Is it not obligatory to understand the Qur’an?

1. Is it not obligatory to understand the Qur’an? In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

2. Following are some examples from our daily lives. These examples are: Not intended to offend anyone but to make us review our commitment to Qur’an. To review the ‘justification’ that we have, if any, for not giving proper time for understanding Qur’an To dismantle the arguments provided to us by shaitaan for not studying the Qur’an. Each of us has a shaitaan with him which has almost ‘convinced’ us to neglect the direct understanding of Qur’an. The speaker is just one of you I. Clarification

3. Importance

4. (This is) a Scripture that We have revealed unto thee, full of blessing, that they may ponder its revelations, and that men of understanding may reflect. [Al-Qur’an, 38:29] Revealed for pondering-1

5. Will they then not meditate on the Quran, or are there locks on the hearts? [Al-Qur’an, 47:24] Revealed for pondering-2

6. One can ponder only after he understands it. Example: You read newspapers or stories, you don’t need to look back to understand the message. Can you read a book of math's or science like that? What you do while reading maths or science is pondering. You think carefully about it for some time to understand it. Pondering?

7. And the Messenger (Muhammad, pbuh) will say (on the day of Judgment): O my Lord! Lo! mine own folk make this Quran of no account [Al-Qur’an, 25:30]. A grave warning!

8. Ibn Katheer (r) says to leave Qur’an is not to do any of these: Believe in it Read it Understand it Ponder its verses Act upon it Spread it The Rights Of Qur’an THE RIGHTS OF QUR’AN

9. Everything around us in this universe is a creation of Allah except the Qur’an. It is the attribute of Allah. These are the words of Allah. How extremely fortunate we are that the creator of this universe, the one who is always existing and will always live, has blessed us with a Book in own words containing guidelines for our own benefits and WE DON’T HAVE TIME TO STUDY IT! The only non-creation

10. No excuse for the non-Arabs who have learned other languages (other than their mother tongue). We learnt English and became Masters in it. Why? Because it meant benefits of this world. How are we going to face Allah if we don’t learn the language of His Book. Are we Excused?

11. “And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy for Zikr, then is there any that will remember (and receive admonition)?” [Al-Qur’an, 54:17]. Qur’an is easy for receiving admonition (not for other aspects such as extracting rulings) Qur’an is easy to learn

12. 2 meanings of Zikr: Hifz (remembering; memorizing) and understanding; As an Ummah, we worked on the first one and saw Allah’s promise fulfilled in front of our own eyes. We have almost millions of huffaz. To see greatness of this miracle, try to memorize paragraph of a language you don’t know. How difficult will it be? If we work on the 2nd aspect (of understanding), we will see the miracles here too. Qur’an is easy to learn (cont’d)

13. And hasten not (O Muhammad) with the Quran ere its revelation hath been perfected unto thee, and say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge. Al-Qur’an [20:114] The Prophet’s (pbuh) eagerness to learn Qur’an

14. Some of us may say: We read it last year. Well, do you remember it? That too perhaps was not complete. Qur’an is not something to be read once only. Many ayahs and ahadith are there to encourage reciting it everyday. Reading once is not enough

15. Qur’an is guidance (huda) and cure (shifa). Can I become a medical doctor by reading a medical manual once? Can I become a mathematician just by reading a book of maths once? Qur’an has to be read again and again and again with understanding so that we are able to receive guidance and cure from it in our daily lives. Reading once …

16. Every day we face a number of problems and challenges. We should approach the Qur’an with the attitude that it is revealed for me, for my guidance, for solution to my problems. Every verse that we hear or recite today is not random. It was written our my taqdeer that we will recite/hear it today. And most importantly, it has a message for me for today. Approaching Qur’an…

17. Suppose I am very happy / depressed / worried today.Do I open /hear / the Qur’an and look for solutions? If not, then I have not made it a book of guidance!!! If I open it, I would come across so many verses describing the worthlessness of this world and the importance of hereafter. This will keep my emotions under control and give me the right attitude. This is just an example. It can be extended for other problems of life. Example

18. Do we receive guidance from the Qur’an? In fact we get it from other books, teachers, leaders (OK as long as they are right) but we don’t ask the Qur’an directly. We should approach the Qur’an (again and again) assuming that we are ignorant. Then only Allah will give us his guidance. If we show indifference and self-satisfaction then why should Allah run after us with His Book. Qur’an: A book of guidance?

19. Allah has sent us the ‘best of the Books’ and our attitude towards it is almost the worst in practical terms (even though we do huge lip service theoretically). If I have 20 books in my shelf, then Qur’an perhaps is the one which receives the worst treatment (in terms of the real use of a book, i.e., understanding it). The best of the Books and the worst treatment

20. For every other book which concerns us (whether that of physics, chemistry, commerce, maths, etc.), we give a better treatment in terms of understanding it. For Qur’an, we just don’t bother to understand it. Every other book is understood

21. Many among us are so ‘busy’ all day that we don’t have ANY time to recite or study to understand it! ‘Busy’ does not mean that I am dead in those moments. It only means that I am doing something which I think is more important than Qur’an. Practically speaking, I don’t think it to be of ‘worth.’ If it was of any value to me, I would surely have spared time for its recitation and understanding. I am busy!!!

22. On the contrary, I have time for everything! For reading news, meeting, chatting, …. When it comes to talking with Allah or listening to Allah (reciting), I don’t have time. Well, is it not what you say (I am busy) when you don’t want to see a relatively ‘worthless’ person or relatively ‘unimportant’ work? Time for everything else

23. Our lives have daily time slots for everything, i.e., for sleeping, eating, reading newspapers, etc. Do we have a fixed slot for the Qur’an (in addition to the five prayers)? If not, it only shows the importance that we attach to it. Fixed slots for every other activity

24. Even if such a daily slot or weekly slot exists for attending a dars or study circle of Qur’an, we drop it at the slightest pretext. “I am tired,” “I had some friends/relatives at my house and I can not come,” etc. By the way, none of these pretexts are used when it comes to our job or other interests (such as social gatherings). Disposable slot at slightest pretext

25. If I treat the Book of Allah in this ‘light,’ ‘take-it-easy,’ and neglectful manner, how do I except the Author of the Book to treat me? Did I bother to think that…

26. Examples to emphasize the Importance of understanding the Qur’an

27. Lo! thy Lord knoweth how thou keepest vigil sometimes nearly two thirds of the night, or (sometimes) half or a third thereof, as do a party of those with thee [Al-Qur’an, 73:20]. Ex. 1: The Prophet’s (pbuh) example [Uswah?]

28. Was the Prophet, pbuh, not busy during the day, doing Dawah all day? Yes. Was his understanding not OK? No. Was his memorization poor? Not al all. Still He was asked to recite it every night for hours and hours. Because it was the word of Allah. The Prophet (pbuh) also needed guidance from this Book. Ex. 1…

29. The Prophet (pbuh) spent on the average approx. 4 hours every night. And we don’t want to give even 10% (24 minutes) of what the Prophet (pbuh) gave, THAT TOO during the day. What level of his “Ittibaa” (following) do we have in our lives? (I am talking about our relationship with Qur’an and not Tahajjud). Ex. 1…

30. The companions of the Prophet (pbuh) wanted to recite more and more. He (pbuh) had to say that one who recites Qur’an in less than 3 days does not understand it (approximate meaning). The companions valued it properly. Are we eager to recite the Qur’an and to understand it? Ex. 2: The companions

31. Suppose you have a son who is studying in 10th grade. You bring everything for him for his comfort and enjoyment; dresses; sports items; nice study table and chair; etc. etc. The most important advice you give him is to be attentive to his books/studies. Ex. 3: Your son in 10th grade

32. He enjoys all the facilities and does everything except studying his books. When you come in the evening (and you know that he has not opened a single book during the day), he starts praising you, “O Dad! How nice are you! Thank you so much for bringing me everything!” May be you will tolerate it the first day. But, if this behavior continues for the next four or five days, your patience will surely run out. You may perhaps punish him in response to his PRAISE and will tell him that you have done everything for him so that he is careful about his studies. Ex. 3: …

33. Now, let us extend this example to ourselves. We are asked by our friends, “How are you?” In response, we say, alhamdulillah, thanks to Allah, we are healthy and wealthy, etc. (We should surely thank Allah). What type of thanks is this? He has given us only one Book and we don’t have time to read it! In fact, the condition of general Muslims is that they have ‘almost’ vowed to study everything except Qur’an!!! Ex. 3 …

34. It is a blessing of Allah that he has asked us to study only one Book and STILL WE DON’T UNDERSTAND IT!!! Our students in any grade, let us say 8th grade, have a set of books. When they move on to the 9th grade, all their previous books are cancelled and they are given a new set to study. Allah did not say, for example, “You have reached 25 years of age, so another book for you,” 30 years, another one, … Ex. 4: Only one Book!

35. The Prophet (pbuh) was asked to recite the same Qur’an that we have for almost 4 hours every night! He was asked to recite it again and again to get guidance from the words of Allah. Are we not lucky to have the same book for us too. Don’t we always value the practice of great people in terms of what they read and how they lived? Ex. 5: The Same Book as was given to the Prophet!

36. “Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Power. Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is! The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.” Ex. 6: Night of Qadr versus the Book

37. If the night in which it was revealed became so valuable and highly honored, imagine the greatness of the Book itself which was revealed in that night. Do we really feel the greatness of this Book? Ex. 6: …

38. Suppose, in our country we have a king. On the day of his anniversary, he gives us 1000 times the regular salary and numerous other gifts. All of us will surely appreciate his big heart. Suppose that after the anniversary, if he tells me, “I will come and stay in your house for some time,” How excited will I be? Will I not do everything to please him? Ex. 7: The King’s Anniversary

39. By Allah, the Book (Al-Qur’an) that I have in my house is the same Book, because of which the night in which it was revealed became so much honored, because of which Ramadaan became the best of months, … Do I spend sleepless nights full of excitement because this Book is present in my house! Do I ever feel so much happy and overjoyed when I look at this Book in my house!!! Do I GET UPSET/RESTLESS THE DAY I MISS ITS LESSON, ITS RECITATION, … Ex. 7: …

40. In fact and sadly enough, the situation is reverse!!! When some of us are asked to spend sometime daily to learn it, they feel the burden inside. So, in a way, when it comes to commitment, this Book is a burden for them, rather than a source of happiness. Ex. 7: …

41. In today’s environment of high perks for software engineers, if we are told that a new language (N++ !!?) has come and anyone who masters that language using a manual of 600 pages will get a job worth $10,000, then almost everyone of us perhaps will do his best to understand each and every line of the manual. Ex. 8: A software manual for a 6 digit salary

42. The Book of Allah is ready to give us the infinite wealth of this world (most importantly, in terms of real peace) and in the hereafter (in terms of lasting and forever bliss). Do we ever get restless and spend nights studying this Book? Do we give it the real value and respect? Ex. 8 …

43. As a scientist, how precious would we treat a manual which can given us a key to new discoveries. Will we not scan each and every line of such a manual? But the manual from Allah (Al-Qu’ran) will give us success and infinite wealth both in this world (the invaluable peace of mind and heart) and in the hereafter. Do we care? Ex. 9: A manual for converting metal to gold

44. For a position/ job in this world, we have spent thousands of days and nights, from KG to PG, Kingergarten to post graduation. (Well, if we have the right intention, we will be rewarded inshaAllah). How long will we work on the position/job? 30 or 40 years. After that, shall we not go to grave and start our eternal journey? Ex. 10: Education for Aakhirah?

45. If I have spent thousands of days and nights for 40 years of service/position/job, then what about Al-Quran, with which my infinite future (not 40 years, not 40,00, not 40,000, not 40 million, not 40 billion, not 40 trillion, but infinite future) including that of this world is related. How many hours have I or do I spend or do I plan to spend for this Book? Ex. 10: …

46. Allah says in the Qur’an, “(This is) a Scripture that We have revealed unto thee, full of blessing, that they may ponder its revelations, and that men of understanding may reflect” [Al-Qur’an, 38:29]. The purpose of revelation is that “they ponder over its verses”. A simple and clear statement by Allah!. Ex. 11: Our reverse logic when it comes to Qur’an

47. Have you ever read a book on any topic (Maths, physics, social sciences, commerce, etc.) in which the author has asked you to understand its contents! Never! However, we Muslims have reverse logic when it comes to Qur’an. Even after clear statements by Allah subhanahu ta’ala about the purpose of revelation, we just take it easy and never bother seriously to understand it. The tragedy is that no Muslim denies the importance of understanding it but simultaneously does almost nothing to achieve it. Ex. 11: …

48. I can ‘read’ a newspaper in French which has similar alphabets as those of English (even though I don’t understand French). If I tell you that I have read it, you will ask me about the news. If I respond by saying, “Well I have read it but I don’t know the news,” you may immediately tell me to stop ‘fooling around’ or ‘joking.’ Ex. 12: Common sense applied everywhere except..

49. Didn’t we find any other Book except Qur’an to ‘fool around’ or ‘joke’? We never bother to understand it seriously and on the top of it are completely satisfied with our performance. We still claim that we can ‘read’ Qur’an!!! If we don’t understand the Qur’an while reading it, then we have not read it in the most common sense of the word, ‘read.’ (I am not talking of beginners here). Ex. 12: …

50. We are very strict and concerned about the ‘secular education’ of our kids. Well, that is good. What about the most important book about aakhirah education? Did we ever ask our kids to work on reciting/understanding Qur’an? If the parents themselves don’t recite/understand, with what face, can they ask their kids to do that!! Ex. 13: Ever strict on kids for this Book?