1.
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “The best of you are
those who learn the Qur’aan and teach it.
(Bukhaari)
2. “Why do you
not go to the Musjid and learn to recite two aayaat of the Qur’aan,
for this is better for you than two camels; three aayaat are better
than three camels four aayaat are better than four camels, and so on.”
Camles (and
all vehicles of transport) are of use in only this world while the Qur’aanic
aayaat are of use in both worlds. Here camels have been mentioned by
way of example because of their great value and utility to the Arabs.
This is merely an illustration.
Otherwise, in
actual fact, the entire universe has no comparison to even a single
aayat of the Qur’aan Majeed. (Mirkaat)
Another fact
which emerges from this hadith is the great thawab of learning even
a part of the Qur’aan Majeed. Even a portion of the Qur’aan
Majeed acquired is indeed a great and wonderful. Ni’mat bestowed
by Allah Ta’ala.
3. Rasulullah
(sallaallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“He who
recites the Qur’aan well and clearly is equal in rank to the Angels
who record creation’s deeds. These Angels are gracious, honourable
and of lofty rank. He who finds difficulty in reciting the Qur’aan
will obtain a double reward.”
A double reward
means: One reward for reciting and another reward for the added effort.
This hadith exhorts the one who recites with difficulty to continue
reciting and not give up reciting thinking that poor recital is futile.
On the contrary, such recitation is highly meritorious, hence a double
reward.
4. Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“A person
who recites one harf (letter) of the Qur’aan, obtains one virtue;
each virtue multiplies to ten virtues. I am not saying that (ALM) is
one harf. But, Alif in it is one harf; the Laam in it is one harf and
the Meem in it is one harf.
(Tirmizi
and Daarami)
One example, viz.,
(ALM) has been given. Similarly, when the reciter says, (ALHAMD), he
obtains fifty virtues. Allahu Akbar! What tremendous significance and
reward! It is, therefore, most deplorable if one, because of neglect
fails to take advantage of this great offer by not acquiring the wealth
of the Qur’aan.
5. “A
person whose breast is devoid of the Qur’aan (i.e. he has not
learnt anything of the Qur’aan Majeed) is like a desolate house.”
(Tirmizi)
6. Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“On the
Day of Qiyaamah a crown of such brilliance will be placed on the heads
of the parents of one who learnt the Qur’aan and practised on
its laws, that its glitter will outshine the brilliance of the sun which
penetrates your houses. What then do you think will be the position
of the one who himself learnt the Qur’aan and acted in accordance
with it?”
(Ahmad
and Abu Dawood)
This hadith mentions
the great significance of teaching the Qur’aan Majeed to children.
It is incumbent, therefore, upon Muslims to ensure that their children
learn to recite the Qur’aan Majeed. If for some reason they cannot
or do not gain the opportunity of committing the Qur’aan Majeed
to memory (Hifz) then at least they should learn it by reciting from
the text (Naatharah). However, wherever the opportunity exists for imparting
Hifz to the children, advantage should be taken to acquire this great
wealth. Indded it is a wonderful bounty. If for some reason the child
does not have the time for learning the whole Qur’aan, then even
a portion should be taught to him/her. This hadith exhorts even the
acquisition of a portion of the (Qur’aan
Majeed).
7. Rasulullah (sallallahu
alayhi wasallam) said:
“He who
recites the Qur’aan, memorizes it, accepts its halaal (lawful
things) as halaal and haraam (forbidden things) as haraam (i.e. his
beliefs in these matters are correct), Allah Ta’ala will enter
him into Jannat and accept his intercession on behalf of ten such persons
of his family upon whom entry into Jahannum has become incumbent (i.e.
Allah Ta’ala will forgive them because of his intercession).”
(Ahmad, Trimizi, Ibn Majah, Daarami)
The significance
of committing the Qur’aan Majeed to memory mentioned in this hadith
is far greater than that mentioned in the earlier hadith. Among one’s
family members, the closest to one are one’s parents. Hence, in
terms of the assurance of intercession sated in the hadith the Hafiz’s
intercession for his parents is a certainty. Parents should now realize
the tremendous importance and advantage of making their children Huffaaz
of the Qur’aan Majeed.
8. Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“Hearts
(of people) also corrode like steel rusts when exposed to moisture.”
Someone asked: ‘O Rasulullah! (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) What
is its polish? Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied: ‘Remembering
Maut in abundance and recitation of the Qur’aan.”
(Baihaqi
Shu’bul Imaam)
9. Hadhrat Jabbir
(radiallahu anhu) said:
“Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) once came to us while we were engaged in
reciting the Qur’aan. Among us were some village-folk and non-Arabs
(i.e. some people who were not able to recite the Qur’aan properly).
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: ‘Continue reciting.
All are reciting well.”
(Abu
Dawood, Baihaqi)
From this it will
be realized that even if one lacks the ability to recite superbly, one
should continue reciting so that the heart becomes adorned. Those who
have the ability to recite superbly should not be scornful of those
who lack the ability. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) encouraged
all to recite the Qur’aan Majeed even if the recitation is not
up to the correct standard.
10. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“He who
listens to even a single aayat (being recited by another) obtains such
a virtue which perpetually multiplies (it increases in thawaab continuously).
The one who recited the aayaat will on the Day of Qiyaamah find the
recited aayat in the form of a Noor (which will be of greater value
and significance than the virtue which accrued to the one who had listened
to the recitation.)”
(Ahmad)
If one is unable to
recite, one should always listen to the recital of others. Such listening
is rewarded with considerable thawaab. There is absolutely no difficulty
involved in the obtainal of such great thawaab by such a simple method.
11. Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“Continue
reciting the Qur’aan because on the Day of Qiyaamah it will appear
as an intercessor for the reciter.”
(Muslim)
The intercession of
the Qur’aan will result in the reciter being pardoned.
12. Rasulullah
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:
“On the
Day of Qiyaamah the Qur’aan will petition Allah to cloak the one
who had recited it with garments of honour and respect. A crown of honour
will then be placed on the head of the reciter. The Qur’aan will
then petition Allah Ta’ala to shower His pleasure on the reciter.
Allah will then become pleased with him. The reciter will then be asked
to recite the Qur’aan, thereby attaining higher ranks of elevation.
In reward for each aayat a virtue will accrue to him.
(Tirmizi and Ibn Khuzaimah)
Another hadith as
well describes the elevation of ranks by means of reciting the Qur’aan
in the Hereafter. The hadith states:
“Continue
climbing (higher and higher in rank) with your recitation in the same
way as you recited with care and concern on earth. Your abode (of residing)
is located (at that rank attained) with the last aayat recited.
(Tirmizi,
Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah, Ibn Habbaan)
One should now reflect
and take advantage of this great treasure in store in the Aakhirah,
by striving in the recitation of the Qur’aan. Effort should be
made to secure this wonderful wealth for one’s offspring. If one
experiences difficulty in memorizing or in reciting, one should never
lose hope and give up the recitation. Even reciting in such circumstances
is highly meritorious as has been explained earlier. If unable to commit
the Qur’aan to memory, then merely recite it (by way of Naatharah
i.e. looking inside and reading). Impart this recitation to others as
well. The significance and thawab are indeed great.
The acquisition
of the ways and means of a practice or act which is incumbent and rewardable
is also incumbent and rewardable. Like it is essential to render the
act or practice so too is it essential to acquire its ways and means.
This is a simple and self-evident fact. It is there fore incumbent to
make the necessary arrangements for learning and teaching the Qur’aan
Majeed. The ways and means of rendering this duty is to establish a
maktab (or madresah) in your locality so that children can be taught
to recite the Qur’aan Majeed. Adults too should devote some time
towards this acquisition. If a free instructor or teacher is not available,
the community should engage a salaried teacher.
Boys who have
acquired the knowledge of reciting at the madresah should teach it to
the females at home. In this way all males and females will be able
to recite the Qur’aan Majeed. If anyone is unable to recite the
Qur’aan, he/she should at least memorize a few surahs.
Besides the
above, there are some other Huqooq (rights and demands) of the Qur’aan
Majeed. These are:
A. Once the
Qur’aan Majeed has been learnt it should never be forgotten. Whatever
part/s have been learnt should always be remembered.
B. A person
who wishes to learn the translation of the Qur’aan majeed should
not undertake the task by means of self-study. In self-study of the
Qur’aan’s translation is the grave danger of misunderstanding.
Its translation should be studied under the guidance of an Alim.
C. The Qur’aan
Majeed demands the utmost respect and reverance. Never stretch the legs
in its direction nor turn your back to it. Do not sit higher than the
Qur’aan Majeed and do not place it on the ground. Place it on
a desk or pillow or any high place.
D. Torn, tattered
and unuseable pages and copies of the Qur’aan Majeed should be
wrapped in a cleans cloth and buried in such a spot which will not be
trampelled underfoot.
E. When reciting
the Qur’aan Majeed contemplate that you are conversing with Allah
Ta’ala. The spiritual light with which the heart will then become
imbued will be vividly perceived.
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