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Sunna's |
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The merit of reciting the Holy Koran
Introduction The Holy Koran is Allah's eternal miracle and firm support which never splits; it is a way of life that leads to salvation and Allah' satisfaction. The house of Al-Arqam bnu Al-Arqam was the first school in which the Holy Koran was received, learnt by heart and studied.
I- The advantage of learning and teaching the Holy Koran: Many Ahadith urge people to learn the Holy Koran, and to convey it to others by teaching its rules of recitation and its injunctions. 1- Uthman Bnu Affân reported that the prophet -may peace be upon him- said: «The best among you (Muslims) is he who learns the Qur'an and teaches it to others». [Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawûd, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nassâ'i and others] 2- Abdul Allah Bnu Massaûd reported that the prophet -may peace be upon him- said: «He who learns a letter from the Book of Allah receives a virtue, and the virtue is tenfold. I do not say Alif - Lâm - Mîm a letter, but "Alif" is a letter, "Lâm" is a letter and "Mîm" is a letter». [Reported by At-Tirmidhi and he said it is a good and authentic Hadith] 3- Abu Mussa Al-Ashâari reported that the prophet -may peace be upon him- said: «The example of the believer who recites the Koran is like that of a citron which tastes good and smells good. And the example of the believer who does not recite the Koran is like a date which is good in taste but has no smell». [Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, An-Nassâ'i and Ibnu Mâdja] 4- Ai'sha -may Allah be pleased with her- reported that the prophet -may peace be upon him- said: «The skilful in reciting the Holy Koran will be with the scribes, the honourable pious (in heaven) and the one who recites the Holy Koran with difficulty will be double rewarded». [Reported by Al-Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawûd, At-Tirmidhi and others] 5- Abi Dhar Al-Ghefâri reported that he said to the prophet -may peace be upon him: «O prophet of Allah! Advise me». The prophet said: «Fear Allah because it is the kernel of all matters». Abi Dhar said: «O prophet of Allah! What else? ». He said: «You must recite the Hoy Koran for it is the light in the earth and it will be in store for you in Heavens…». [Reported by Ibnu Hibban] 6- Abu Hurayra reported that the prophet -may peace be upon him- said: «The one who listens to a verse from the Book of Allah, it (the verse) will be recorded for him a double virtue, and the one who recites it will be a light for him in the Day of Judgement». [Reported by Ahmad] 7- Djâabir reported that the prophet -may peace upon him- said: «The Holy Koran intercedes for the believer and its intercession will be accepted. So, the one who recites it will guide him to paradise whereas the one who abandons it will drive him to Fire». [Reported by Ibnu Hibban in his Sahih] 8- Abi Umâma reported that he heard the prophet saying: «Recite the Holy Koran because it will intercede for its readers in the Day of Judgement». [Reported by Muslim] 9- Abdul Allah bnu Omar reported that the prophet -may peace be upon him- said: «Fasting and Koran intercede for the servant with Allah. Fasting would say: "O my Lord! I prevented him from eating and drinking in the morning. So, accept my intercession for him". And the Koran would say: "O my Lord! I prevented him from sleep for all the night, so, accept my intercession for him", then, their intercession will be accepted». [Reported by Ahmad, At-Tabarani and Al-Hâkem] 10- Abdul Allah Bnu Omar reported that the prophet -may peace be upon him- said: «It will be said to the one who recites the Holy Koran: read, promote and recite the Koran as you were used to recite it in the worldly life. Indeed, your rank in paradise will be at the last verse you recite». [Reported by At-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawûd and Ibnu Mâdja] 11- Ibnu Abbas reported that the prophet -may peace be upon him-said: «The one who has nothing of the Holy Koran in his heart is like a ruined house». [Reported by At-Tirmidhi and he said: it is a good and authentic Hadith] 12- Abu Huraira reported that the prophet -may peace be upon him- said: «Do not transform your houses into tombs. Indeed, Satan flees from the houses where Surat Al-Baqara is recited». [Reported by Muslim] 13- Abu Mussa Al-Ashâri reported that the prophet -may peace be upon him- said to him: «You have been given a flute (i.e. a nice voice) among the flutes of the family of Dawûd». [Agreed on] 14- Al-Barâ' bnu A'zib reported that the prophet -may peace be upon him- said: «Adorn the Koran with your voices (by reciting it) » -in another narration- «Adorn your voices by reciting the Koran». [Reported by Abu Dawûd, Ibnu Mâdja and An-Nassâ'i] 15- Abdul Allah bnu Massoud said: "The prophet -may peace be upon him- said to me: «Recite the Qur'an to me». I said, "O Allah's Messenger! Shall I recite it to you while it has been revealed to you? He said: «I like to listen it from others». So I recited surat An-Nissâ' (The Women) until I reached the verse «How will it be for them when we bring from every nation a witness, and bring you to witness over them all? ». He said: «It is sufficient for me» and his eyes were flowing with tears. [Agreed upon]
II- The merit of studying the Holy Koran Studying the Holy Koran, understanding its meanings, and knowing its injunctions is an obligation on every Muslim who wants to get the best reward and gains the good that the prophet -may peace be upon him- announced. Abu Hurayra reported that the prophet -may peace be upon him- said: «People do not gather in a mosque (Allah's house) to recite the Book of Allah and study it without being surrounded by angels and covered by mercy, and there descends upon them tranquility and Allah makes a mention of them to those who are with Him…». [Reported by Muslim, Abu Dawûd and others]
III- Conclusions 1- Ibnu Omar reported that the prophet - may peace be upon him- said: «Three (persons) will not be terrified by the greatest terror and will not be judged: … a man who learnt the Koran for the sake of Allah». [Reported by At-Tabarâni] 2- The necessity to hold fast to the Holy Koran because it is the firm support that does not split; it revives the unscrupulous persons and awakens the inadvertent. 3- The Holy Koran is the factor that leads to nation's progress and the basis of its civilisation. 4- Promulgating Islam depends on the sticking to the Noble Koran. 5- It is not allowable to forsake the Holy Koran because the prophet -may peace be upon him- will complain about the forsaking of Koran to Allah. The Almighty Allah said: «And the Messenger will say: "O my Lord! My people have forsaken the Koran"». [Sûrat Al-Furqân/ the Criterion, 30] According to Ibnu Qayim Al-Djawzia, abandoning the Noble Koran is of many kinds: - Deserting its listening. - Deserting the belief in it. - Deserting the application of its rules. - Deserting contemplating it and understanding its meanings. 6- Ibnu Abbas said: "While we were with the prophet -may peace be upon him, Ali bnu Abi Taleb came and complained to the prophet -may peace be upon him- about his forgetfulness of the Koran. Then, the prophet advised him to recite the following supplication: «… Allah the Ever- Innovating of Heavens and Earth, the Owner of Majesty, Generosity and Might which no one can achieve, I ask You O my Allah, the Most Grateful, with Your Majesty and the light of Your face to make Your Book in my heart and to enlighten my eyes with it, to make my tongue fluent with it, to gladden my heart with it, to make me relax with it …». 7- The prophet -may peace be upon him- said: «Whenever a sadness or grief strikes human being and says: "O Allah! I am your servant, the son of your servant, the son of your female servant. My forelock is in your hand. Your decision about me will certainly come to pass. Your judgement on me is certainly just. I ask you with every name that is yours and which you call yourself by, whether you revealed it in your Book, or taught it to one of your creatures or kept in the knowledge of the Unseen that you have. Make the Noble Koran the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the eliminator of my grief and my sadness", Allah removes from him his distress and his sorrow». [Reported by At-Tabarani] |
