Quran Reflection -- A Great Honor To Be A Student Of The Quran

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

Allah Most High says in Surah Ar-Rahman,

ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ﴿١﴾ عَلَّمَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ ﴿٢

The Most Merciful (1) Taught the Qur'an, (2) [Quran, Ar-Rahman 55:1-2]

When we have a great teacher, it is an honor even if we have five minutes learning from the teacher. In Surah Ar-Rahman, Allah tells us He taught the Quran. To be a student of the Quran is no doubt a great honor.

Allah begins the Surah with Ar-Rahman, one of Allah's many Names. When we say Allah, all of God's qualities are highlighted -- His power to punish, His power to avenge, all of them. When say Ar-Rahman, one of His qualities is highlighted, which is Care.

Although the word "Rahmah" is being translated as "mercy", mercy is not the best way to depict "Rahmah" in English language. Mercy is lack of punishment. It is not necessarily something good, but the lack of something bad. Rahmah comes from "Rahim", which is the womb of a mother. It has to do with taking care of something from every angle. If there is a difficulty, the baby doesn't know it, but the mother knows it. The baby's entire world is taken care of by the mother. She handles the baby's entire world. Even if the baby causes the mother pain, she takes it. This is the closest thing in human imagination to what Allah describes as one of His attributes, Ar-Rahman, -- the fact that Allah cares, He takes care of every angle, all of your concerns are taken care of. In that capacity He taught the Quran. This sets the stage of how we are supposed to think of the Quran. Average Muslim today, when asked about their impression of the Quran, will tell you some things are haram, forbidden, punishment, hellfire, ... but the last thing you would hear from them is an act of love, the care associated with the Quran. The teaching of the Quran by Allah is in fact an ultimate mercy.

Allah puts in the name of the Quran certain benefits which we shouldn't forget. Qira'ah means to read. Qur'an means to read a lot.

The word 'allama is to deliver knowledge over time. The real mercy of Allah is that He took the time to teach the Quran. He taught it over time. It is inherent to the word "allama" ( عَلَّمَ ) -- the teaching and taking the time and patience to teach. So, it's okay with taking the time to learn the Quran.

For average Muslims, the Quran should be studied in layers:
1. Study the proper reading of the Quran from a qualified teacher
2. Go through brief discussion of the Quran from one end to another
3. Go through the Quran in more depth by ayah (a slower journey with the Quran)
4. Go through an elaborate study of the Quran (taddabur)

May Allah grant us a sound understanding of the Quran and grant us tawfiq to highest station. Aameen.

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