The following is the translation of a chapter of the book 'The Essential Elements of the Islamic Disposition (Nafsiyah)' issued by Hizb ut Tahrir and published in Beirut, Lebanon in 1425 AH.
]لاَ يَأْتِيهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلاَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ تَنزِيلٌ مِنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ.[
]إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ[
]أَفَلاَ يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلاَفًا كَثِيرًا[
The noble Qur’ān is the speech of Allah (swt) which He (swt) revealed to His Messenger Muhammad (saw) via the revelation through Jibreel (may Allah be pleased with him) in word and meaning, whose recitation is an act of worship and it is a miracle transmitted to us via the concurrent (mutawatir) narration:
]لاَ يَأْتِيهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلاَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ تَنزِيلٌ مِنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ.[
“Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allah).” [TMQ Al- Fussilat:42]
It is protected by Allah (swt):
]إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ[
“Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur’ān) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption).” [TMQ Al-Hijr:9]
From it the souls find life and the hearts find tranquility. It is the Book, which takes the people out from the darkness into the Light by the permission of Allah (swt), the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise. The one who speaks according to it has spoken the truth and the one who acted upon it is the successful one, the one who judged by it has practiced justice and the one who calls to it is guided to the Straight Path.
It is the provision of the believer and how excellent a provision it is. It is more important and necessary for the Da’wah carrier; with which his heart is filled, and in which he finds strength. The one who carries this Qur’ān becomes like the towering mountains, where for whom the whole world is considered little for the sake of Allah (swt). He says the truth and for Allah’s (swt) sake he fears none. The one who used to be moved by the wind due to the lightness of his weight becomes heavier in the sight of Allah (swt) than the mount of Uhud because he is a reciter of the Qur’ān, whose tongue is moistened by it and whose fingers testify to it. This is how the companions of the Messenger of Allah (saw) were in this world, as if they were walking Qur’ans, reflecting upon its verses and reading it as it should be read, putting it into practice and calling to it. They were shaken by the ayat mentioning the punishment but rejoicing by the ayat mentioning mercy, their eyes filled with tears in submission to His Power and Greatness, submitting to His (swt) rules and wisdom, which they received from the Messenger of Allah (saw). His (swt) verses become settled in the depths of their hearts. For this reason they were strong and became the leaders, they were granted happiness and success. When Allah’s Messenger (saw) departed from this world to the highest position in the Heavens, they continued to observe the Qur’ān as advised to do so by the trusted Messenger (may the peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon him, his family and all his companions). Thus, those who memorised the Qur’ān were the foremost people in enjoining the good and forbidding the evil. The carrier of the Qur’ān was at the forefront of doing every good action bearing the hardships in the path of Allah (swt).
For the Muslims generally and the Da’wah carriers specifically the Qur’ān deserves to be the joy of their hearts, which keeps them on their path and leads to all that is good and raises them from one height to another. They recite the Qur’ān day and night, reciting, memorising, and practicing what they have learnt such that they become truly the best descendants for the best ancestors.
These noble verses are followed by the sacred hadīth regarding the revelation of the Qur’ān, its memorisation, the guidance, virtue of its recitation and the abundant goodness that lies within it:
He (swt) said:
]نَزَلَ بِهِ الرُّوحُ الأَمِينُ عَلَى قَلْبِكَ لِتَكُونَ مِنْ الْمُنذِرِينَ.[
“Which the trustworthy Ruh [Jibreel] has brought down; upon your heart (O Muhammad) that you may be (one) of the warners.”
[TMQ Ash-Shu’arā: 193]
He (swt) said:
]إِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ[
“Verily We: It is We Who have sent down the Zikr (i.e. the Qur’ān) and surely, We will guard it (from corruption).” [TMQ Al-Hijr: 9]
He (swt)said:
]لاَ يَأْتِيهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلاَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ تَنزِيلٌ مِنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ[
“Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allah swt).” [TMQ Fussilat: 42]
He (swt) said:
]إِنَّ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ يَهْدِي لِلَّتِي هِيَ أَقْوَمُ وَيُبَشِّرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا كَبِيرًا[
“Verily, this Qur’ān guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believer, who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward (Paradise ).” [TMQ Al-Isrā: 9]
He (swt) said:
]يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولُنَا يُبَيِّنُ لَكُمْ كَثِيرًا مِمَّا كُنْتُمْ تُخْفُونَ مِنْ الْكِتَابِ وَيَعْفُو عَنْ كَثِيرٍ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ مِنْ اللَّهِ نُورٌ وَكِتَابٌ مُبِينٌ. يَهْدِي بِهِ اللَّهُ مَنْ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلاَمِ وَيُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنْ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ[
“O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Now has come to you Our Messenger (Muhammad) explaining to you much of that which you used to hide from the Scripture and passing over (i.e. leaving out without explaining) much. Indeed, there has come to you from Allah a light (Prophet Muhammad) and a plain Book (this Qur’ān). Wherewith Allah guides all those who seek His Good Pleasure to ways of peace, and He brings them out of darkness by His Wil l unto light and guides them to a Straight Way
[TMQ Al-Mā’idah: 15-16]
He (swt) said:
]الر.كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ النَّاسَ مِنْ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ[
“Alif, lam, raa. (This is) a Book which We have revealed unto you (O Muhammad) in order that you might lead mankind out of darkness (of disbelief and polytheism) into light by their Lord’s Leave to the Path of the All-Mighty, the Owner of all Praise.” [TMQ Ibrahīm: 1]
He (swt) said:
]الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ[
“Who have believed and whose hearts find tranquillity in the remembrance of Allah. Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
[TMQ Ar-Ra’d: 28]
He (swt) said:
]أَفَلاَ يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِنْدِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلاَفًا كَثِيرًا[
“Do they not then consider the Qur’ān carefully? Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much contradictions.”
[TMQ An-Nisā:82]
He (swt) said:
}خيركم من تعلَّم القرآن وعلَّمه. {
“The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’ān and then teaches it.”
Reported by al-Bukharī on the authority of ‘Uthman b. ‘Affān (ra).
He (swt) said:
}من قرأ حرفاً من كتاب الله فله به حسنة والحسنة بعشر أمثالها لا أقول ألم حرف، ولكن ألف حرف، ولام حرف، وميم حرف. {
“Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that “Alif, Laam, Meem” is a letter, rather I am saying that “Alif” is a letter, “laam” is a letter and “meem” is a letter.”
Reported by at-Tirmidhi on the authority of ‘Abd Allah b. Mas’ud and it is a sound hadīth.
He (swt) said:
}الماهر بالقرآن مع السفرة الكرام البررة، والذي يقرأ القرآن وهو يتعتع فيه وهو عليه شاق له أجران{
“Verily the one who recites the Qur’ān beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then his reward will be multiplied twice.”
Reported by Muslim on the authority of ‘Ayisha, the mother of the believers (may Allah be pleased with her)
He (swt) said:
}إن الذي ليس في جوفه شيء من القرآن كالبيت الخرب. {
“The one in whom there is no Qur’ān is like the barren house.” Reported by at-Tirmidhi who declared it to be sound
He(swt) said:
}إقرأوا القرآن فإنه يأتي يوم القيامة شفيعاً لصاحبه. {
“Read the Qur’ān, for verily it will come on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its companions.”
Reported by Muslim from his Sahīh on the authority of Umamah al-Baahili (ra).
He (swt) said:
}القرآن شافع مشفع، وماحل مصدق، من جعله أمامه قاده إلى الجنة ومن جعله خلفه ساقه إلى النار. {
“The Qur’ān is an intercessor and entitled for intercession, and it is a strong challenger (in argument) and rightfully entrusted. Whoever puts it in front of him, it will lead him to Paradise ; whoever puts it behind him, it will steer him to the Hellfire.”
Reported by Ibn Hibban in his Sahīh on the authority of Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (ra). It has also been reported by al-Bayhaqi in his Shu’ab al-Imān on the authority of Jabir and Ibn Mas’ud (ra) and it is a sound hadīth.
He (swt) said:
}إن الله يرفع بهذا الكتاب أقواماً ويضع به آخرين. {
“Verily Allah raises some people by this Book and lowers others by it.” Reported by Muslim
Reported by Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi in the sound hadīth that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
}يقال لصاحب القرآن إقرأ وارتق ورتل كما كنت ترتل في الدنيا، فإن منـزلتك عند آخر آية تقرؤها. {
“It will be said to the companion of the Qur’ān: Read and elevate (through the levels of the Paradise) and beautify your voice as you used to do when you were in the dunyaa! For verily, your position in the Paradise will be at the last verse you recite!”
He (saw) said:
}إقرأوا القرآن واعملوا به ولا تجفوا عنه ولا تغلوا فيه ولا تأكلوا ولا تستكثروا به. {
“Read the Qur’ān, put it into practice, do not abandon it, do not cheat in it, and do not eat and gain wealth through it.”
Reported by Ahmad, at-Tabarānī and others on the authority of ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Shabal t and it is a sound hadīth.
He (saw) said:
}مثل المؤمن الذي يقرأ القرآن مثل الأترجّة طعمها طيب وريحها طيب، ومثل المؤمن الذي لا يقرأ القرآن مثل التمرة طعمها طيب ولا ريح لها، ومثل المنافق الذي يقرأ القرآن مثل الريحانة ريحها طيب وطعمها مر، ومثل المنافق الذي لا يقرأ القرآن كمثل الحنظلة طعمها مر ولا ريح لها{
“The metaphor of a believer who recites the Qur’ān is that of a citron - its scent is fragrant and its taste is good. The metaphor of a believer who does not recite the Qur’ān is that of a date - it has no scent but its taste is sweet. The metaphor of a hypocrite who recites the Qur’ān is that of basil - its scent is fragrant but its taste is bitter. The metaphor of a hypocrite who does not recite the Qur’ān is that of colocynth - it has no scent and its taste is bitter.”
Reported by al-Bukharī and Muslim on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (ra).
He (saw) said:
}تعاهدوا القرآن فوالذي نفس محمد بيده لهو أشد تفلتاً من الإبل في عقلها. {
“Keep up the recitation of the Qur’ān. For verily, by He in Whose Hand Muhammad’s soul is in, it (the Qur’ān) is stronger in escaping (the memory) than a camel from its rein.”
Reported by al-Bukharī and Muslim on the authority of Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (saw).
The above noble ayahs and sacred hadīths indicate the great position of the noble Qur’ān. They also indicate the great position of the conveyer of the great Qur’ān, which he conveys for purpose of reflection and practice. He recites it always such that it forms an enormous energy in the paths of goodness and not put it on the shelf collecting dust or adorns it and keeps it locked in the safe and forgotten. May Allah (swt) save us from being from the losers. Recite the Qur’ān, O brothers. Rush to its recitation and read it, as it should be recited. Reflect upon it as it should be reflected upon and practice and adhere to it as it should be practiced and adhered to it so that you become of pleasing flavour and good fragrance (good and pure). Then you shall be from the foremost ranks of the Da’wah carriers in this world. Likewise you will be at the foremost ranks in the Jannah when it is said to you: read and arise. If you do this you will be deserving of the great victory and success and the Good Pleasure is the greatest:
]وَبَشِّرْ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ[
“And give glad tidings (O Muhammad) to the believers.”
[TMQ As-Saff:13]
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