How To Learn The Quran Effectively

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

The Quran is the Speech of Allah. The Quran is more eloquent and more blessed than anything people can say. It is similar to the superiority of Allah over any of us. The Quran is a guidance for all of mankind. The religion of Islam is not based on whims, superstitions, and desires but based upon proofs from Allah Most High. Whoever turns his face in Islam to Allah and does good, that is the one that enters the Kingdom of Allah, and no fear will be concerning them, nor will they grieve.

وَقَالُوا۟ لَن يَدْخُلَ ٱلْجَنَّةَ إِلَّا مَن كَانَ هُودًا أَوْ نَصَـٰرَىٰ ۗ تِلْكَ أَمَانِيُّهُمْ ۗ قُلْ هَاتُوا۟ بُرْهَـٰنَكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ ﴿١١١﴾ بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُۥ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ فَلَهُۥٓ أَجْرُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿١١٢

And they say, "None will enter Paradise except one who is a Jew or a Christian." That is [merely] their wishful thinking, Say, "Produce your proof, if you should be truthful." (111) Yes [on the contrary], whoever submits his face in Islam to Allah while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve. (112) [Quran, 2:111-112]

Let's start learning the Quran and understand it. There are some manners in learning the Quran.

1. Begin with the right intentions

Narrated `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him),

I heard the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam saying, "The reward of deeds depends on the intentions, so whoever emigrated for the worldly benefits or to marry a woman, his emigration was for that for which he emigrated, but whoever emigrated for the Sake of Allah and His Apostle, his emigration is for Allah and His Apostle." [Bukhari]

2. Ask Allah repeatedly for knowledge

Allah Most High says,

وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًا

and say, "My Lord, increase me in knowledge." [Quran, Ta-Ha 20:114]

3. Make a plan everyday to understand the Quran

A student who ask Allah to pass an exam but don't make any effort to study, will he pass the exam? If we just pray for knowlege but don't put any effort, are we sincere in the du'a?

More knowledge will strengthen our faith and it will be easier to obey Allah and make it easier to spread the knowledge in better way.

How should we ask? Like a person who hasn't eaten for a few days. Will he ask Allah once? No. He will ask again and again.

4. Use all the resources starting with the pen because Allah says,

ٱقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ ٱلْأَكْرَمُ ﴿٣﴾ ٱلَّذِى عَلَّمَ بِٱلْقَلَمِ ﴿٤﴾ عَلَّمَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ﴿٥

Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous - (3) Who taught by the pen - (4) Taught man that which he knew not. (5) [Quran, Al-Alaq 96:4]

When Allah says that He taught by the pen, pick up the pen immediately. You have written millions of words with your hand, now use your hand to learn Quranic Arabic and make it a habit to write down what you learn. Where do you write? Maintain a notebook (not just on pieces of paper here and there), keep a record of what you are learning, develop a small library of notebooks and books.

According to modern research writing helps you learn things effectively. You have to first read or listen to the material, think about them, and then use your eyes and fingers to write while keeping your whole body silent and focus on the task. So promise yourself that you will at least spend 5 to 10 minutes daily writing new words and grammatical forms of the new words. And do it not with laziness and boredom but with passion, devotion and sincerity. If there is any knowledge that the ummah is deficient in is the knowledge of the Quran.

5. Try to compete for the sake of Allah

تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱلَّذِى بِيَدِهِ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿١﴾ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْمَوْتَ وَٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْغَفُورُ ﴿٢

Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is over all things competent - (1) [He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed - and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving - (2) [Quran, Al Mulk 67:1-2]

Allah created not just to see who is a Muslim and who is not but to see who is best in deeds -- in individual works (such as prayers, homes, office, charity, character, etc) and in social works (such as, helping others, doing da'wah, enjoining good and forbiding evil, etc). So only learn for the sake of Allah and try to be a better person. Allah will reward you based on your efforts not on the results. We can never going to be perfect but our paradigm is I am going to submit wholeheartedly to Allah and if I make a mistake I am going to ask Allah for forgiveness.

Now, Shaytan is burning in rage because you are taking the first step to learn the Quran. Shaytan will try to stop you and he is very experienced in this. But don't worry, you have the support of Allah with your sincere intentions. Shaytan is ready and the angel is ready to record your good deeds.

6. Don't stop here. Bring the Quran into your life

After the study, try to visualize what you have studied, extract the du'a from the Quran, evaluate what you have studied and then spread the message. Beg Allah. He will come to you running if you walk towards Him.

May Allah grant us tawfiq. 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