17]

Allah says the one who does not read the Qur'an with understanding, it seems that their hearts are locked. So we have to study and learn the Qur'an with understanding.

See the respect that we have given to the Qur'an. Today we are shouting, we are crying, and we are showing our hatred towards those people who are insulting and burning the Qur'an, but where do we stand when it comes to this respect of the Qur'an? How many of us have opened the Qur'an and read it with understanding, and how many of us everyday spend time reading the newspapers, magazines, or social messages (whatsapp, FB, online messages, etc)? Are newspapers, magazines, social messages important in the Qur'an? Allah is describing a person in the Day of Judgment is biting his fingers because he did not study and understand the Qur'an in this dunya. If we don't understand the Qur'an, if we don't implement Allah's message in our life, then when are we going to do that? What is the difference between we neglecting the commands and the message of Allah compare to those people? If the kuffar, if they are not following the Qur'an, it is because they are kuffar. When the kuffar don't want to study the Qur'an, it is because they are kuffar. They don't believe in it. But when we say we are Muslims, when we say we believe in the Qur'an, then what is the right that we owe to the Qur'an?

This is the right that we should read it, we should understand it. If we don't understand it then it seems that our hearts are locked, this is what has described about the kuffar. Abu Jahal and Abu Lahab when the Qur'an is recited, they turn their backs as if they have heard nothing. So the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) felt bad about it. So Allah revealed an ayah that he shouldn't feel bad about them, that they are human bodies, moving around as if they are living but they are dead. This is how Allah has compared them- like dead bodies, they cannot hear.

In order to understand the Qur'an, one needs to understand Arabic.

3. To Accept the Qur'an

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَتْلُونَهُۥ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِۦٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ ﴿١٢١

Those to whom We have given the Book recite it with its true recital. They [are the ones who] believe in it. And whoever disbelieves in it - it is they who are the losers. (121) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:121]

It was asked by a sahabi and ibn Abbas gives the answer that what is the meaning of reciting as as it should be recited -- he said as if it has to be followed, when the Qur'an says do this, you have to do that and when the Qur'an says don't do that, you have to prevent yourself from that. This is the right of recitation that you have accepted it from it.

4. To Implement the Qur'an

Allah Most High says,

ٱتَّبِعُوا۟ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ ۗ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٣

Follow, [O mankind], what has been revealed to you from your Lord and do not follow other than Him any allies. Little do you remember. (3) [Qur'an, Al-A'raf 7:3]

It is our duty we have to fulfill the rights of the Qur'an by following it. When the Qur'an says halal, you have to say halal, when the Qur'an says haram, you have to say haram.

And it is not like the Jews and the Christians who believe in their Scriptures, but partly, and they did not follow the other part.

Allah Most High says,

أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ فَمَا جَزَآءُ مَن يَفْعَلُ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْىٌ فِى ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ....

وَيَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَشَدِّ ٱلْعَذَابِ ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ ﴿٨٥

...So do you believe in part of the Scripture and disbelieve in part? Then what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in worldly life; and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent back to the severest of punishment. And Allah is not unaware of what you do. (85) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:85]

So, how can we fulfill this right of the Quran? We need to take everything that it tells us as the truth. We need to judge everything else according to it and not the other way around. For example, suppose someone mentions a scientific “fact” that goes against the Qur'an. We need to accept what the Qur'an says and reject this scientific “fact”. Another way would be to learn aqeedah (creed). This is one way of increasing oneself in certainty and iman (faith).

As believers of the Qur'an, if we don't believe in the way it should be believed, and we don't follow as it should be followed, then we are falling into this ayah. This means, we have to follow completely, as Allah Most High says,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ فِى ٱلسِّلْمِ كَآفَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا۟ خُطُوَ‌ٰتِ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ ﴿٢٠٨

O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. (208) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:208]

5. To Convey and Propagate the Qur'an

Another right that we owe to ََQur'an is conveying and propagating it. If we don't do this we are abandoning the Qur'an.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿٦٧

O Messenger, announce that which has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people. (67) [Qur'an, Al-Ma'ida 5:67]

If you limit this knowledge to yourself, that means you are not fulfilling those duties you are assigned with. Don't worry about the people, don't expect good from them when you want to good for them, and don't worry about their harm, it will not reach you unless Allah has willed it. Allah will protect you from the harm that might come through people

We know that this is the duty of every Muslim, whomever we know, wherever we go, wherever we sit. This is what Allah has described the best of nation:

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ ءَامَنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۚ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ ﴿١١٠

You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient. (110) [Qur'an, AleImran 3:110]

You are the best of nation if you give this dawah to the people, command them of good and stop them from evil otherwise, as Allah says in the Qur'an,

يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسْرَ‌ٰٓءِيلَ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتِىَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَنِّى فَضَّلْتُكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ﴿١٢٢

O Children of Israel, remember My favor which I have bestowed upon you and that I preferred you over the worlds. (122) [Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:123]

The Jews were the best but then Allah has cursed them because they did not fulfill the rights of their Scripture.

We are the best of nation if we fulfill these six rights and we will be successful in this dunya and akhirah.

Allah Most High mentions in Surah al-'Asr

وَٱلْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ ﴿٣

By time, (1) Indeed, mankind is in loss, (2) Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience. (3) [Qur'an, Al-'Asr 103]

6. To Do all Five  -- Reading it, Understanding it, Accepting it, Implementing it, Conveying it

We have to do all these things throughout our lives.

May Allah give us the power, strength and sincerity to speak the truth, to understand, to exhibit and to implement the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam. And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam