19/08/2023
REVIVING ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE QUR'ĀN
I recently came across an inspiring quote by Ibn Taymiyah about reading the Qur'ān, shared by a Qur'ān tutor. It deeply moved me to the point where I penned a lengthy response, tears streaming as I typed. May Allah guide us to His Word once again.
Allow me to share the quote, along with my reaction (now slightly refined), in the hopes that it resonates with you as well.
What did Ibn Taymiyah say?
Ibn Taymiyah said:
"I have not seen anything that feeds the mind and soul, and protects the body, and ensures happiness more than consistently looking through the Book of Allah Ta'ala" [ Al-Fatawah 7/493]
Indeed, this holds true wallohi! It's been tried and tested. Yet, when the solace, joy, peace, and tranquility that the Qur'ān provides begin to elude us, or when merely picking up the Mushaf feels like a challenge, it's clear that something is amiss... something is wrong somewhere.
Regrettably, these days, even those who were once acquaintants with the Qur'ān, revered for their dedication to its verses through memorization, are grappling with inertia, struggling to engage with its pages.
Alas! these days, majority of those that are often used to be regarded as the companions of the Qur'ān due to their fervent relationship with the Qur'ān by memorizing it, are now becoming lazy and finding it difficult to open the Mushaf, look into the Qur'ān and read!
Pause and reflect: when was the last time you traversed the entire Holy Qur'ān from cover to cover, dear Hafidh and Haafidho of the Qur'ān?
And when did you last review your memorization?
I mean, when last did you complete the Tilaawah of the Holy Qur'ān from pali-pali (cover to cover) Ya Hafidh and Haafidho of the Qur'ān?
When last did you revise your memorization of it?
Businesses, parties, and worse still, excessive movie-watching have now supplant the priority given to the Qur'ān by some of us.
Music, in its various forms, has also found companionship with many.
You are called an Haafidh and Haafidho but are now finding it difficult to open the Mushaf to read from it. You can't spend 15-20 minutes uninterrupted without dozing off on it!
Unbeknownst, Allah's Word is slipping away from your grasp, and this doesn't evoke sorrow?
Allah is chasing and separating you away from His Word, and you didn't feel bothered or troubled?!
The only relationship left, have some haafidh and Haafidho with the Qur'ān is the opportunity of teaching it for 2/3 hours to some students on or offline in one or two Madrasahs.
And now you're bewildered by the transformations in your life?
The cause of the decline, dissatisfaction, and humiliation that surround you?!
I guess it's high time we revived our relationship with the Qur'ān!
It's high time we introspect and rejuvenate our relationship with the Book of the Almighty.
نحن قوم أعزنا الله بالقرآن فمهما ابتغينا العزة فى غيره أذلنا الله!
We are a nation whom Allah has honored through the Qur'ān (he favored us with the memorization of His Book and becoming companions of it, thus we became people of honor and respect everywhere we go). Any endeavor to seek honor elsewhere shall lead to nowhere but our debasement.
Says He Azza Wa Jal:
"لقد أنزلنا إليكم كتابا فيه ذكركم". قال عبد الله بن عباس وغيره: أي فيه شرفكم
"Verily, We have sent down a Book that contains your 'Dhikr'".
Abdullah ibn Abbas and others elucidate: "Dhikr" here signifies "Honor."
In essence, a Bookin which therein, is your TRUE HONOR.
O our Lord! Remove our names from the list of those who have deserted your Word, the Qur'ān! As the Prophet would lament:
"يا رب إن قومى اتخذوا هذا القرآن مهجورا"
"O Lord, my people have forsaken this Qur'ān"
Return us back to your Word in a beautiful return Ya Allah!
Unto You we have come in repentance Ya ALLAH!!!! Ya dhal-Jalaali wal-Ikram!!!!
- Alhusman
19th August, 2023.
