Strengthening Our Relationship With The Quran

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

The Quran is healing, guidance and mercy for the believers.

Allah Most High says in Surah Yunus,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَآءٌ لِّمَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٥٧﴾ قُلْ بِفَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِۦ فَبِذَ‌ٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا۟ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ ﴿٥٨

O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers. (57) Say, "In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate." (58) [Quran, Yunus 10:57-58]

Every Muslim know the importance of reciting the Quran. There is so much reward in reciting the Quran.

The Quran will come on the Day of Judgment to intercede for the one who recite it.

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: One who was devoted to the Quran will be told to recite, ascend and recite carefully as he recited carefully when he was in the world, for he will reach his abode when he comes to the last verse he recites. [Abu Dawood]

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: One who is skilled in the Quran is associated with the noble, upright recording angels, and he who falters when he recites the Quran and finds it difficult for him will have a double reward. [Abu Dawood]

The Quran is an extraordinary Book then there is extraordinary etiquette in reciting it. We are reading the Book of Allah, not a newspaper or any scholar's book. The early salaf used to choose the right place and the right time to recite it. They prepared themselves before they recited the Quran -- take wudu', use miswak, brush teeth, freshen the mouth, face the qibla.

Choose a place of solitude where you are able to concentrate while reading. Not with TV or music on. Not lying on the bed. Turn off or silent the phone so you won't be distracted.

The middle of the night in solatul tahajjud is one of the best times to bond with the Quran and create a link with Allah.

Start your day with salatul fajr, zikr and read the Book of Allah

أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا ﴿٧٨

Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed. [Quran, Al Isra' 17:18]

To read 20-30 minutes of Quran in the morning is not difficult to attain peace and tranquility.

The two integrals in regards to the etiquitte in reciting the Quran:
1. Tarteel -- calm composed measured manner, recite every letter as it ought to be recited with proper implementation of the rules tajweed.
2. Taddabur -- reflecting and pondering upon the verses

Unfortunately people spent years to obtain a degree, they know about politics, they are up to date with current technology, but they cannot read Quran. Some have spent a life of 50 or 60 years but they cannot learn how to recite the Book of Allah. That is very sad.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "The best among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it." [Al Bukhari]

Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peac) said, "Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a ten-fold reward. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim is one letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter." [At- Tirmidhi].

The actual relationship we have with the Quran is when we are standing in prayer and reciting it, and when we are standing behind an imam and listening to it being recited. Our relationship with the Quran happens five times a day at least. If somebody's prayer is good, his Quran is good, and if someone is not engaging with the Quran in his prayers, then his relationship with the Quran is entirely superficial. If we want our prayers to benefit us, we should know and realize what we are doing at each step.

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَآ ﴿٢٤

Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts? [Quran, Muhammad 47:24]

The stories in the Quran are not just stories as stories are for entertainment. Quran is for guidance. So we should take lessons from these stories.

Allocate some time everyday to listen to the Quran. Listening to the Quran is an act of ibadah. When the qari or imam recite from the hearts, it affects our hearts. There should be more time to listen to the Quran than listen to the news or nasyids. Give Quran more attention.

May Allah help us bond with the Book of Allah. 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