Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Introduction to the Quran |
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| Anonymous |
| 03/21/01 at 15:13:18 |
| Assalaamualaikum. Here is something interesting to read. Would appreciate your comments. CLASS ONE: WHY DO WE NEED THE QURAN? For all of you who have children, take a moment to think how much you worry over their future. How much do you agonise over their studies, what subjects should they choose for their bachelors or masters? And if you don’t have children then think about how much your parents agonise over your future. Why? Because every parent wants their child to have the best possible future. We can all take a moment to reflect how hard we are working for this world and how much we are sacrificing to establish ourselves. When we think of good parents what are the qualities that come to our mind? Is it parents who dress their children well? or parents who have educated their children to a high standard? But, if we truly cared about ourselves and others we would desire what was best not only in this life but also for the hereafter. It is Allah Who not only gives us physical sustenance but He provides for our spiritual nourishment as well, a spiritual nourishment that shall lead us to success in the hereafter. Most of us complain that we feel distanced from Allah or that we don’t know Him. So how do we get to know Him? The Quran is our rope to Allah. When people want to know about the style of a certain writer they read that authors books. The Quran is the Book of Allah, it tells us about our Creator and how we are to establish a relationship with Him. Have we ever reflected on the fact that the Quran consists of Allah’s speech to us, all of us individually? To read the Quran is to hear Allah and to converse with Him. Allama Iqbal’s father once said, read the Quran as if it were being revealed to you. Allah says in the Quran ‘Indeed We have revealed a book to you-in it is your mention-is your remembrance’ (Al Ambiya, 10) Subhan’Allah. The king of all kings should reveal a book for us!! You only write a book about someone if you love them or care for them. And what is the Quran’s message and purpose? ‘O mankind! There has come to you an exposition from your Lord, a cure/healing for whatever is in your hearts, a guidance and a blessing for the true believers. Say it is the grace and mercy of Allah that He has sent this Quran so let the people rejoice over it for it is better than what they are collecting’ (Surah Yunus, 57). The above ayah describes the purpose of the Quran in a nutshell. Allah starts by addressing ‘O mankind!’, not men, women, children, old, young but mankind and that includes non muslims because Allah’s guidance is for all of humanity. Allah does not discriminate on any basis. Firstly the Quran is a healing. Think of all the problems we face in life, with our health, with our children’s upbringing, with our jobs, the list is endless. What are we all looking for? Peace and tranquillity? Do we feel like just running away sometimes and forgetting our problems? Going to a desserted island where we will be alone? The only place on earth we can find the peace and tranquillity we are looking for is the Quran because they are so many people who have all the material things of this world and yet what they do not have is peace and contentment. Allah refers to the Quran as a glad tiding. When we hear maulvis talk of Islam we tend to hear the negative aspects emphasised the most, fear and hell. But Allah says no, this Quran is something we should be rejoicing over. The purpose of the Quran; Guidance. But why do we need guidance? Our intellect is limited. In everything in our life we go to the experts for advice. The smallest of gadgets from the blender to the TV all come with a book of guidelines on how to operate the machine. And when these things are out of order we don’t just try and fix them ourselves but we go to the expert. We all claim to be Muslims, born Muslims. But if a person were to claim to be a doctor, without actually having studied medicine just because his/her parents were doctors we would say he/she was crazy. We would never even go to such a person for treatment. If that is the case how can we claim to be Muslims when we have never studied our religion? And how is it that where worldly matters are concerned we only want the ‘expert opinion’ but when it comes to the spiritual guidance of the most complex creature on earth we are content to follow our own suppositions and theories, accepting all that we hear without verifying it? Imagine taking a trip down to lets say Lahore. You’ve never been to Lahore before and don’t know how to get there so you buy a road map. Now what do you do? Wrap the road map in velvet covers, place it in front of you and kiss it repeatedly? Or perhaps you do bother to take it out of the velvet cover and read it, but you don’t understand it, so instead of ending up at your destination you end up in Timbuktu. The Quran is our road map to this world and the hereafter. If we don’t even understand its message, how do we even know what our destination should be? The following is a poem called ‘The Lament of the Quran by Mahir-ul Qadri’ As an ornament they do adorn me, Yet they keep me and sometimes kiss me In their celebrations they recite me In disputes they swear by me On shelves do they securely keep me Till another celebration or dispute when they need me. Yes they read and memorise me, Yet only an ornament am I My message lies neglected my treasure untouched The field lies bare where blossomed once true glory Wrong is the treatment that I receive So much to give have I but none is there to perceive. My friend, relates her experience with the Quran, something most of us might be able to relate to. ‘When I was 17, I had not even read the Qur’an once. That is, I had not even completed recitation of the entire Arabic text, for to even contemplate reading a translation of the Qur’an was absurd. Till then, my encounter with the Qur’an had been based on a succession of “maulvi saabs” in their well-meaning but totally unsuccessfully attempts to make me recite the Qur’an at least once. Consequently, images of the Qur’an were for me images of weary boredom as well as a confused idea that every Muslim had to recite the Qur’an once in his lifetime, then they had fulfilled the Qur’an’s duty. Oh yes, you also read it if someone was sick, or having a baby or had died. Though why, I never contemplated. Book of Guidance? No way! Anyhow, I continued in this state of ignorance, blindly following my whims and the norms of respectable society-“shareef girls always wear dupattas” etc, etc. Then one day, I heard Ameera Assilmi, a dynamic American Muslim convert on the subject of Muslim women in Pakistan: “They have no true knowledge of the Qur’an. They kiss the Qur’an, wrap it in velvet and silks, place it on the highest shelves.” “Qur’an Kareem, Mashallah.” But the Qur’an is not magic words. It is a Book of Guidance, it needs to be in your heart.” The next email shall Insh’Allah be on Surah Fateha. |
| Re: Introduction to the Quran |
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| Muslim4evva |
| 03/21/01 at 22:19:34 |
| Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmat Allahi Wa Barakaatuh! This was a wonderful post Anonymous. May Allah reward you for the reminder. It is my belief that this Ummah of ours will never return to its earlier state of bliss until it becomes closer to the Book of Allah. By Allah, that Book is a revolution in itself. If only we would take the time and interest to open its flaps, read it, understand it, and try our best to implement it in our lives, and instill its teachings in the lives of our close ones. Alas, as the poem eloquently says, the Qur'an has become simply one of the books among the books on our shelves. It sits there, gathering dust, rarely touched. For those who do read it from time to time, rarely spend quality time with the Book. Quality time. That's the key phrase here. Besides reading the Qur'an to prepare a lesson or a talk, how often do we read it in the middle of the night, or after dawn breaks, when nobody is around, when all work is stopped, when most of the world is deep asleep, when Allah is closer to the Earth than at any other time? How often do we read the Qur'an in our closed rooms, contemplating on its meanings, relating each ayah to our every day lives, to our long term goals that we have set for ourselves, pondering, absorbing its teachings, feeling ashamed after being exposed by it, shaking with fear from its warnings, yearning with joy for its promised rewards, realizing our weaknesses in front of the Creator, and weeping at our inability to do anything without the help of Allah? How often do we do it? Hardly ever! In my opinion, and Allah knows best, it is not enough for us to simply recite a few verses of the Qur'an every day in Arabic. It is rewarding, nonetheless, but not sufficient for our own betterment, and that of this Ummah. It is required from each and every one of us, to set out the time to read the MEANING of the Qur'an in a contemplative manner. Let us try to do this, if we are not doing so already. And as you set out to make this commitment to yourself, remember what Rasulullah (sallalahu alayhi wasallam) said about the best of acts being those that are done consistently, even if they be small in quantity. Don't let the Shaytaan fool you into taking upon a task so heavy that you will not be able to fulfill it beyond a couple of days. Be light upon yourself. Start slowly. Even if it be a single section of the translation of Yusuf Ali every day. But be consistent. Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked, when he was going to make Hajj, where he was going to. He replied by saying "Bayt al-Ateeq." He was asked where he was coming from. He said "Min Fajjin Ameeq." These are the phrases Allah uses in His Book to describe Ka'bah and the places outside Makkah respectively. Such was the closeness of Ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) with the Book of Allah that he would not let any chance slip by in which he could have used the terminology of the Qur'an in his conversation. He could have simply said "Baytullah" or "al-Ka'bah" instead of "Bayt al-Ateeq." But he didn't. For if Allah likes to call His House "Bayt al-Ateeq" then that is what he would call it. This is simply one example of the closeness of the Sahaabah with the Qur'an. Let us aspire those levels. And let us start today, insha Allahu Ta'aala, before Shaytaan pulls us away from it. Wallahul Musta'aan. Wassalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmat Allahi Wa Barakaatuh. |
| Re: Introduction to the Quran |
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| se7en |
| 03/21/01 at 22:53:50 |
| wa alaykum as salaam wa rahmatAllahi wa barakatuh, [quote]Besides reading the Qur'an to prepare a lesson or a talk, how often do we read it in the middle of the night, or after dawn breaks, when nobody is around, when all work is stopped, when most of the world is deep asleep, when Allah is closer to the Earth than at any other time? How often do we read the Qur'an in our closed rooms, contemplating on its meanings, relating each ayah to our every day lives, to our long term goals that we have set for ourselves, pondering, absorbing its teachings, feeling ashamed after being exposed by it, shaking with fear from its warnings, yearning with joy for its promised rewards, realizing our weaknesses in front of the Creator, and weeping at our inability to do anything without the help of Allah? How often do we do it? [/quote] Awesome posts! |
| Re: Introduction to the Quran |
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| Arsalan |
| 04/06/01 at 01:15:04 |
| [slm] Muslim4evva's story about Ibn Mas'ud reminded me of this story. I think it just illustrates the same point home, that our righteous predecessors had a very special relationship with the Qur'an - a relationship that we are very far away from. And the state of our ummah is not going to change until we restore that relationship with the Qur'an that the salaf had. P.S. I'm not sure about the authenticity of this incident. Insha Allah, it is authentic, and I have no doubt in my mind that such an amazing incident is indeed possible with the saaliheen! ------------------------------- Taken from: http://www.jamiat.org.za The undermentioned incident is narrated by Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA). He was a man of great learning and he lived in the era of the Abbasids. This incident reflects the love and attachment with the Noble Quran. It also Manifestates the comprehensiveness of the Noble Quran. An elderly Arab lady was sitting at the trunk of a tree, on the way to Haj. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) happened to pass that way. He was also heading for Baitullah, for Hajj, and to the Sacred tomb of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu layhi Wasallam). Seeing this lady very disturbed and in a state of despair, (distressed) he spoke to her. The discussion is recorded as follows: Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah The lady: "The word from a merciful Lord is Peace" (Surah 36 Aayat 58). She meant that the reply of salaam is from Allah, Most High, Himself. She said further: "Those whom Allah sendeth astray, there is no guide for them." (Surah 7 Aayat 186). She meant that she has lost her way. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Where are you coming from? The lady: "Glorified be He who carried His servant by night from the Musjid-e-Aqsa (invioble place of worship) to the Musjid-e-Haraam" (Far distant place of worship) (Surah17 Aayat1). She meant that she had come from Musjid-e-Aqsa. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): How long are you in this place? The lady: "For three nights" (Surah 19 Aayat10). Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): What arrangements are made for your food? The lady: "And who (Allah) feedeth me and watereth me" (Surah 26 Aayat 79). She meant that somehow or the other, her food is provided to her by Allah. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Is there any water for Wudhu? The lady: "And ye find not water, then go to high clean soil and (make tayammum) rub your faces and hands." (therewith) (Surah 4 Aayat 43). She meant that she makes tayammum, due to not finding water. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Here is some food. Partake of it. The lady: "Strictly observe the fast till nightfall" (Surah 2 Aayat 187). She indicated that she is fasting. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): This is not the month of Ramadaan. The lady: "And he who does good of his own accord (for him) lo! Allah is responsive, aware". (Surah 2 Aayat158) meaning that I have observed an optional (nafl) fast. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): It is permitted to break the fast when in a journey. The lady: "And that ye fast is better for you, if you did but know." (Surah 2 Aayat 184) Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Speak like how I speak. The lady: "He (man) uttereth no word but there is with him an observer ready" (Surah 50 Aayat 18). She meant that since every word of a person is observed and recorded, she is taking precaution by speaking only in the words of the Holy Quran. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Which clan do you belong to? The lady: "Follow not that whereof thou hast no knowledge, lo! The hearing and the sight and heart of each of these it will be asked" (Surah 17 Aayat36). She meant those things that you have no knowledge of, nor do they concern you, you are wasting your strength (senses) by enquiring about them. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Forgive me. I have certainly made a mistake. The lady: "Have no fear this day. May Allah forgive you" (Surah 12 Aayat 92) Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Would you like to travel on my camel and meet your caravan? The lady: "And whatsoever good ye do Allah knoweth it" (Surah 2 Aayat 197). Meaning that if you will do this good deeds towards me, Allah will recompense you for it. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Well, then you may mount it. Saying this he made the camel to sit down. The lady: "Tell the believing men (when confronted by women) to lower their gaze". (Surah 24 Aayat 30). Hadhrat Abdullah understood and (turned) looked away. While she was mounting, the camel jerked and her clothes got estrangled in the saddle (dorsers) and she proclaimed: "whatever of misfortune striketh you, it is what your hands have earned." (Surah 42 Aayat 30). In other words she was drawing Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak's (RA) attention towards this mishap. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) understood and he tied the legs of the camel and he straightened the straps of the saddle (or dorser). She applauded him for his proficiency and capability by saying "And we made Sulaiman to understand" (Surah 21 Aayat 79). When the journey was about to begin, the lady recited the Aayats which are read when undertaking a journey "Glorified be he who hath subdued these unto us, and we were not capable (of subduing them). And lo, unto our Lord we are returning." (Surah 43 Aayat 13). Hadhrat Abdullh bin Mubarak (RA) held the bridle (or nose string) of the camel. He began to hum the (Huddi) famous Arabic song for travelling, and he started walking very fast. The lady: "Be modest in thy bearing and subdue thy voice" (Surah 31 Aayat 19). Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) understood. He began walking slower and he lowered his voice. The lady: "Recite of the Quran that which is easy for you." She meant that instead of humming the Huddi, he should rather recite the Holy Quran. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) began reciting the Holy Quran. The lady became very pleased and said "but none remember (accept advice) except men of understanding" (Surah 2 Aayat 269). After reciting the Holy Quran for a while, Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) asked (the lady if she had a husband) (if he was alive) "O Aunt, have have you a husband? (meaning is he living) The lady: "O you who believe, ask not of things which if they were made known unto you, would trouble you" (Surah 5 Aayat 101). She meant that no questions should be asked regarding this matter which indicated that her husband has most probably passed away. Finally they (caught up) met the caravan. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Do you have any son or relative (friend) in this caravan who has connection (contact) with you? The lady: "Wealth and children are an ornament of life of the world" (Surah 18 Aayat 46). She meant that her sons were with this caravan and he has provisions with him. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): What work are your sons doing for the caravan? (Hadhrat Abdullah's object for asking was to make it easy for him to recognise her son). The lady: "And landmarks, and by the star they find a way" (Surah 16 Aayat 16). She meant that he is a guide for the caravan. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): Can you tell me their name? The lady: "Allah chose Ibrahim as (for) a friend" (Surah 4 Aayat 125). And Allah spoke directly unto Moosa" (Surah 19 Aayat 12). By reciting these Aayats the lady informed him that her sons names were Yahya, Ibrahim and Moosa. Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) called out these names in the caravan and immediately three young people came forward. The lady: (addressing her children) "Now send one of you with this your silver coin unto the city. And let him see what food is purest there and bring you a supply thereof" (Sura 18 Aayat 19) In other words she instructed them to feed Hadhrat Abdullah (RA). When the food was brought, she told Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA): "Eat and drink at ease for that which ye sent on before you in the past days." (Surah 69 Aayat 24), and with this Aayat she recited another Aayat, the object of which was to convey (show) her gratefulness to him for his good conduct and courtesy. The Aayat was: "Is the reward of goodness aught save goodness?" (Surah 55 Aayat 60). Their conversation terminated on this Aayat. The lady's son informed Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mubarak (RA) that his mother has been speaking in this manner, i.e. using only the Aayats of the Holy Quran in her speech, for the last forty years. |
| Rights of the Qur'an upon us |
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| Anonymous |
| 04/11/01 at 15:20:25 |
| LECTURE 2: RIGHTS OF THE QURAN UPON US, As we approach the Quran what are some of the most important guidelines we need to follow? We live in an age of ‘rights’. There is much talk of ‘human rights’, ‘animal rights’, rights of the environment and so on. But what about the rights of the Quran upon us? Does the Book of Allah not have a right upon our time and intellect? Before we approach the Quran one of the most important things we need to do is purify our ‘niyat’ or intentions. Why are we reading the Quran? Why are we teaching people the Quran? Is it so that we can be praised by others for our ‘piety’? or is it because we want to read something so we can argue with religious people and prove their points of argument wrong? In a hadith from Bukhari and Muslim reported by Umar ibn Khattab, the Prophet (saw) said, ‘Indeed actions are judged by intentions and every person shall be judged accordingly. Thus he whose migration was for Allah and His Messenger his migration was for Allah and His Messenger and he whose migration was to achieve some worldly benefit or to take a woman in marriage his migration was for that for which he migrated.’ Our intentions as we approach the Quran (whether it be to teach or to learn) should be only to seek the pleasure of Allah (SWT). May it be a rope that draws us closer to Him. May it be the means by which our actions change for the better, for if after understanding the Quran our actions do not change then the Quran will be an argument against us on the day of Judgement. What can help us purify our intentions for the sake of Allah and Allah Alone? Allah Himself, in His infinite mercy, provides the answer. “And when you read the Qur’an, seek refuge in Allah from Satan the accursed.” (16:98). Many of us may wonder why we need to seek reguge in Allah from satan when we are going to read Allah’s book. Surely we are setting out to do a good deed. But it is precisely when we try and seek the right path that we need to seek refuge from satan for satan attacks those who desire to know the truth. What need has he to attack those who have no desire to follow the straight path? Those who choose to close their eyes to the truth are caught in a web of lies and hypocrisy anyway. Satan does not need to waste his time on them. Invoking Allah’s protection is the best way of protecting our intentions from being affected by the whisperings of satan. Sometimes we start out doing something for the sake of Allah and then all of a sudden we get thoughts like, ‘well everyone is praising me for this, so am I doing it to receive people’s praise or for Allah?’ Allah then tells us of another phrase, which when uttered is sure to bring blessings and barkat to any act we do. Bismillah Hir Rahman nir Raheem. In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Repeatedly Merciful. This phrase is recited before recitation of the Quran and it is also recited before all acts we perform no matter how simple for whatever we begin in the name of Allah is sure to have barkat and blessings in it. If we were to ask people how we should read the Quran perhaps everyone would have a different opinion. Some might say that reading the Quran in Arabic is enough, others might say that reading the translation is sufficient. In the Quran Allah says ‘Those to whom we have given the Book recite it as is its right of recitation. Such people believe in it’. (Surah Baqarah). So what are the rights of the Quran upon us. Scholars have outlined 5 major rights of the Quran. 1)Reciting the Quran with attention to the correct pronunciation and accent. It is important to recite the Quran with the correct pronunciation because a casual slip of the tongue can result in the entire meaning of a word changing. We must also remember that the Quran is first and foremost a recited book. In fact one of the root meanings of the word ‘Quran’ means the one that is recited often. if the essence of the Quran was to simply read it text book style then Allah could have easily sent us all preprinted copies of the Quran. Instead He chose to bless us with a teacher, the Prophet (saw) who was taught the Quran by way of recitation. He (saw) could neither read nor write, and Gabriel would recite to him a portion of the revelation and the Prophet (saw) would recite after him. In fact in the Quran the first function of the Prophet (saw) has been described as ‘We have sent in you a messenger from your own people. He recites upon you our verses and purifies you…’ (Surah Baqarah 151). Even recitation is a source of purification of the soul and heart. It is because the Quran has a beautiful rhythm and style that it is easy to recite and to memorise. As Khurram Murad has pointed out the Quran is only written out of human weakness. Its true place is in the heart for the Quran was revealed upon the heart of the Prophet (saw). It is the heart which ‘feels’ the Quran and this feeling can be heard in recitation. Khurram Murad further points out that ‘Tilawah is an act in which your whole person-soul, heart, mind, tongue and body participates. In short, your whole existence becomes involved. As the tongue recites the words flow from the lips, the mind ponders, the heart reflects and tears well up in the eyes…’ We are encouraged to recite in our most melodious voices, enhancing the beauty of the Qur’an. The Prophet (saw) once said, “Adorn the Qur’an with your voices.” When Yusuf Islam, former Cat Stevens the pop singer was asked, “Don’t you miss your music?” he replied simply, “No, because I have the music of the Qur’an.” What if someone lacks the correct accent and has to struggle to learn how to read properly? As an encouragement to learn, we have the Prophet’s (saw) saying—“One who is skilled in reading the Qur’an is with the noble virtuous angels who bring down the revelation; one who falters while reading it and finds it hard to read correctly will have a double reward (for reading and exerting). (Bukhari and Muslim) 2) Reading with meaning. The first two steps are interlinked, for how can we be affected by the recitation, until we know what we’re saying. Imagine a parrot declaiming powerful passages of Shakespeare! The effect would be ludicrous, certainly not moving! Yet we are content to recite the Qur’an, parrot fashion! People proudly say “I finished ten Qur’ans this Ramadan. It is true that Allah rewards us for every letter we recite aloud, but that’s not enough! When we come to the passages describing Allah’s Mercy and Paradise, we should beg for that mercy and paradise! It is like carrying a road map to our destination and yet we cannot even understand the language of that guide map. We would scoff at anyone who couldn’t understand a word of Chinese and yet went out and bought a road map in Chinese thinking that magically he would arrive at his destination even if he didn’t understand a word of the directions. 3) Contemplating the verses. To understand the importance of this aspect, read this extract from the Torah. “Man, are you not ashamed of Me- (sometimes) a letter comes to you from a certain friend while you are walking along the road; turning aside from the road, you sit, read the letter and ponder over each word of it so that no part of it is missed. This Book of Mine, I have sent down to you. Look and see how detailed I have made the explanation of my speech in it for your sake and how repeatedly have I explained things in it, in order that you may reflect on its length and breadth. Despite all this you have turned away from it. Am I lighter to you than your friend? O Man (sometimes) a certain friend of yours sits beside you; you come forth to him with your entire being and are attentive to his words wholeheartedly; if anyone talks to you or keeps you from listening to his words, you ask that he desists. Here I am! I have come forth to you and have talked to you, but you have kept away from Me with your mind! Have you made Me lighter than your friend? 4) Acting upon it- This is possibly the Qur’an’s single most important right. The Qur’an is as Allah (SWBT) tells us repeatedly, a Book of Guidance, not mere magic words. Imagine you are going on a journey and you acquire a map for directions. Then instead of following the map, you set off in whichever direction your whims take you—you’d end up hopelessly lost. Sadly, we complain that Muslims have lost their sense of purpose, yet we don’t use the Code Book Allah has granted us. In the words of Khurram Murad, ‘One ayah learnt and acted upon is better than a thousand which are explained beautifully but which do not impart any beauty to the reader’s life. Obedience after all is the real key to understanding.' In fact the blessed Companions would read an ayat of the Qur’an, implement it in their lives and then read on! 5) Conveying it. The Prophet (saw) once commented, “The best among you is he who learns and teaches the Qur’an”. Nowadays people are content to learn a little and then sit back, placidly unconcerned by the fate of those around them. There is a beautiful story about an old American woman who converted to Islam at the age of 85 and died two weeks later. One of her last comments before she died was, “I can never forgive the Muslims of my community because they had this wonderful treasure and they never bothered to share it with me." The Prophet (saw) said, "The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. (And) another portion of it was hard and held the rainwater and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation of the land for cultivation. (And) a portion of it was barren which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation (then that land gave no benefit). The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah's religion and gets benefit (from the knowledge) which Allah has revealed through me (learns and then teaches others). The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not take Allah's guidance revealed through me. (i.e. he neither benefits from it himself nor benefits others). He is like that barren land." (Bukhari) Abdullah bin Mas’ood used to say, “This Qur’an is the banquet of Allah. If one can learn something from it then let him do so, for the poorest of homes and the one whose tenants are most sick is one that has nothing of it...' |
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