What is your relationship with the Quran? How did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) describe this relationship? And what is the significance of his description?
Listen to the answer present in three prophetic hadiths, and pay attention with your heart, not just your ears: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "The one who was devoted to the Qur'an will be told on the Day of Resurrection: 'Recite and ascend (in ranks) as you used to recite when you were in the world. Your rank will be at the last Ayah you recite.'"
And he (ﷺ) said, "The one who memorized the Qur'an shall come on the Day of Judgement and (the reward for reciting the Qur'an) says: 'O Lord! Decorate him." So he is donned with a crown of nobility. Then it says: "O Lord! Give him more!' So he is donned with a suit of nobility. Then it says: "O Lord! Be pleased with him.' So He is pleased with him."
And he (ﷺ) said, "Recite the Quran, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it."
Indeed, the Quran is a companion, and what an excellent companion. The meaning of a companion is someone you do not part from, neglect, or upset. Your companion reveals to you its secrets, just as a companion with whom you have a long relationship and a good bond shares secrets. You find comfort in your companion, rejoice in their presence, and are happy with their company. This is your state with the Quran, and this is how it should be.
If this is the case, then what are the etiquettes of this companionship?
1- Siwak (Tooth-cleaning stick):
Purifying the mouth in honor of the Quran and out of respect for it. It is mentioned in a hadith, "So perfume them with the tooth stick." This is why the first thing the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would do upon waking was use the siwak. He would even use the siwak every time he turned in his bed at night, as he would mention Allah whenever he turned. So, O carrier of the Quran, why not maintain this Sunnah?
2- Seeking Refuge and Saying Bismillah:
Begin your recitation with seeking refuge (in Allah from the devil), and let its meanings pass through your heart; I seek protection and take refuge in a strong shelter from Satan, who lies in wait to prevent me from benefiting from the Quran, which is the best of words, and to hinder me from improving through it. Thus, the Quran could become an argument against me instead of being in my favor.
Imam al-Nawawi said: If a person greets others while passing by them and then returns to the Quran, it is good to repeat the seeking of refuge.
After seeking refuge, say Bismillah, even if it is from the middle of the Surah, for the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Every important matter which is not begun by the name of Allah is maimed."
3- Reciting Aloud and Quietly:
The Quran says: This is your relationship with me, declaring it before people by reciting aloud, and extending our relationship in private by reciting silently behind closed doors.
Your love for me should encompass all your states. In a hadith, "The one who recites the Qur'an loudly is like one who gives charity openly, and the one who recites the Qur'an quietly is like one who gives charity in secret." But when should one recite aloud and when quietly? Imam al-Nawawi explained: Reciting quietly is better if one fears showing off or if it disturbs those praying or sleeping. Reciting aloud is better in other situations, as the effort involved is greater, its benefits extend to listeners, it awakens the heart of the reciter, gathers his focus on the meaning, drives away sleep, and increases energy. Some scholars saw alternating between reciting aloud and quietly as a remedy for boredom and weariness. They said: It is recommended to alternate between reciting aloud and quietly because the one who recites quietly may tire and thus find solace in reciting aloud, and the one who recites aloud may become weary and thus find rest in reciting quietly.
4- Reciting from the Quran (Hardcopy Quran):
Reciting from the Quran is better than reciting from memory because looking at the Quran is an act of worship in itself, as the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever is pleased to love Allah and His Messenger, then let him recite the Quran."
Imam al-Nawawi said: Our scholars, as well as the early generations, agreed on this. I did not find any disagreement on this matter. Imam al-Nawawi then elaborated beautifully, saying: If one’s level of humility and reflection is the same, whether reading from the Quran or from memory, then reading from the Quran is preferable. If one’s humility and reflection are greater when reading from memory, then reading from memory is better. And if one’s humility and reflection are enhanced by reading from the Quran, then that is preferable. This is a wise insight from Imam al-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him.
5- How Often Should One Complete the Quran?
Imam Ahmad stated that it is disliked to delay completing the Quran for more than forty days without an excuse, as Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As asked the Prophet (ﷺ), "In how many days should you complete the Quran?" He replied, "In forty days" (Narrated by Abu Dawood). The Prophet (ﷺ) also told Abdullah bin Umar, "Complete it in seven days and do not go beyond that."
Abdullah bin Mas'ud, Uthman bin Affan, and Zaid bin Thabit used to complete the Quran once a week. But does this rule apply universally, or does it differ depending on the person? Imam al-Nawawi answered this question in "Al-Adhkar," stating, "The correct view is that this varies depending on the person. For those who derive subtleties and insights from contemplation, they should limit themselves to what allows for a complete understanding of what they read. Similarly, those engaged in spreading knowledge, governance, or other important religious duties should limit their recitation to what does not interfere with those responsibilities."
6- Regularly Reviewing the Quran to Prevent It from Being Forgotten:
This is in obedience to the Prophet’s command (ﷺ): "Read the Qur'an regularly. By the One in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, it escapes from memory faster than a camel does from its tying ropes." Those who memorize the Quran must have a regular review schedule, or else it will slip away like camels if released by their owner.
7- Beautifying One's Voice in Recitation:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said about Abu Lubaba bin Abdul Mundhir, "He who does not recite the Qur'an in a pleasant tone is not of us." A pleasant tone means improving the sound of the recitation.
This is also evident when Abu Musa al-Ash'ari was heard by the Prophet (ﷺ) reciting the Quran. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Had I known you were listening, I would have recited with even more beauty." How should one recite, knowing that Allah Himself hears the recitation? How would one beautify their recitation knowing Allah is listening?
8- Being in a State of Purity as Much as Possible:
Since the Quran is the best of all words, it should be recited in the best possible state. The Prophet (ﷺ) disliked mentioning Allah unless he was in a state of purity. Imam al-Haramayn said: It is not disliked to recite the Quran without ablution, as it was reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) recited while in a state of minor impurity. Scholars deduced this from the Prophet’s habit of remembering Allah in all his states.
Al-Hafiz (a.k.a. Al-Bukhari) commented on this hadith and explained that there is no authentic evidence prohibiting the recitation of the Quran by a person in a state of major impurity (e.g., a woman in her menstrual cycle). However, the consensus is that it is prohibited for such a person to touch the Quran. Sheikh Sayyid Sabiq, in "Fiqh al-Sunnah," stated: There is no prohibition against touching materials that include Quranic verses, such as letters, books of interpretation, or jurisprudence texts. These are not considered complete Qurans and do not hold the same sanctity.
9- Choosing the Right Time and Place for Recitation:
The Quran should not be recited in the midst of noise, in front of screens, or in places of immorality and sin.
10- Reciting with Tajweed (Proper Pronunciation):
Reciting the Quran with the rules of tajweed is an individual obligation for anyone reciting the Quran, as Ibn al-Jawzi said:
"Applying tajweed is a mandatory obligation;
Whoever does not recite the Quran with tajweed is sinful,
Because it is with tajweed that the Quran was revealed,
And this is how it has been passed down to us."
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