Chapter 2: 9 Tips to become proficient in al-Qur’an.

 

Tips # 3: To realise that al-Qur’an was revealed by Allah.

 

 

If we received a letter from someone who is important in our life, we will definitely read the letter with full of attention, nervousness and eagerness to know the contents. If the letter is quite long, we will find a quiet, serene place to read it. If the letter is an order, we will try to carry out the order as soon as possible and the best way that we can. If that is the way we treat a letter that we received from another human, then how should be our attitude towards al-Qur’an which comes from Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala?

 

One of the important tips in studying al-Qur’an is to realise that it is sent down from Allah Azza wa Jalla. Allah says:

 

Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He),

the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists.

[Ali Imran 3:2-3]

 

And verily, it is an honourable well-fortified respected Book

(because it is Allah’s Speech), and He has protected it from corruption.

Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it:

(it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allah Azza wa Jalla).

[Fushshilat 41:41-42]

 

The revelation of the Book (this Qur’an) is from Allah, the Almighty, the All-Knower.

The Forgiver of the sin, the Acceptor of repentance, the Severe in punishment, the Bestower (of favours).

La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), to Him is the final return.

[al-Mu’min 40:2-3]

 

 

 

When we are aware that al-Qur’an comes from Allah, then we will understand and feel the following verse:

 

Allah has sent down the Best Statement, a Book (this Qur’an),

its parts resembling each other (in goodness and truth) (and) oft-repeated.

The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it ( when they recite it or hear it).

Then their skin and heart soften to the remembrance of Allah.

[az-Zumar 39:23]

 

 

With such understanding, before studying al-Qur’an we should:

  1. Choose the most serene moment and not to think of anything else. Do not study al-Qur’an while listening to the radio, watching television or playing with the kids. Especially to the latter, the father should take a turn to care for the kids so as to give an opportunity for the mother to study al-Qur’an.

  2. Choose the most refreshing moment, for example at night after qiamulail or very early morning before or after morning prayer. It is not advisable to study al-Qur’an when coming back from work or when feeling tired. Studying al-Qur’an in the early morning is recommended by al-Qur’an itself:

     

    And recite al-Qur’an in the early dawn (i.e. the morning prayer).

    Verily, the recitation of al-Qur’an in the early dawn is ever witnessed

    (attended by the angels in charge of mankind of the day and the night).

    [al-Isra’ 17:78]

     

  3. Choose the most comfortable sitting position to enable full attention given to al-Qur’an. Atmosphere, time and sitting positions will definitely be different among individuals.

 

The author will not state as for which is the best but leave it to the readers to choose his or her liking.[1] After that we should study al-Qur’an:

  1. With hope to learn the lessons of each verse and not just to know the ending like reading a novel.

  2. By comparing the lessons of each verse with ourselves and learn from them, and not to do speed reading that we gain little benefit from.

  3. By repeating it over and over because each time we recite it there will be new discoveries. Al-Qur’an is an abounding book that it is impossible to gain all its benefits at one time. We can finish reciting the whole al-Qur’an in our life but will never complete studying it.


 

[1] In several sources there is mentioned some manners before reciting and studying the Qur’an such as ablution, clean from menstruation, sitting with legs folded, facing the qiblat, covering the aurat and so on. Actually these manners do not have any authentic proofs. At one angle they may look good in such a way that we treat al-Qur’an, but from another angle, they are troublesome to the Muslim and will make them deviate from studying al-Qur’an. Besides, the manners should be based on the authentic proofs and nothing else. Jamaluddin Zarabozo has a good discussion on this matter, please refer to his book on How To Approach And Understand The Qur’an (al-Basheer, Boulder, U.S.A. 1999), pgs. 100-109.

On the question of whether women can hold and recite the Qur’an during menstruation or nifas, refer to the article by the author Amalan Wanita Yang Di datangi Haid Dalam Bulan Ramadhan  in the book  Menelan Air Liur Tidak Membatalkan Puasa (Himpunan Risalah Berkenaan Puasa Dan Isu-Isu Berkaitannnya)  by Jahabersa, Johor Bahru 2005.5.

 

 

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CHAPTER 2 : CONTENTS

 

Hafiz Firdaus Abdullah