Nine great benefits of reciting the Quran
Indeed to reflect on Allah’s verses is a
form of worship that will draw one close to Allah Most High. This reflection is
not a reckless and wandering one, rather it includes a study of the classical
tafseer of the verses being pondered over, as this would fulfil Ibnul-Qayyim’s
great advice, “Such as reflecting over a book which a person has memorised and
he expounds it so that he may understand what its author intends by it.”
Indeed the Book of Allah is not a book like
any other, it is the timeless Speech of Allah, not a created thing, the study
guide for life and death and what comes after. Therefore it deserves a more
careful study than anyone else’s speech. It necessitates that its reader return
to the early narrations of those who witnessed its revelation and heard its
explanation by the one deputed by Allah to rehearse and explain His Words to
humanity (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). For if one would try to ponder over
the meanings of the verses without having done this study, then surely the
filth of the time that he lives in and his ignorance of the correct application
and understanding that the early Muslims had would cause him to understand some
things not intended by Allah Most High, and therefore he would go astray,
thinking to be worshipping Allah. So every sincere Muslim who hopes to earn
Allah’s Love breciting and reflecting over Allah’s Book, then let him hold
tight to the meanings explained by the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam),
and those taught by the companions and their immediate followers, and the early
scholars of Islam.
So dear brother and sister Muslim! Know
that reciting and pondering over the Book of Allah, devoting your time
regularly to its study and implementation has tremendous benefits in this life
and the Next, so let us now look to just a few of them to attach ourselves more
firmly to Allah’s Majestic Words. Each benefit stands as enough of an
encouragement to shun any laziness we have and dedicate ourselves to the
Qur’an.
1 - Reading and reflecting over the Qur’an
fulfils an Islamic duty.
Indeed the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa
sallam) summarised this Religion with his statement: “The Religion is naseehah
(sincerity)!” So then Tameem ibn Aws, may Allah be pleased with him, then said,
“We asked, ‘To whom?’” He said: “To Allah, HIS BOOK, His Messenger, the leaders
of the people, and their common folk.” [Muslim] The sincerity that is due to
the Book of Allah includes its regular recitation, learning the rules of
tajweed and reciting it beautifully, learning about its tafseer and the reasons
for its revelation, affirming that it is the Truth, the perfect Speech of Allah
and not part of the creation, honoring it and defending it, abiding by the
orders and prohibitions found in it, teaching it and calling to it. [See
Jaami’ul-’Uloom wal-Hikam of Ibn Rajab Al-Hambalee] So by reading and
reflecting over the Qur’an, one fulfills an obligation and is rewarded for
that. Upon fulfilling this obligation, the Qur’an then becomes a proof for him
on the Day of Judgment! And that is our second benefit we will take by embracing
this Noble Book...
2 - The Qur’an will be a proof for us on
the Day of Judgment.
This is due to the statement of the
Messenger: “And the Qur’an is a proof for you or against you.” [Muslim] So one
of two things will occur with this proof, the Book of Allah. It will either be
in your favor, a proof for you on the Day when you will need every single good
deed, or it will be something standing against you, the very Speech of your
Creator, a proof against you! Who could be saved from the terrors of that Day if
Allah’s own Speech is against him?!?! Think carefully, dear Muslim brother or
sister, about your position with the Qur’an! Are you neglecting it,
contradicting it, being heedless of its orders and prohibitions, are you
thinking deeply over it?! Will it be on your side on the Day of Judgment.?! O
Allah! We ask you, by Your Glorious Speech and the rest of your beautiful Names
and Attributes, to make the Qur’an a proof for us! O Allah! Don’t make the
Qur’an a proof against us on that Day, and save us from the hellfire! For if
Allah makes the Qur’an a proof in our favour on that Day, then it would also be
an intercessor for us, when NO intercession will take place except by His
Permission.
3 - The Qur’an will intercede for us on the
Day of Judgment.
The proof: Aboo Umaamah relates that the
Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Read the Qur’an, for verily it
will come on the Day of Standing as an intercessor for its companions.”
[Muslim]
4 - Your status in this life will be
raised.
In Saheeh Muslim, we find a lovely story,
about how a man from the people of Jannah, ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, understood
this principle. Some men came to question him during his khilaafah about the
leadership of Makkah, they asked, “Who do you use to govern Makkah?” He said, “Ibn
Abzaa.” They asked, “And who is Ibn Abzaa?” Umar replied, “A freed slave from
those we freed.” They remarked, “You left a freed slave in charge of the people
of the Valley (the noble tribes of the Quraysh)!?!?” So he answered them,
“Verily he is a reader of the Book of Allah and is knowledgeable about the
obligations of the Muslims. Haven’t you heard the statement of your Messenger:
“Verily Allah raises some people by this Book and lowers others by it.”
5 - You will be from the best of the
people.
‘Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with him,
said that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “The best of you
are the ones who learn the Qur’an and teach it to others” [Al-Bukhari]
6 - There are ten rewards for each letter
you recite from the Qur’an.
As an authentic hadith in At-Tirmithee
proves: “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.” So increase your recitation of the Qur’an to
gain these merits, and to gain the following merit as well.
7 - The reciters of the Qur’an will be in
the company of the noble and obedient angels.
‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her,
relates that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “Verily the one
who recites the Qur’an 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 he will have TWICE
that reward.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
So dear brother or sister Muslim, do not
let the Shaytaan give you false excuses, such as “I am not an ‘Arab,” or “Its
not my language.” This hadith is a firm proof against these whisperings.
Dedicate yourself to the Book of Allah, whether you are an ‘Arab or not! The
excuses have been eliminated and the pathway has been cleared for you to
embrace the Book of Allah without holding back or offering excuses! And surely
you will not hesitate to seek a teacher or a study circle for the Qur’an once
you hear the last and perhaps greatest benefits of reading and contemplating
over the Qur’an...
8 - Your position in Paradise is determined
by the amount of Qur’an you memorize in this life!
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-’Aas heard the
Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) saying: “It will be said to the
companion of the Qur’an: 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!”
[Aboo Daawood and At-Tirmithee, saheeh]
9 - The Qur’an will lead you to Paradise!
The Prophet said: “The Qur’an is an
intercessor, something given permission to intercede, and it is rightfully
believed in. 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.” [An authentic
hadith found in At-Tabaraanee, on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood]
Know, dear brother or sister, that these
nine benefits from the many benefits available can only be attained by a
sincere commitment to the Book of Allah, not by a person’s mere statement, “I
love the Qur’an, it’s beautiful.” Rather the heart must be sincerely attached
to Allah’s Book and the limbs and tongue will follow in this attachment. You
must know that we only mentioned a few of the numerous benefits of reading and
reflecting over the Qur’an. There are many benefits that await your reading in
the Qur’an and books of hadith, like the chapter of the Qur’an that will argue on
your behalf in the grave, and that it is a physical healing, a source of rest
and relaxation for your heart, among many other things. And Allah knows best.
(Taken from Look 4 Islam)
trivia~ yuk baca Quran yuk.. kurangkan tidur. hehe =))
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